§ 71-1-611. Service of process.

A.  A consent to service of process required by this act must be signed and filed in the form required by a rule adopted or order issued under this act.  A consent appointing the Administrator the person's agent for service of process in a noncriminal action or proceeding against the person or the person's successor or personal representative under this act or a rule adopted or order issued under this act after the consent is filed, has the same force and validity as if the service were made personally on the person filing the consent.  A person that has filed a consent complying with this subsection in connection with a previous application for registration or notice filing need not file an additional consent.

B.  If a person, including a nonresident of this state, engages in an act, practice, or course of business prohibited or made actionable by this act or a rule adopted or order issued under this act and the person has not filed a consent to service of process under subsection A of this section, the act, practice, or course of business constitutes the appointment of the Administrator as the person's agent for service of process in a noncriminal action or proceeding against the person or the person's successor or personal representative and has the same force and validity as if the service were made personally on the person.

C.  Service under subsection A or B of this section may be made by providing a copy of the process to the office of the Administrator, but it is not effective unless:

1.  The plaintiff, which may be the Administrator, promptly sends notice of the service and a copy of the process, return receipt requested, to the defendant or respondent at the address set forth in the consent to service of process or, if a consent to service of process has not been filed, at the last known address, or takes other reasonable steps to give notice; and

2.  The plaintiff files an affidavit of compliance with this subsection in the action or proceeding on or before the return day of the process, if any, or within the time that the court, or the Administrator in a proceeding before the Administrator, allows.

D.  Service pursuant to subsection C of this section may be used in a proceeding before the Administrator or by the Administrator in a civil action in which the Administrator is the moving party.  Service by mail shall be effective on the date of receipt by the defendant or respondent or if refused, on the date of refusal by the defendant or respondent.  Acceptance or refusal of service by mail by a person who is fifteen (15) years of age or older shall constitute acceptance or refusal by the party addressed.  Acceptance or refusal by any officer or by any employee of the registered office or principal place of business who is authorized to or who regularly receives certified mail shall constitute acceptance or refusal by the party addressed.  A return receipt signed at such registered office or principal place of business shall be presumed to have been signed by an employee authorized to receive certified mail.  Refusal by any person to accept delivery of the certified mail provided for in this section, or the refusal to sign the return receipt, or the lack of knowledge of the Administrator of any address to which process may have been mailed shall not in any manner affect the legality of the service, and the person shall be presumed to have had knowledge of the contents of the process.

E.  If process is served under subsection C of this section, the court, or the Administrator in a proceeding before the Administrator, shall order continuances as are necessary or appropriate to afford the defendant or respondent reasonable opportunity to defend.

Added by Laws 2003, c. 347, § 49, eff. July 1, 2004.