Plaintiff-insureds appeal the order dismissing their declaratory judgment action on the ground that Choctaw County was not the proper venue to litigate a controversy concerning premiums due the defendant State Insurance Fund. Venue in Choctaw County was challenged by the State Insurance Fund (1) on the basis of the insurance contracts that made Oklahoma County the venue of all actions, and (2) under 12 O.S.1991 § 133 (Second), which fixes venue of actions against public officers for their official acts in the county of their “official residence.” It is undisputed that Oklahoma County is the “official residence” of the State Insurance Fund and its Commissioner, who manages the Fund and conducts its litigation. Insureds unsuccessfully resisted a venue dismissal by arguing that (1) the venue selection provisions in the contracts were void, and (2) one o.f the statutes governing the State Insurance Fund — 85 O.S.1991 § 133(1) — expressly authorizes the Fund’s Commissioner to “[s]ue
As a general rule, forum selection clauses in contracts are prima facie valid and should be enforced unless clearly unreasonable; a court may properly refuse to exercise its jurisdiction out of respect for the intent of the parties concerning the venue of any litigation concerning the contract. See Eads v. Woodmen of the World Life Ins.,
AFFIRMED.
