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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 812 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 354
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
David Paul Linsky
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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.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:David Paul Linsky5th Middlesex1/17/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 812 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 354
By Representative Linsky of Natick, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. [BILL
NUMBER]) of David Paul Linsky relative to business practices between motor vehicle
manufacturers, distributors and dealers. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 423 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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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:
1 SECTION 1. Clause 10 of Subsection (c) of Section 4 of Chapter 93B of the General
2Laws, by inserting, in line 257, after the word “dealership” the following:-
3 (iv) owning or operating a dealership when, at the time of establishment of the
4manufacturer or distributor owned or operated dealership, no franchise agreement existed
5between the manufacturer or distributor and any dealer in the Commonwealth not owned or
6operated by the manufacturer or distributor.
7 SECTION 2. Section 15 of Chapter 93B of the General Laws, is hereby amended by
8striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:- 2 of 2
9 (a) Any manufacturer, distributor or motor vehicle dealer who suffers any loss of money
10or property, real or personal, as a result of the use or employment by a manufacturer, distributor
11or motor vehicle dealer of the same line make of an unfair method of competition or an unfair or
12deceptive act or practice as defined by this chapter, any act prohibited or declared unlawful by
13this chapter, or any rule or regulation adopted under this chapter, may bring an action in the
14superior court, or if applicable in the federal district court for the district of Massachusetts, for
15damages and equitable relief, including injunctive relief, as described in the following sentence:
16The party filing suit must demonstrate that the manufacturer, distributor or motor vehicle dealer
17that is conducting or has conducted the unfair method of competition or unfair or deceptive act or
18practices manufactures, distributes or acts as a dealer for vehicles of the same line make as the
19party filing suit and that the harm alleged originated from or was the direct result of action taken
20with respect to such line make.