MT Code § 30-14-2502 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 30. Trade and Commerce|Chapter 14. Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection|Part 25. Motorsports Manufacturer Unfair Trade Practices|30-14-2502. Unfair trade practices -- relationship between motorsports manufacturers and motorsports dealers

  30-14-2502. (Temporary) Unfair trade practices -- relationship between motorsports manufacturers and motorsports dealers. (1) In addition to the prohibited practices provided for in 30-14-103 and 61-4-208 and notwithstanding the terms of a franchise agreement, a motorsports manufacturer or an agent, officer, parent company, wholly or partially owned subsidiary, affiliated entity, or other person controlled by or under common control with a motorsports manufacturer may not:   (a) discriminate between motorsports dealers by:   (i) selling or offering to sell a like motorsports vehicle to one motorsports dealer at a lower actual price than the actual price offered to another motorsports dealer for the same model similarly equipped;   (ii) selling or offering to sell parts or accessories to one motorsports dealer at a lower actual price than the actual price offered to another motorsports dealer;   (iii) using a promotion plan, marketing plan, allocation plan, flooring assistance plan, or other similar device that results in a lower actual price on motorsports vehicles, parts, or accessories being charged to one motorsports dealer over another motorsports dealer; or   (iv) using a method of allocating, scheduling, or delivering new motorsports vehicles, parts, or accessories to its motorsports dealers that is not fair, reasonable, and equitable. Upon the request of a motorsports dealer, a motorsports manufacturer shall disclose in writing the method by which new motorsports vehicles, parts, and accessories are allocated, scheduled, or delivered to its motorsports dealers handling the same line or make of vehicles.   (b) give preferential treatment to some motorsports dealers over others by:   (i) refusing or failing to deliver to any of its motorsports dealers, in reasonable quantities and within a reasonable time after receipt of an order, any motorsports vehicle, parts, or accessories that are being delivered to other motorsports dealers;   (ii) requiring a motorsports dealer to purchase unreasonable advertising displays or other materials; or   (iii) requiring a motorsports dealer to remodel or renovate existing facilities as a prerequisite to receiving a model or series of motorsports vehicles;   (c) except as provided in 61-4-208(3)(b) or (3)(c), compete with a motorsports dealer by acting in the capacity of a motorsports dealer or by owning, operating, or controlling, whether directly or indirectly, a motorsports dealership in this state;   (d) compete with a motorsports dealer by owning, operating, or controlling, whether directly or indirectly, a service facility in this state for the repair or maintenance of motorsports vehicles under the motorsports manufacturer's new motorsports vehicle warranty and extended warranty. However, a motorsports manufacturer may own or operate a service facility for the purpose of providing or performing maintenance, repair, or service work on motorsports vehicles that are owned by the motorsports manufacturer.   (e) use confidential or proprietary information obtained from a motorsports dealer to unfairly compete with the motorsports dealer without the prior written consent of the motorsports dealer;   (f) coerce, threaten, intimidate, or require, either directly or indirectly, a motorsports dealer to:   (i) accept, buy, or order any motorsports vehicle, part, accessory, or any other commodity or service not voluntarily ordered or requested;   (ii) buy, order, or pay anything of value other than the purchase price in order to obtain a motorsports vehicle, part, accessory, or other commodity that has been voluntarily ordered or requested;   (iii) enter into any agreement that violates this chapter; or   (iv) order or accept delivery of a motorsports vehicle with special features, accessories, or equipment not included in the list price of the motorsports vehicle as advertised by the motorsports manufacturer, except items that:   (A) have been voluntarily requested or ordered by the motorsports dealer; or   (B) are required by law;   (g) require a change or prevent or attempt to prevent a motorsports dealer from making reasonable changes in the capital structure or means of financing for a motorsports dealership if the motorsports dealer at all times meets reasonable, written, and uniformly applied capital standards determined by the motorsports manufacturer;   (h) fail to hold harmless and indemnify a motorsports dealer against losses, including attorney fees and costs incurred by a motorsports dealer, arising from:   (i) any lawsuit relating to the manufacture or performance of a motorsports vehicle, part, or accessory if the lawsuit involves representations by the motorsports