§ 27-25-35. Service of process.
(a) Every society authorized to do business in this state shall appoint in writing the commissioner of insurance and each successor in office to be its true and lawful attorney upon whom all lawful process in any action or proceeding against it shall be served, and shall agree in the writing that any lawful process against it which is served on the attorney shall be of the same legal force and validity as if served upon the society, and that the authority shall continue in force so long as any liability remains outstanding in this state. Copies of the appointment, certified by the commissioner of insurance, shall be deemed sufficient evidence and shall be admitted in evidence with the same force and effect as the original might be admitted.
(b) Service shall only be made upon the commissioner of insurance, or if absent, upon the person in charge of the commissioner’s office. It shall be made in duplicate and shall constitute sufficient service upon the society. When legal process against a society is served upon the commissioner of insurance, the commissioner shall forward one of the duplicate copies by registered mail, prepaid, directed to the secretary or corresponding officer. No service shall require a society to file its answer, pleading, or defense in less than thirty (30) days from the date of mailing the copy of the service to a society. Legal process shall not be served upon a society except in the manner provided in this section. At the time of serving any process upon the commissioner of insurance, the plaintiff or complainant in the action shall pay to the commissioner of insurance a fee of five dollars ($5.00).
History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 201, § 2.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 27-25 - Rhode Island Fraternal Code
Section 27-25-1. - Fraternal benefit societies.
Section 27-25-2. - Lodge system.
Section 27-25-3. - Representative form of government.
Section 27-25-4. - Definitions.
Section 27-25-5. - Purposes and powers.
Section 27-25-6. - Qualifications for membership.
Section 27-25-8. - No personal liability.
Section 27-25-10. - Organization.
Section 27-25-11. - Amendments to laws.
Section 27-25-12. - Institutions.
Section 27-25-13. - Reinsurance.
Section 27-25-14. - Consolidations and mergers.
Section 27-25-15. - Conversion of fraternal benefit society into mutual life insurance company.
Section 27-25-17. - Beneficiaries.
Section 27-25-18. - Benefits not attachable.
Section 27-25-19. - The benefit contract.
Section 27-25-21. - Investments.
Section 27-25-23. - Exemptions.
Section 27-25-25. - Valuation.
Section 27-25-27. - Annual license.
Section 27-25-28. - Examination of societies — No adverse publication.
Section 27-25-29. - Foreign or alien society — Admission.
Section 27-25-30. - Injunction — Liquidation — Receivership of domestic society.
Section 27-25-31. - Suspension, revocation, or refusal of license of foreign or alien society.
Section 27-25-32. - Injunction.
Section 27-25-33. - Licensing of insurance producers.
Section 27-25-34. - Unfair methods of competition and unfair and deceptive acts and practices.
Section 27-25-35. - Service of process.
Section 27-25-37. - Penalties.
Section 27-25-38. - Exemption of certain societies.
Section 27-25-39. - Reciprocal fees and charges.
Section 27-25-40. - Payments of commissions to other than agent or insurance producer forbidden.
Section 27-25-41. - Payment of benefits other than insurance benefits.
Section 27-25-42. - Severability.