Rhode Island § 27-17-5 - Reciprocal Exchanges and Interinsurers

§ 27-17-5. Service of process.

Concurrently with the filing of the declaration provided for by the terms of § 27-17-4, the attorney shall file with the commissioner an instrument in writing duly executed by the attorney for the subscribers, conditioned that upon the issuance of the certificate of authority provided for in § 27-17-6, an action may be brought in any county in which the cause of action arises or where the claimant resides, and service of process may be had upon the commissioner in all suits in this state arising out of any policies, contracts, or agreements issued, which service shall be valid and binding upon all subscribers exchanging at any time reciprocal or interinsurance contracts through the attorney. Three (3) copies of the process shall be served, and the commissioner shall file one copy in the commissioner’s office, forward one copy to the attorney, and return one copy with the commissioner’s admission of service. Service of process may also be had upon all subscribers by serving the attorney at the office. Service of process shall not be had upon subscribers or any of them in any suit or proceeding in this state, except in the manner provided in this section, and any suit or other proceeding may be begun and prosecuted or defended by them under the name or designation adopted by them. A service fee of five dollars ($5.00) shall accompany each service and be paid to the commissioner.