35-1-1027. Consequences of transacting business without authority. (1) 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 or its successor or assignee until it determines whether the foreign corporation or its successor or assignee requires a certificate of authority. If it determines that a certificate is required, the court may further stay the proceeding until the foreign corporation or its successor obtains the certificate.
     (4) A foreign corporation is liable for a civil penalty of $5 for each day but not to exceed a total of $1,000 for each year that it transacts business in this state without a certificate of authority. The attorney general may collect all penalties due under this subsection.
     (5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (1) and (2), 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.
     (6) A contract between the state of Montana, an agency of the state, or a political subdivision of the state and a foreign corporation that has failed to obtain a certificate of authority, as required under 35-1-1026, is voidable by the state, the contracting state agency, or the contracting political subdivision.

     History: En. Sec. 161, Ch. 368, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 363, L. 1999.