Oklahoma Statutes
Title 51. Officers
§51-163. Venue - Parties - Real party in interest - Service of process.

A. Venue for actions against the state within the scope of this act shall be either the county in which the cause of action arose or Oklahoma County, except that a constitutional state agency, board or commission may, upon resolution filed with the Secretary of State, designate another situs for venue in lieu of Oklahoma County.

B. Actions against all political subdivisions within the scope of this act shall be brought in the county in which the situs of the political subdivision is located or in the county in which the cause of action arose; provided, any action brought against a municipality which is an owner of a dam, based upon the construction, maintenance, or operation of the dam, shall be brought in the county where the dam or a major portion of the dam is located.
C. Suits instituted pursuant to the provisions of this act shall name as defendant the state or the political subdivision against which liability is sought to be established. In no instance shall an employee of the state or political subdivision acting within the scope of his employment be named as defendant with the exception that suits based on the conduct of resident physicians and interns shall be made against the individual consistent with the provisions of Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
D. All actions against the state or political subdivision shall be filed in the name of the real party or parties in interest, and in no event shall any claim be presented nor recovery be made under the right of subrogation.
E. In all actions against the state, service shall be perfected by mailing, by certified mail, return receipt requested, a summons and a copy of the petition to the Attorney General. Claimant shall also mail, by certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy of the summons and a copy of the petition to the administrative head of the state agency or agencies involved and a copy of the summons and a copy of the petition to the Risk Management Administrator of the Purchasing Division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.
F. In suits against political subdivisions the petition and summons shall be served in the manner prescribed by law for civil cases generally. If no method is prescribed by law, then service may be had on the administrative head of the political subdivision being sued, if available, and if not, the court in which the suit is pending may authorize service in such manner as may be calculated to afford the political subdivision a fair opportunity to answer and defend the suit.
G. No attempt shall be made in the trial of any action brought against the state or any political subdivision or employee within the scope of this act to suggest the existence of any insurance which covers in whole or in part any judgment or award which may be rendered in favor of the plaintiff.
Added by Laws 1978, c. 203, § 13, eff. July 1, 1978. Amended by Laws 1984, c. 226, § 14, eff. Oct. 1, 1985; Laws 1985, c. 357, § 3, operative Oct. 1, 1985; Laws 1986, c. 247, § 24, operative July 1, 1986; Laws 1999, c. 293, § 24, eff. Nov. 1, 1999; Laws 2012, c. 304, § 209.
NOTE: Laws 1984, c. 228, § 6 repealed by Laws 1985, c. 357, § 5, operative Oct. 1, 1985.

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