Consequences of transacting business without authority
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A foreign business trust 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.
The successor to a foreign business trust 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 business trust or its successor obtains a certificate of authority.
A court may stay a proceeding commenced by a foreign business trust, its successor or assignee until it determines whether the foreign business trust or its successor requires a certificate of authority. If it so determines, the court may further stay a proceeding until the foreign business trust or its successor obtains a certificate.
A foreign business trust is liable for a civil penalty of Ten Dollars ($10.00) for each day, but not to exceed a total of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for each year it transacts business in this state without a certificate of authority. The Attorney General may collect all penalties due under this subsection.
Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), the failure of a foreign business trust to obtain a certificate of authority does not impair the validity of its acts or prevent it from defending any proceeding in this state.