56:10-19 - Notice to franchisees in relevant market area; protest; notice of filing; determination of agency to hear
56:10-19. Notice to franchisees in relevant market area; protest; notice of filing; determination of agency to hear A motor vehicle franchisor shall give its existing franchisees in the same line make within the relevant market area 90 days' advance written notice of its intention to grant, relocate, reopen or reactivate a franchise of the same line make or establish, relocate, reopen or reactivate a business. Any franchisee who is entitled to receive the written notice may file with the committee a protest to the granting, relocating, reopening or reactivation of the franchise or the establishment, relocation, reopening or reactivation of the business within 30 days of receipt of the notice or 30 days after the end of any appeal procedure provided by the motor vehicle franchisor, whichever is later. A protest shall set forth all reasons for objecting to the granting, reopening, or reactivation of a franchise and shall be accompanied by a concise statement of the facts and supporting affidavits for all issues raised in the protest. When a protest is filed, the chairman of the committee shall notify the motor vehicle franchisor and the franchisee in writing that it has been filed and shall forthwith determine either to transmit the protests to the Office of Administrative Law for hearing or to conduct a hearing directly.
L.1982, c. 156, s. 4, eff. Oct. 27, 1982.