GA Motor Vehicle Franchise Practices Act item was acquired more than 60 months preceding the effective date of the termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal. (4) The repurchase of any item under this subsection shall be accomplished within 60 days of the effective date of the termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal or within 60 days of the receipt of the item by the franchisor, whichever is later in time, provided the dealer has clear title to the inventory and other items or is able to convey such title to the franchisor and does convey or transfer title and possession of the inventory and other items to the franchisor. (5) In the event the franchisor does not pay the dealer the amounts due under this subsection or subsection (h) of this Code section within the time period set forth in this subsection, the franchisor shall, in addition to any amounts due, pay the dealer interest on such amount. This interest shall not begin to accrue until the time for payment has expired. The interest shall be computed monthly on any balance due and the monthly interest rate shall be one-twelfth of the sum of the then current Wall Street Journal Prime Interest Rate and 1 percentage point. (g) If a termination or nonrenewal of a franchise is the result of a bankruptcy filing or reorganization of a franchisor or the sale or other change in the business operation of the franchisor, the franchisor shall be required to pay the fair market value of the franchise as of the date of the notice of termination or nonrenewal or 12 months prior to the date of notice of termination or nonrenewal, whichever is greater. Fair market value shall be the goodwill value of the dealer’s franchise in the dealer’s community or territory. In addition, if the termination or nonrenewal of a franchise is the result of a bankruptcy filing or reorganization of a franchise or the sale or other change in the business operation of the franchisor, the franchisor shall also be required to reimburse the dealer for the cost of facility upgrades and renovations required by the franchisor within two years prior to the termination or nonrenewal. Termination assistance provided for in this subsection shall be in addition to repurchase obligations otherwise set forth in this Code section. (h) Within 60 days of the termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal of any franchise by the franchisor, the franchisor shall commence to reimburse the dealer for one year of the dealer’s reasonable cost to rent or lease the dealership’s facility or location or for the unexpired term of the lease or rental period, whichever is less, or, if the dealer owns the facility or location, for the equivalent of one year of the reasonable rental value of the facilities or location. If more than one franchise is being terminated, canceled, or not renewed, the reimbursement shall be prorated equally among the different franchisors. However, if a franchise is terminated, canceled, or not renewed but the dealer continues in business at the same location under a different franchise agreement, the reimbursement required by this subsection shall not be required to be paid. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply if the dealer is convicted of any criminal offense which conviction is cause of the termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal. In addition, any reimbursement due under this subsection shall be reduced by any amount received by the dealer by virtue of the dealer leasing, subleasing, or selling the facilities or location during the year immediately following the termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal. If reimbursement is made under this subsection, the franchisor is entitled to possession and use of the facilities or location for the period covered by such reimbursement. (i) If, in an action for damages under this Code section, the franchisor fails to prove that there was good cause for the franchise termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal, then the franchisor may pay the dealer an amount equal to the value of the dealership as an ongoing business, at which time the franchisor shall receive any title to the dealership facilities which the dealer may have and the franchisee shall surrender his franchise agreement to the franchisor. If the dealer receives an amount equal to the value as an ongoing business, the dealer shall have no other recovery from the franchisor absent a showing such as would warrant punitive damages under Code Section 10-1-623. (j) Without limitation as to factors which may constitute or indicate a lack of good cause, no termination shall be considered to be for good cause: (1) If such termination relates to the death or disability of an owner and the franchisor has not complied with Code Section 10-1-652; or (2) If such termination relates to a change in ownership or management and the franchisor has not complied with Code Section 10-1-653. WWW.GADA.COM | 73
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