HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 270        FILED ON: 1/13/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 222

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

David Paul Linsky

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to clarification of the Massachusetts franchise law.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

David Paul Linsky

5th Middlesex

1/13/2015

John J. Mahoney

13th Worcester

1/30/2015

Paul McMurtry

11th Norfolk

8/19/2019

Kathleen O'Connor Ives

First Essex

8/19/2019

James J. Dwyer

30th Middlesex

1/20/2015

Harriette L. Chandler

First Worcester

8/19/2019

Jennifer L. Flanagan

Worcester and Middlesex

8/19/2019

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

8/19/2019

James Arciero

2nd Middlesex

8/19/2019

Karen E. Spilka

Second Middlesex and Norfolk

8/19/2019

Alice Hanlon Peisch

14th Norfolk

1/29/2015

Benjamin B. Downing

Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden

8/19/2019

Daniel M. Donahue

16th Worcester

8/19/2019

Aaron Vega

5th Hampden

8/19/2019

Carmine L. Gentile

13th Middlesex

2/2/2015

Tom Sannicandro

7th Middlesex

2/2/2015

Eric P. Lesser

First Hampden and Hampshire

8/19/2019

Anne M. Gobi

Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex

8/19/2019

William N. Brownsberger

Second Suffolk and Middlesex

8/19/2019

Michael J. Barrett

Third Middlesex

8/19/2019

Garrett J. Bradley

3rd Plymouth

8/19/2019

Jonathan Hecht

29th Middlesex

8/19/2019

Richard J. Ross

Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex

8/19/2019

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

8/19/2019

David M. Rogers

24th Middlesex

8/19/2019

James J. O'Day

14th Worcester

8/19/2019

Danielle W. Gregoire

4th Middlesex

8/19/2019

Patricia D. Jehlen

Second Middlesex

8/19/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 270        FILED ON: 1/13/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 222

By Mr. Linsky of Natick, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 222) of David Paul Linsky and others relative to business practices between motor vehicle manufacturers, distributors and dealers.  Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

 

An Act relative to clarification of the Massachusetts franchise law.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1:  Clause 10 of Subsection (c) of Section 4 of Chapter 93B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, by inserting, in line 27, after the word “dealership” the following:-

(iv) owning or operating a dealership when, at the time of establishment of the manufacturer or distributor owned or operated dealership, no franchise agreement existed between the manufacturer or distributor and any dealer in the Commonwealth not owned or operated by the manufacturer or distributor.

SECTION 2:  Section 15 of Chapter 93B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:-

(a) Any manufacturer, distributor or motor vehicle dealer who suffers any loss of money or property, real or personal, as a result of the use or employment by a manufacturer, distributor or motor vehicle dealer of the same line make of an unfair method of competition or an unfair or deceptive act or practice as defined by this chapter, any act prohibited or declared unlawful by this chapter, or any rule or regulation adopted under this chapter, may bring an action in the superior court, or if applicable in the federal district court for the district of Massachusetts, for damages and equitable relief, including injunctive relief, as described in the following sentence: The party filing suit must demonstrate that the manufacturer, distributor or motor vehicle dealer that is conducting or has conducted the unfair method of competition or unfair or deceptive act or practices manufactures, distributes or acts as a dealer for vehicles of the same line make as the party filing suit and that the harm alleged originated from or was the direct result of action taken with respect to such line make.