manufacturer relating to the manufacture or performance of a motorsports vehicle, part, or accessory if there is no allegation of negligence on the part of the motorsports dealer;   (ii) damage to merchandise in transit when the motorsports manufacturer specifies the carrier;   (iii) the motorsports manufacturer's failure to jointly defend product liability suits concerning a motorsports vehicle, part, or accessory that the motorsports manufacturer provided to the motorsports dealer; or   (iv) any other act performed by the motorsports manufacturer;   (i) unfairly prevent or attempt to prevent a motorsports dealer from receiving reasonable compensation for the value of motorsports products;   (j) fail to pay to a motorsports dealer, within a reasonable time after receipt of a valid claim, a payment agreed to be made by the motorsports manufacturer;   (k) deny a motorsports dealer the right of free association with any other motorsports dealer for any lawful purpose;   (l) charge increased prices without having given written notice to the motorsports dealer at least 15 days before the effective date of the price increases;   (m) permit factory authorized warranty service to be performed upon motorsports vehicles or accessories by persons other than its motorsports dealers;   (n) require or coerce a motorsports dealer to sell, assign, or transfer a retail sales installment contract or require the motorsports dealer to act as an agent for the motorsports manufacturer in the securing of a promissory note and a security agreement given in connection with the sale of a motorsports vehicle, or a policy of insurance for a motorsports vehicle or condition delivery of any motorsports vehicle, parts, or accessories upon the motorsports dealer's assignment, sale, or other transfer of sales installment contracts to specific finance companies;   (o) require or coerce a motorsports dealer to grant the motorsports manufacturer a right of first refusal or other preference to purchase the motorsports dealer's dealership or place of business, or both;   (p) deny a motorsports dealer the right of lawfully selling or offering to sell motorsports vehicles to customers who reside in another country;   (q) require a motorsports dealer to accept delivery of a number or percentage of motorsport vehicles during a specific period of a sales order;   (r) require a motorsports dealer to maintain an inventory in excess of the inventory needed for a period of 90 days;   (s) refuse to allocate, sell, or deliver motorsports vehicles, may not charge back or withhold payments or other things of value for which the motorsports dealer is otherwise eligible under a sales promotion, program, or contest, and may not prevent the motorsports dealer from participating in any promotion, program, or contest based on the motorsports dealer's selling of a motorsports vehicle to a customer who was present at the dealership if the motorsports dealer did not know or could not have reasonably known that the motorsports vehicle would be shipped to a foreign country. There is a rebuttable presumption that the motorsports dealer did not know or could not have reasonably known that the motorsports vehicle would be shipped to a foreign country if the motorsports vehicle is titled in the United States.   (t) require that any arbitration proceedings or legal action between the parties take place in a venue other than the state of Montana.   (2) Subsection (1)(a) does not apply to a sale to a motorsports dealer for resale to a federal, state, or local governmental agency if:   (a) the motorsports vehicle will be sold or donated for use in a program of driver's education;   (b) the sale is made under a manufacturer's bona fide fleet vehicle discount program; or   (c) the sale is made under a volume discount program that is uniformly available to all the motorsports dealers of a motorsports manufacturer. (Terminates on occurrence of contingency--sec. 6(3), Ch. 240, L. 2009.)   30-14-2502. (Effective on occurrence of contingency) Unfair trade practices -- relationship between motorsports manufacturers and motorsports dealers. (1) In addition to the prohibited practices provided for in 30-14-103 and 61-4-208 and notwithstanding the terms of a franchise agreement, a motorsports manufacturer or an agent, officer, parent company, wholly or partially owned subsidiary, affiliated entity, or other person controlled by or under common control with a motorsports manufacturer may not:   (a) discriminate between motorsports dealers by:   (i) selling or offering to sell a like motorsports vehicle to one motorsports dealer at a lower actual price than the actual price offered to another motorsports dealer for the same model similarly equipped;   (ii) selling or offering to sell parts or accessories to one motorsports dealer at a lower actual price than the actual price offered to another motorsports dealer;   (iii) using a promotion plan, marketing plan, allocation plan, flooring assistance plan, or other similar device that results in a lower actual price on motorsports vehicles, parts, or accessories being charged to one motorsports dealer over another motorsports dealer; or   (iv) using a method of allocating, scheduling, or delivering new motorsports vehicles, parts, or accessories to its motorsports dealers that is not fair, reasonable, and equitable. Upon the request of a motorsports dealer, a motorsports manufacturer shall disclose in writing the method by which new motorsports vehicles, parts, and accessories are allocated, scheduled, or delivered to its motorsports dealers handling the same line or make of vehicles.   (b) give preferential treatment to some motorsports dealers over others by:   (i) refusing or failing to deliver to any of its motorsports dealers, in reasonable quantities and within a reasonable time after receipt of an order, any motorsports vehicle, parts, or accessories that are being delivered to other motorsports dealers;   (ii) requiring a motorsports dealer to purchase unreasonable advertising displays or other materials; or   (iii) requiring a motorsports dealer to remodel or renovate existing facilities as a prerequisite to receiving a model or series of motorsports vehicles;   (c) except as provided in 61-4-208(3)(b) or (3)(c), compete with a motorsports dealer by acting in the capacity of a motorsports dealer or by owning, operating, or controlling, whether directly or indirectly, a motorsports dealership in this state;   (d) compete with a motorsports dealer by owning, operating, or controlling, whether directly or indirectly, a service facility in this state for the repair or maintenance of motorsports vehicles under the motorsports manufacturer's new motorsports vehicle warranty and extended warranty. However, a motorsports manufacturer may own or operate a service facility for the purpose of providing or performing maintenance, repair, or service work on motorsports vehicles that are owned by the motorsports manufacturer.   (e) use confidential or proprietary information obtained from a motorsports dealer to unfairly compete with the motorsports dealer without the prior written consent of the motorsports dealer;   (f) coerce, threaten, intimidate, or require, either directly or indirectly, a motorsports dealer to:   (i) accept, buy, or order any motorsports vehicle, part, accessory, or any other commodity or service not voluntarily ordered or requested;   (ii) buy, order, or pay anything of value other than the purchase price in order to obtain a motorsports vehicle, part, accessory, or other commodity that has been voluntarily ordered or requested;   (iii) enter into any agreement that violates this chapter; or   (iv) order or accept delivery of a motorsports vehicle with special features, accessories, or equipment not included in the list price of the motorsports vehicle as advertised by the motorsports manufacturer, except items that:   (A) have been voluntarily requested or ordered by the motorsports dealer; or   (B) are required by law;   (g) require a change or prevent or attempt to prevent a motorsports dealer from making reasonable changes in the capital structure or means of financing for a motorsports dealership if the motorsports dealer at all times meets reasonable, written, and uniformly applied capital standards determined by the motorsports manufacturer;   (h) fail to hold harmless and indemnify a motorsports dealer against losses, including attorney fees and costs incurred by a motorsports dealer, arising from:   (i) any lawsuit relating to the manufacture or performance of a motorsports vehicle, part, or accessory if the lawsuit involves representations by the motorsports manufacturer relating to the manufacture or performance of a motorsports vehicle, part, or accessory if there is no allegation of negligence on the part of the motorsports dealer;   (ii) damage to merchandise in transit when the motorsports manufacturer specifies the carrier;   (iii) the motorsports manufacturer's failure to jointly defend product liability suits concerning a motorsports vehicle, part, or accessory that the motorsports manufacturer provided to the motorsports dealer; or   (iv) any other act performed by the motorsports manufacturer;   (i) unfairly prevent or attempt to prevent a motorsports dealer from receiving reasonable compensation for the value of motorsports products;   (j) fail to pay to a motorsports dealer, within a reasonable time after receipt of a valid claim, a payment agreed to be made by the motorsports manufacturer;   (k) deny a motorsports dealer the right of free association with any other motorsports dealer for any lawful purpose;   (l) charge increased prices without having given written notice to the motorsports dealer at least 15 days before the effective date of the price increases;   (m) permit factory authorized warranty service to be performed upon motorsports vehicles or accessories by persons other than its motorsports dealers;   (n) require or coerce a motorsports dealer to