48.181 Service on nonresident engaging in business
in state. ---
(1) The acceptance by any person or persons, individually or
associated together as a copartnership or any other form or type of
association, who are residents of any other state or country, and all foreign
corporations, and any person who is a resident of the state and who
subsequently becomes a nonresident of the state or conceals his or her
whereabouts, of the privilege extended by law to nonresidents and others to
operate, conduct, engage in, or carry on a business or business venture in the
state, or to have an office or agency in the state, constitutes an appointment
by the persons and foreign corporations of the Secretary of State of the state
as their agent on whom all process in any action or proceeding against them,
or any of them, arising out of any transaction or operation connected with or
incidental to the business or business venture may be served. The acceptance
of the privilege is signification of the agreement of the persons and foreign
corporations that the process against them which is so served is of the same
validity as if served personally on the persons or foreign
corporations.
(2) If a foreign corporation has a resident agent or officer in
the state, process shall be served on the resident agent or officer.
(3) Any person, firm, or corporation which sells, consigns, or
leases by any means whatsoever tangible or intangible personal property,
through brokers, jobbers, wholesalers, or distributors to any person, firm, or
corporation in this state is conclusively presumed to be both engaged in
substantial and not isolated activities within this state and operating,
conducting, engaging in, or carrying on a business or business venture in this
state.
History: s. 1, ch. 6224, 1911; RGS 2602; CGL 4249; s. 1, ch. 26657, 1951; s. 1,
ch. 57-747; s. 4, ch. 67-254; s. 2, ch. 84-2; s. 279, ch. 95-147.
Note. Former s. 47.16.