Automotive Industry & Dealership | Eckert Seamans

Overview

The Automotive Industry & Dealership Group is the intersection of the diverse skills and experiences of Eckert Seamans attorneys across numerous areas of law, meeting our clients’ specialized needs with efficient and cost-effective legal representation. From the largest companies with the most recognizable brand names to the merging companies striving to revolutionize the industry, our attorneys protect the interests of, defend, and counsel local and national automotive industry clients on complex matters across a variety of sectors, including manufacturing, distribution, and retail.

Our clients can feel secure knowing the firm’s collective expertise includes matters such as:

Floor plan/retail financing/leasing matters, including exposure and risks for lenders;
Consumer claims, automotive warranties and state consumer protection statutes;
Investigations and enforcement actions by various federal and state regulatory agencies;
Dealership and franchise-related matters;
Wholesale distribution of vehicles and parts;
Land use;
Government and regulatory compliance, including navigation of regulatory issues raised by new technologies and analytics;
Advertising regulations;
Licensing issues;
Employment issues;
Retail credit relationships;
Finance and insurance matters;
Products liability litigation (single cases, pattern litigation, mass tort and class action) and automotive design and manufacturing issues; and
Bankruptcy representation, both as debtor experiencing financial pressures (in and out of court workouts or reorganizations) or as a creditor (including, but not limited to relief from automatic stay motions, preference issues, workouts and collections).

News & Insights

Publications:

New Jersey Automobile Industry Trends and Topics: Recent Enforcement Activity by State Agencies, Legislative Trends and New Laws

Legal Updates:

NJ Auto Industry Update: Legislative Update and Compliance Tips

New Jersey Auto Industry Alert: COVID-19 Update

NJ Auto Industry Alert: COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Update: More Restrictions for Essential Retail Business, and New Tax Deadlines

NJ Auto Industry Alert: COVID-19 Update

NJ Auto Industry Alert: COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 News from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and New Tax Deadlines

New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission’s COVID-19 Deadlines that Impact Dealers and New Collateral Protection Requirements

Bill Allows Dealers To Offer Vehicle Subscription Services Along With Selling And Leasing; Compliance Tips For Including And Enforcing Arbitration Provisions In Sales Documents; And New Case Law Holds That Dealers And Lenders Do Not Need To Automatically Return Repossessed Vehicles To Consumers That File For Bankruptcy Protection

New Law Bars Asking Job Applicants About Their Salary History and Compliance Tips Concerning Retail Sales Of Vehicles Without Titles

Sales Tax To Decrease; Bill Concerning Temporary Registrations For Out of State Consumers Advances and New Law Proposed To Limit Spot Delivery

New Disclosure Requirements For Motor Vehicle Dealers

Legislation Important to Motor Vehicle Dealers: New Payment Assurance Device Law, Temporary Registration Legislation Advances and New Requirements About Lien Payoffs Introduced into the Legislature

Mid-Year Review of Legislation that Can Impact your Dealership

Legislation Important to the Used Car Dealer Community: NJ Payment Assurance Device Legislation Advances Out of the Senate Commerce Committee, Proposed Law Limits Use of Payment Assurance Devices and Conditions Use on 10 Point Interest Rate Deduction; Creates Violation of Consumer Fraud Act

Gov. Christie Vetoes $15 Minimum Wage; U.S. Dept. Of Labor Backs Service

New MVC Dealer Regulations Expected, Legislature Tackles $15 Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave

Recall Actions, Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave

Regulatory Update: Major changes Expected – Legislation Anticipated after NJ State Commission of Investigation Blasts NJ MVC for Alleged Fraud and Misconduct

Regulatory Update: NJ State Commission of Investigation Releases Scathing Report on NJ MVC; Significant Regulatory Changes Expected

New Jersey Attorney General’s Office Continues to Aggressively Pursue Car Dealers; Paid Sick Leave Bills Remain Pending

Dealers Face Heightened Scrutiny by Attorney General; Legislature Continues Seeking Expanded Employee Protections and Benefits

Governor Conditionally Vetoes Bill Concerning Dealer Obligation for Emissions; Enforceability of Arbitration Provisions Used by Dealers Continue to be Eroded by the Courts

Dealer Obligations Concerning Emissions Expected to Change; Expanded Enforcement Activity by the FTC

Legislative Update: Potential Restrictions on Payment Assurance Devices and Buyers Orders

RECALL BILLS PASS ASSEMBLY - LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: Bill Requires Dealerships to Notify Buyers (but Not Fix) Outstanding Recalls When Selling Used Cars on a Retail Basis; Creates Violation of Consumer Fraud Act

New Jersey Automobile Industry Trends and Topics: Proposed Legislation That Can Impact Your Dealership

Airbags and Other Recalls: Dealers’ Obligations in New Jersey

New Jersey Automobile Industry Trends and Topics: New Regulations, Case Law, and Recent Enforcement Activity That Can Impact Your Dealership

New Jersey Automobile Industry Trends and Topics: Case Law, and Legislation That Can Impact Your Dealership

New Jersey Automobile Industry Trends and Topics: Recent Enforcement Activity by State Agencies, Legislative Trends and New Laws

New Jersey Automobile Industry Trends and Topics: Settlement of Civil Suit; New Regulations and Legislation

New Jersey Automobile Industry Trends and Topics: Case Law, Regulations and Legislation

Media Coverage:

Tony Bush discusses fugitive luxury car salesman Bobby Khan on premiere episode of new CNBC series

Related Practice Areas

Business Counseling

Financial Services Litigation

Class Action Litigation

Litigation Management Online

Product Liability