Section 58-13A-18 - Consent to service of process.
58-13A-18. Consent to service of process.
A. Every applicant for registration under the Model State Commodity Code [58-13A-1 NMSA 1978] shall file with the director, in such form as he by rule prescribes, an irrevocable consent appointing the director or his successor in office to be his attorney to receive service of any lawful process in any non-criminal suit, action or proceeding against him or his successor executor or administrator which arises under that code or any rule or order under that code after the consent has been filed, with the same force and validity as if served personally on the person filing the consent. Service may be made by leaving a copy of the process in the office of the director, but it is not effective unless:
(1) the plaintiff, who may be the director in a suit, action or proceeding instituted by him, forthwith sends notice of the service and a copy of the process by registered mail to the defendant or respondent at his last address on file with the director; and
(2) the plaintiff's affidavit of compliance with this subsection is filed in the case on or before the return day of the process, if any, or within such further time as the court allows.
B. When a person, including a nonresident of this state, engages in conduct prohibited or made actionable by the Model State Commodity Code or any rule or order of the director, the engaging in the conduct shall constitute the appointment of the director as the person's attorney to receive service of any lawful process in a noncriminal proceeding against the person, a successor or personal representative, which grows out of that conduct and which is brought under that code or any rule or order of the director with the same force and validity as if served personally.
C. Service under Subsection A of this section may be made by leaving a copy of the process in the office of the director, but it is not effective unless:
(1) the plaintiff, who may be the director in a suit, action or proceeding instituted by him, forthwith sends notice of the service and a copy of the process by registered mail to the defendant or respondent at his last address known to the director; and
(2) the plaintiff's affidavit of compliance with this subsection is filed in the case on or before the return day of the process, if any, or within such further time as the court allows.