23B.15.020 - Consequences of transacting business without authority. - Washington Statutes

Consequences of transacting business without authority.

(1) Unless it is otherwise authorized to transact business pursuant to a state or federal statute, a foreign corporation transacting business in this state without a certificate of authority may not maintain a proceeding in any court in this state until it obtains a certificate of authority.

     (2) The successor to a foreign corporation that transacted business in this state without a certificate of authority and the assignee of a cause of action arising out of that business may not maintain a proceeding based on that cause of action in any court in this state until the foreign corporation or its successor obtains a certificate of authority.

     (3) A court may stay a proceeding commenced by a foreign corporation, its successor, or assignee until it determines whether the foreign corporation or its successor requires a certificate of authority. If it so determines, the court may further stay the proceeding until the foreign corporation or its successor obtains the certificate.

     (4) A foreign corporation which transacts business in this state without a certificate of authority is liable to this state, for the years or parts thereof during which it transacted business in this state without a certificate of authority, in an amount equal to all fees which would have been imposed by this title upon such corporation had it applied for and received a certificate of authority to transact business in this state as required by this title and thereafter filed all reports required by this title, plus all penalties imposed by this title for failure to pay such fees.

     (5) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the failure of a foreign corporation to obtain a certificate of authority does not impair the validity of its corporate acts or prevent it from defending any proceeding in this state.

[1990 c 178 § 8; 1989 c 165 § 170.]

Notes: Effective date -- 1990 c 178: See note following RCW 23B.01.220.