§ 33-5-34 — Venue of actions against unauthorized insurers issuing surplus line policies; service of process; filing of pleading by insurer

(a) An action shall be brought against any unauthorized insurer under any contract issued by it as a surplus line contract pursuant to this chapter in the superior court of the county in which the cause of action arose. (b) Every unauthorized insurer issuing or delivering a surplus line policy through a surplus line broker in this state shall be deemed thereby to have appointed the Commissioner as its attorney for acceptance of service of all legal process issued in this state in any action or proceeding arising out of the policy, and service of process upon the Commissioner shall be lawful personal service upon the insurer. (c) Each surplus line policy shall contain a provision stating the substance of subsection (b) of this Code section and designating the person to whom the Commissioner shall mail process as provided in subsection (d) of this Code section. (d) Duplicate copies of legal process against the insurers shall be served upon the Commissioner and at time of service the plaintiff shall pay a fee in an amount as provided in Code Section 33-8-1 , taxable as costs in the action. The Commissioner shall immediately mail one copy of the process so served to the person designated by the insurer in the policy for the purpose, by registered or certified mail or statutory overnight delivery with return receipt requested. (e) The insurer shall have 30 days after the date of mailing within which to plead, answer, or otherwise defend the action.