Sec. 4-28n. Cigarette manufacturers: Agents for service of process. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 4-28n. Cigarette manufacturers: Agents for service of process. (a) Any nonparticipating manufacturer that has not registered to do business in this state, pursuant to title 33 or 34, as a foreign corporation or business entity shall, as a condition precedent to having its brand families listed or retained in the directory maintained pursuant to section 4-28m, appoint and continually engage without interruption the services of an agent in this state to act as agent for the service of process on whom all process and any action or proceeding against it concerning or arising out of the enforcement of the provisions of sections 4-28h to 4-28r, inclusive, may be served in any manner authorized by law. Such service shall constitute legal and valid service of process on the nonparticipating manufacturer. The nonparticipating manufacturer shall provide the name, address, telephone number and proof of the appointment and availability of such agent to, and to the satisfaction of, the commissioner and the Attorney General.

      (b) A nonparticipating manufacturer shall provide notice to the commissioner and the Attorney General at least thirty calendar days prior to termination of the authority of an agent and shall further provide proof, to the satisfaction of the commissioner and the Attorney General, of the appointment of a new agent no less than five calendar days prior to the termination of an existing agent appointment. In the event an agent terminates an agency, the nonparticipating manufacturer shall notify the commissioner and the Attorney General of such termination not later than five calendar days after such termination and shall include proof, to the satisfaction of the commissioner and the Attorney General, of the appointment of a new agent.

      (c) Any nonparticipating manufacturer whose products are sold in this state without appointing or designating an agent as required in this section shall be deemed to have appointed the Secretary of the State as such agent and may be proceeded against in courts of this state by service of process upon the Secretary of the State, except that the appointment of the Secretary of the State as such agent shall not satisfy the condition precedent to having the brand families of the nonparticipating manufacturer listed or retained in the directory.

      (P.A. 04-218, S. 4.)