Sec. 7.198.  APPEARANCE.  (a)  A defendant private corporation appears through counsel or its representative.
(b)  If a private corporation does not appear in response to summons or appears but does not plead, the corporation is considered to be present in person for all purposes, and the court shall enter a plea of not guilty on the corporation's behalf and may proceed with trial, judgment, and sentencing.
(c)  After appearing and entering a plea in response to summons, if a private corporation is absent without good cause at any time during later proceedings, the corporation is considered to be present in person for all purposes, and the court may proceed with trial, judgment, or sentencing.
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1072, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.