sell, assign, or transfer a retail sales installment contract or require the motorsports dealer to act as an agent for the motorsports manufacturer in the securing of a promissory note and a security agreement given in connection with the sale of a motorsports vehicle or a policy of insurance for a motorsports vehicle or condition delivery of any motorsports vehicle, parts, or accessories upon the motorsports dealer's assignment, sale, or other transfer of sales installment contracts to specific finance companies;   (o) require or coerce a motorsports dealer to grant the motorsports manufacturer a right of first refusal or other preference to purchase the motorsports dealer's dealership or place of business, or both;   (p) deny a motorsports dealer the right of lawfully selling or offering to sell motorsports vehicles to customers who reside in another country;   (q) require a motorsports dealer to accept delivery of a number or percentage of motorsport vehicles during a specific period of a sales order;   (r) require a motorsports dealer to maintain an inventory in excess of the inventory needed for a period of 90 days;   (s) require that any arbitration proceedings or legal action between the parties take place in a venue other than the state of Montana;   (t) (i) offer a program where a Montana motorsports dealer would be eligible for a benefit or advantage that lowers the actual price of a motorsports vehicle, part, or accessory only if the motorsports dealer purchases from the motorsports manufacturer a quantity of motorsports vehicles, parts, or accessories as determined by the motorsports manufacturer unless:   (A) the motorsports dealer agrees in writing to the quantity of motorsports vehicles, parts, or accessories to be purchased as determined by the motorsports manufacturer; or   (B) the quantity determined by the motorsports manufacturer for each motorsports dealer is reasonable, fair, and equitable based upon the motorsports dealer's purchase history, the history of motorsports sales in the motorsports dealer's community, the motorsports dealer's present inventory of similar motorsports vehicles, parts, and accessories, the market conditions as of the effective date of the offer, and all other factors that are brought to the attention of the motorsports manufacturer by the motorsports dealer. For each offer to which this subsection (1)(t) applies, the motorsports manufacturer shall, if requested, provide the motorsports dealer with a statement in writing specifying the sales goal or objective relating to the offer for each of the motorsports manufacturer's Montana motorsports dealers, identifying each factor that was considered in determining each Montana motorsports dealer's sales goal and objective, and explaining how each factor was evaluated and applied in determining the sales goal or objective for each Montana motorsports dealer.   (ii) For the purposes of this subsection (1)(t), "community" has the meaning provided in 61-4-201.   (u) refuse to allocate, sell, or deliver motorsports vehicles, may not charge back or withhold payments or other things of value for which the motorsports dealer is otherwise eligible under a sales promotion, program, or contest, and may not prevent the motorsports dealer from participating in any promotion, program, or contest based on the motorsports dealer's selling of a motorsports vehicle to a customer who was present at the dealership if the motorsports dealer did not know or could not have reasonably known that the motorsports vehicle would be shipped to a foreign country. There is a rebuttable presumption that the motorsports dealer did not know or could not have reasonably known that the motorsports vehicle would be shipped to a foreign country if the motorsports vehicle is titled in the United States.   (2) (a) Subsection (1)(a) does not apply to a sale to a motorsports dealer for resale to a federal, state, or local governmental agency if:   (i) the motorsports vehicle will be sold or donated for use in a program of driver's education;   (ii) the sale is made under a manufacturer's bona fide fleet vehicle discount program; or   (iii) the sale is made under a volume discount program that is uniformly available to all the motorsports dealers of a motorsports manufacturer.   (b) Subsection (1)(a) does not apply to sales to a motorsports dealer pursuant to a motorsports manufacturer's promotional or incentive program under which eligibility for any benefit or advantage that would reduce the actual price of motorsports products to a motorsports dealer is determined based on the motorsports dealer meeting any sales goals or objectives if the motorsports dealer agrees in writing with the sales goals or objectives or the sales goals or objectives are reasonable, fair, and equitable and meet all of the requirements of subsection (1)(t).   History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 152, L. 2007; amd. Secs. 2, 3, Ch. 240, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 93, L. 2017.