Defenses
A motorcycle or ATV company that sells through dealers (a franchisor) can defend itself in court against a dealer's lawsuit in several situations. Those situations include: the dealer didn't follow the rules of the agreement, the dealer or its leaders were convicted of a felony related to dishonest business, the dealer closed or walked away from the business, the dealer went bankrupt or became insolvent, or a court took control of the dealer's business or assets. It is also a defense if the company was acting in good faith based on its legal rights as a seller or loan holder under Missouri's commercial laws.
407.1043. s. — It shall be a defense for a motorcycle or , to any brought sections 407.1025 to 407.1049 by a motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle , if it is shown that such motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle franchisee has failed to substantially comply with reasonable and lawful requirements imposed by the and other agreements or , or if the motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle franchisee, or any of its officers, have been of a relevant to business honesty or business practices, or if the motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle franchisee has ceased conducting its business or has the franchise, or is as that term is defined in (23) of section 400.1-201, or has filed a , or has made an , or has been the subject of an under the Federal Bankruptcy Act or under any state law which is not within twenty days from the institution thereof, or there has been an appointment of a or other officer having similar powers for the motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle franchisee or the motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle franchisee's business who is not within twenty days from the person's appointment, or there has been a , or similar which is not within ten days vacated or removed by payment or , and it shall be a defense to any action brought pursuant to sections 407.1025 to 407.1049 that the complained of conduct by a motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle franchisor was undertaken in pursuit of rights or accorded to a motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle franchisor as a of goods or a of a pursuant to the of chapter 400.
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Source & history notes
(L. 1998 H.B. 1055 § 7)
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.