Service of legal process against the insurer may be made in any such action by service upon the director as provided in § 58-6-39. The director shall forthwith mail a copy of the process served to the person designated by the insurer in the policy for the purpose, by prepaid registered or certified mail with return receipt requested. The insurer shall have thirty days from the date of service upon the director within which to plead, answer, or otherwise defend the action. Upon service of process upon the director in accordance with this provision, the court shall be deemed to have jurisdiction in personam of the insurer.

Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 58-32-37

  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Person: includes natural persons, partnerships, associations, cooperative corporations, limited liability companies, and corporations. See South Dakota Codified Laws 2-14-2
  • Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.

Source: SL 1966, ch 111, ch 11, § 20 (2); SL 1982, ch 28, § 18.

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