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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 56-16-116

  • Attorney: means the person designated and authorized by subscribers as the attorney-in-fact having authority to obligate them on reciprocal insurance contracts. See Tennessee Code 56-16-102
  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of commerce and insurance. See Tennessee Code 56-16-102
  • Department: means the department of commerce and insurance. See Tennessee Code 56-16-102
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Foreign: when used without limitation, includes all companies formed by authority of any other state or government. See Tennessee Code 56-1-102
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
  • Reciprocal: means the aggregation of subscribers under a common name. See Tennessee Code 56-16-102
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) Each attorney of a domestic reciprocal who files the declaration required by § 56-16-201, and each attorney of a foreign or alien reciprocal who applies for a license to transact the business of insurance in this state, shall file with the department a written power of attorney executed by the attorney appointing the commissioner as agent of the reciprocal.
(2) Upon the appointment, the commissioner:

(A) May be served all lawful process against or notice to the reciprocal; and
(B) Shall be authorized to enter an appearance on behalf of the reciprocal.
(3) A copy of the power of attorney, duly certified by the department, shall be received in evidence in all courts of this state.
(b) Whenever process or notice is served upon the commissioner, a copy of the process or notice shall be mailed to the attorney at the address shown on the power of attorney. Nothing in this section shall limit the right to serve any process or notice upon any reciprocal in any other manner permitted by law.