§ 4119. Effect of failure to obtain certificate of authority
(a)(1) A foreign limited liability company transacting business in this State may not maintain a proceeding or raise a counterclaim, crossclaim, or affirmative defense in any court in this State until it obtains a certificate of authority to transact business in this State.
(2) The successor to a foreign limited liability company 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 or raise a counterclaim, crossclaim, or affirmative defense based on that cause of action in any court in this State until the foreign limited liability company or its successor or assignee obtains a certificate of authority.
(b) The failure of a foreign limited liability company to have a certificate of authority to transact business in this State does not impair the validity of a contract or act of the company or prevent the foreign limited liability company from defending an action or proceeding in this State.
(c) A member or manager of a foreign limited liability company is not liable for the debts, obligations, or other liabilities of the company solely because the company transacted business in this State without a certificate of authority.
(d) If a foreign limited liability company transacts business in this State without a certificate of authority, it appoints the Secretary of State as its agent for service of process for claims arising out of the transaction of business in this State.
(e) A foreign limited liability company that transacts business in this State without a certificate of authority shall be liable to the State for:
(1) a civil penalty of $50.00 for each day, not to exceed a total of $10,000.00 for each year, it transacts business in this State without a certificate of authority;
(2) an amount equal to the fees due under this chapter during the period it transacted business in this State without a certificate of authority; and
(3) other penalties imposed by law. (Added 2015, No. 17, § 2; amended 2015, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), § C.8.)