2019 Revised Code of Washington
Title 48 - Insurance
Chapter 48.05 - Insurers—General Requirements.
48.05.215 Unauthorized foreign or alien insurers—Jurisdiction of state courts—Service of process—Procedure.

RCW 48.05.215 Unauthorized foreign or alien insurers—Jurisdiction of state courts—Service of process—Procedure.

(1) Any foreign or alien insurer not authorized by the commissioner, whether it be a surplus lines insurer operating under chapter 48.15 RCW or not, who, by mail or otherwise, solicits insurance business in this state or transacts insurance business in this state as defined by RCW 48.01.060, thereby submits itself to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state in any action, suit, or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of an insured, beneficiary or the commissioner arising out of an unauthorized solicitation of insurance business, including, but not limited to, an action for injunctive relief by the commissioner.

(2) In any action, suit, or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of an insured or beneficiary, service of legal process against an unauthorized foreign or alien insurer must be accomplished and processed in the manner prescribed under RCW 48.02.200. The defendant insurer has forty days from the date of the service on the commissioner within which to plead, answer, or otherwise defend the action.

(3) In any such action, suit, or proceeding by the commissioner, service of legal process against an unauthorized foreign or alien insurer may be made by personal service of legal process upon any officer of such insurer at its last known principal place of business outside the state of Washington. The summons upon an unauthorized foreign or alien insurer must contain the same requisites and be served in like manner as personal summons within the state of Washington; except, the insurer has forty days from the date of personal service within which to plead, answer, or otherwise defend the action.

[ 2011 c 47 § 6; 1981 c 339 § 4; 1967 c 150 § 3.]