Section 6-54-1. – Short title.

§ 6-54-1. Short title. This chapter shall be known as the “Rhode Island Dealership Preservation and Protection Act.” History of Section.P.L. 2013, ch. 308, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 370, § 1.

Section 6-54-10. – Exclusive jurisdiction.

§ 6-54-10. Exclusive jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any agreements between grantor and dealer to the contrary, the courts in Rhode Island shall have the exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes arising out of or relating to this chapter including, but not limited to, any claim for which a dealer relies on this chapter as a defense to any […]

Section 6-54-2. – Definitions.

§ 6-54-2. Definitions. As used in this chapter: (1) “Community of interest” means a continuing financial interest between the grantor and the grantee in either the operation of the dealership business or the marketing of such goods or services. (2) “Continuing financial interest” means the following: (i) A dealership relationship of at least one year […]

Section 6-54-3. – Purposes; rules of construction; variation by contract.

§ 6-54-3. Purposes; rules of construction; variation by contract. (a) This chapter shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying remedial purposes and policies. (b) The underlying purposes and policies of this chapter are: (1) To promote the compelling interest of the public in fair business relations between dealers and grantors, and in […]

Section 6-54-4. – Notice of termination or change in dealership.

§ 6-54-4. Notice of termination or change in dealership. (a) Notwithstanding the terms, provisions, or conditions of any agreement to the contrary, a grantor shall provide a dealer sixty (60) days prior written notice of termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal. The notice shall state all reasons for termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal and shall provide that the […]

Section 6-54-5. – Repurchase of inventories.

§ 6-54-5. Repurchase of inventories. If a dealership is terminated by the grantor, the grantor, at the option of the dealer, shall repurchase all inventories sold by the grantor to the dealer for resale under the dealership agreement at the fair market value. This section applies only to merchandise with a name, trademark, label or […]

Section 6-54-6. – Application to arbitration agreements.

§ 6-54-6. Application to arbitration agreements. This chapter shall not apply to provisions for the binding arbitration of disputes contained in a dealership agreement, if the criteria for determining whether good cause existed for a termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal, and the relief provided is no less than that provided for in this chapter. History of […]

Section 6-54-7. – Action for damages and injunctive relief.

§ 6-54-7. Action for damages and injunctive relief. If any grantor violates this chapter, a dealer may bring an action against such grantor in any court of competent jurisdiction for damages sustained by the dealer as a consequence of the grantor’s violation, together with the actual costs of the action, including reasonable actual attorneys’ fees, […]

Section 6-54-8. – Temporary injunctions.

§ 6-54-8. Temporary injunctions. In any action brought by a dealer against a grantor under this chapter, any violation of this chapter by the grantor is deemed an irreparable injury to the dealer in determining if temporary injunctions should issue. History of Section.P.L. 2013, ch. 308, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 370, § 1.

Section 6-54-9. – Nonapplicability.

§ 6-54-9. Nonapplicability. This chapter shall not apply to malt beverage dealerships; motor vehicle dealerships; insurance agency relationships; any relationship relating to the sale or administration of insurance or any similar contract with an entity organized under chapter 19 or 20 of title 27; fuel distribution dealerships; door-to-door sales; dealers and single-line dealers as defined […]