State of South Dakota
|
SEVENTY-FOURTH
SESSION
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, 1999 |
607C0723 |
SENATE BILL
NO.
194
|
Introduced by: Senators Flowers, Dennert, Drake, Hutmacher, Kloucek, and Symens and Representatives McNenny, Cerny, Chicoine, Fryslie, Jaspers, and Weber |
FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to
provide certain restrictions for dealership contracts for
agricultural equipment.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. Terms used in this Act mean:
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. Terms used in this Act mean:
(1) "Dealer," any person who receives agricultural equipment from a manufacturer under
a dealership contract and who offers and sells the agricultural equipment to the
general public;
(2) "Dealership contract," a written agreement or contract between a manufacturer and
dealer which fixes the legal rights and liabilities of the parties to such agreement or
contract;
(3) "Manufacturer," any person engaged in the manufacturing or distribution of
agricultural equipment including any person who acts for the manufacturer.
Section 2. The following circumstances are not cause for the termination or noncontinuance of a dealership contract, nor for entering into a dealership contract for the establishment of an additional dealership in a community for the same line-make:
Section 2. The following circumstances are not cause for the termination or noncontinuance of a dealership contract, nor for entering into a dealership contract for the establishment of an additional dealership in a community for the same line-make:
(1) The change of executive management or ownership of the dealer, unless the
manufacturer can show that the change would be detrimental to the representation or
reputation of the manufacturer's product;
(2) Refusal by the dealer to purchase or accept delivery of any agricultural equipment,
parts, accessories, or any other commodity or service not ordered by the dealer;
(3) The sole fact that the manufacturer desires further penetration of the market;
(4) The fact that the dealer owns, has an investment in, participates in the management
of, or holds a dealership contract for the sale of another line-make of agricultural
equipment, or that the dealer has established another line-make of agricultural
equipment in the same dealership facilities as those of the manufacturer, if the dealer
maintains a reasonable line of credit for each line-make of agricultural equipment; or
(5) Refusal by the dealer to participate in any advertising campaign or contest or purchase
any promotional materials, display devices, or display decoration or materials which
are at the expense of the dealer.
Section 3. No manufacturer may require a dealer to agree to the inclusion of a term or condition in a dealership contract, or in any lease or agreement ancillary or collateral to a dealership contract, as a condition to the offer, grant, or renewal of such dealership contract, lease, or agreement, that:
Section 3. No manufacturer may require a dealer to agree to the inclusion of a term or condition in a dealership contract, or in any lease or agreement ancillary or collateral to a dealership contract, as a condition to the offer, grant, or renewal of such dealership contract, lease, or agreement, that:
(1) Requires the dealer to waive trial by jury in cases involving the manufacturer;
(2) Specifies the jurisdictions, venues, or tribunals in which disputes arising with respect
to the dealership contract, lease, or agreement shall or may not be submitted for
resolution or otherwise prevents a dealer from bringing an action in a particular forum
otherwise available under the law;
(3) Requires that disputes between the manufacturer and dealer be submitted to
arbitration or to any other binding alternate dispute resolution procedure. However,
any dealership contract, lease, or agreement may authorize the submission of a dispute
to arbitration or to binding alternate dispute resolution if the manufacturer and dealer
voluntarily agree to submit the dispute to arbitration or binding alternate dispute
resolution at the time the dispute arises; or
(4) Requires a dealer to pay the attorney fees of a manufacturer.
This section does not apply to any agreement that has as its main objective the lease or sale
of real property.