New Mexico Statutes 59A-15-9. Enforcement of foreign decrees
A. As used in this section:
Terms Used In New Mexico Statutes 59A-15-9
- Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
(1) “foreign decree” means any decree or order in equity of a court located in a reciprocal state, including a court of the United States located therein, against any insurer incorporated or authorized to do business in this state;
(2) “qualified party” means a state regulatory agency acting in its capacity to enforce the insurance laws of its state; and
(3) “reciprocal state” means any state the laws of which contain procedures substantially similar to those specified in this section for the enforcement of decrees or orders in equity issued by courts located in other states, against any insurer incorporated or authorized to do business in such state.
B. The attorney general upon request of the superintendent may proceed in the courts of this state or any reciprocal state to enforce an order or decision in any court proceeding or in any administrative proceeding before the superintendent.
C. The superintendent shall determine which states qualify as reciprocal states and shall maintain at all times an up-to-date list of such states.
D. A copy of any foreign decree authenticated in accordance with federal statutes may be filed in the office of the clerk of any district court of this state. The clerk, upon verifying with the superintendent that the decree or order qualified as a foreign decree[,] shall treat the foreign decree in the same manner as a decree of a district court of this state. A foreign decree so filed has the same effect and shall be deemed as a decree of a district court of this state, and is subject to the same procedures, defenses and proceedings for reopening, vacating or staying as a decree of a district court of this state and may be enforced or satisfied in like manner.
E. At the time of the filing of the foreign decree, the attorney general shall make and file with the clerk of the court an affidavit setting forth the name and last-known post office address of the defendant.
Promptly upon the filing of the foreign decree and the affidavit, the clerk shall mail notice of the filing of the foreign decree to the defendant at the address given and to the superintendent and shall make a note of the mailing in the docket. In addition, the attorney general may mail a notice of the filing of the foreign decree to the defendant and to the superintendent and may file proof of mailing with the clerk. Lack of mailing notice of filing by the clerk shall not affect the enforcement proceedings if proof of mailing by the attorney general has been filed. No execution or other process for enforcement of a foreign decree filing [filed] under this section shall issue until thirty (30) days after the date the decree is filed.
F. If the defendant shows the district court:
(1) that an appeal from the foreign decree is pending or will be taken, or that a stay of execution has been granted, the court shall stay enforcement of the foreign decree until the appeal is concluded, the time for appeal expires or the stay of execution expires or is vacated upon proof that the defendant has furnished the security for the satisfaction of the decree required by the state in which it was rendered; or
(2) on any ground upon which enforcement of a decree of any district court of this state would be stayed, the court shall stay enforcement of the foreign decree for an appropriate period, upon requiring the same security for satisfaction of the decree which is required in this state.
G. Any person filing a foreign decree shall pay to the clerk of the court the applicable statutory filing fee. Fees for docketing, transcription or other enforcement proceedings shall be the same as are provided for decrees of the district court.