When the legal successor fails to appear and substitute himself for the deceased party within the delay allowed in the summons, on ex parte written motion of any other party, the court may:
(1) Dismiss the action as to the deceased party, with or without prejudice, if the deceased was a plaintiff; or
(2) When the legal successor of a deceased defendant has not been served by personal or domiciliary service with summons to appear and substitute, appoint an attorney at law to represent such legal successor, and the action shall be proceeded with contradictorily against the attorney at law.
Amended by Acts 1968, No. 123, §1.