26.1-11-18. Attorney's fees

26.1-11-18. Attorney's fees In any action against an unauthorized foreign or alien insurance company upon an insurance contract issued or delivered in this state to a resident of this state or to a corporation or limited liability company authorized to do business in this state, if the insurance company has failed for thirty days after demand prior to the commencement of the action to make payment in accordance with the terms of the contract, and it appears to the court that refusal was vexatious and without reasonable cause, the court may allow to the plaintiff a reasonable attorney's fee and include the fee in any judgment that may be rendered in the action. The fee may not exceed twelve and one-half percent of the amount which the court or jury finds the plaintiff is entitled to recover against the insurance company, but the fee awarded may not be less than twenty-five dollars. Failure of an insurance company to defend any action is prima facie evidence that its failure to make payment was vexatious and without reasonable cause.