Rhode Island § 27-16-4 - Unauthorized Insurance Business

§ 27-16-4. Purpose of process provisions.

(a) The purpose of §§ 27-16-3 — 27-16-14 is to subject certain insurers to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state in suits by or on behalf of insureds or beneficiaries under insurance contracts.

(b) The legislature declares that it is a subject of concern that many residents of this state hold policies of insurance issued or delivered in this state by insurers while not authorized to do business in this state, thus presenting to the residents the often insuperable obstacle of resorting to distant forums for the purpose of asserting legal rights under the policies. In furtherance of the state interest, the legislature provides in these sections a method of substituted service of process upon the insurers and declares that in doing this that it exercises its power to protect its residents and to define, for the purpose of §§ 27-16-3 — 27-16-14 what constitutes doing business in this state, and also exercises powers and privileges available to the state by virtue of 15 U.S.C. § 1011 et seq., which declares that the business of insurance and every person engaged in that business shall be subject to the laws of the several states.