Compass Motors, Inc. v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

36 Misc. 3d 283
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedMay 8, 2012
StatusPublished

This text of 36 Misc. 3d 283 (Compass Motors, Inc. v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Compass Motors, Inc. v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., 36 Misc. 3d 283 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 2012).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Lawrence H. Ecker, J.

The decision and order of the court is as follows:

Ordered that plaintiffs motions are denied; and it is further, ordered that defendants’ cross motion is denied.

Introduction

Plaintiff Compass Motors, Inc. is a franchised motor vehicle dealer for defendant Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (hereinafter Volkswagen Group). Werner Mersch is a regional manager for Volkswagen Group. As part of its dealership agreement, plaintiff agreed to renovate its facilities. Volkswagen Group sent plaintiff a 90-day notice of termination based on plaintiff’s failure to comply with that requirement. Plaintiff commenced this action to challenge the termination. As a fourth cause of action, plaintiff seeks a declaration that the notice of termination was invalid, because Volkswagen Group failed to provide it with 180 days’ notice to cure, as allegedly required by the New York Franchised Motor Vehicle Dealer Act (Vehicle and Traffic Law art 17-A). Plaintiff moves for summary judgment on that cause of action. Defendants cross-move to dismiss the fourth cause of action, arguing that only 90 days’ notice was required. The motion and the cross motion are denied.

Under the circumstances presented, only 90 days’ notice was required. Thus, plaintiffs motion is denied. However, [285]*285this does not resolve all of the issues raised in the fourth cause of action as to the validity of the notice of termination. Thus, because defendants failed to demonstrate, prima facie, that none of the remaining grounds have merit, defendants are not entitled to summary judgment dismissing the fourth cause of action.

Factual and Procedural Background

In August 2007, plaintiff Compass Motors, Inc. (formerly known as Middletown Motors, Inc.) entered into a dealership agreement with defendant Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. to operate a Volkswagen dealership in Middletown, New York (plaintiffs exhibit B). As part of the agreement, plaintiff agreed to renovate its facilities pursuant to a Facility Renovation Agreement made exhibit C to the dealership agreement. Pursuant to the Facility Renovation Agreement, plaintiff agreed to renovate its premises to a “minimum Marketplace ‘C’ Level Facility” as set forth in various corporate documents. Requirements included, inter alia, (1) a Volkswagen only showroom with a minimum of 1,800 square feet and three offices, which showcased no less than four new Volkswagen vehicles, and which was used exclusively for new car sales; and (2) a Volkswagen only service area with at least seven work stalls, a minimum of 1,225 square feet of storage for Volkswagen parts, and a separate service write-up area.

The Facility Renovation Agreement set forth a timetable for the design and construction of the renovated facility, which was to be completed by December 1, 2008. Further, the agreement provided:

“If Dealer shall fail to adhere to any timetable or meet any deadline specified in this Addendum, due to delays wholly out of Dealer’s control, and despite Dealer’s best efforts to meet each deadline or adhere to each timetable, then Dealer may petition [Volkswagen Group] for an extension. To do so, Dealer shall, no later than five days prior to any deadline, notify [Volkswagen Group] in writing of the specified reasons for noncompliance and the new date for compliance. [Volkswagen Group] in its sole discretion, may review Dealer’s reasons for failing to meet such deadline, and [Volkswagen Group] in its sole option may accept or disapprove the extension. Regardless of the reason for noncompliance, if Dealer does not timely complete all its undertakings [286]*286there under, Dealer acknowledges that [Volkswagen Group] would have good cause, under the New York General Law, to terminate this agreement.”

The Facility Renovation Agreement also provided:

“If Dealer shall, without written approval from [Volkswagen Group], fail to comply timely with any provisions of this Addendum, or if Dealer shall fail to comply with any of [Volkswagen Group’s] requirements at the Dealer’s Premises, then Dealer agrees that, regardless of the weight or magnitude of, or reason for, such failure, [Volkswagen Group] may, at its option, terminate the Dealer Agreement of which this Addendum is part, and shall be under no obligation to offer to enter into any subsequent Dealer Agreement with Dealer. Dealer acknowledges that, in that event, [Volkswagen Group] would have good cause for terminating or failing to renew the Dealer Agreement.” (Plaintiffs exhibit B.)

In October 2007, various e-mails passed between plaintiff and representatives of Volkswagen Group concerning the required signage for the dealership under the Facility Renovation Agreement (defendants’ cross motion, exhibit H). This included a request for a change in the same by plaintiff because the required signage needed a variance.

By letter dated April 7, 2008, Volkswagen Group informed plaintiff that it was in violation of its dealership agreement (Oyler affirmation, exhibit 17). Cited violations included that plaintiff had not provided a site survey by December 1, 2007, or a complete set of construction drawings by March 1, 2008, as required by the Facility Renovation Agreement. Further, plaintiff had rated poorly in customer service. Volkswagen Group noted that if plaintiff did not intend to complete its obligations, it should either surrender the dealership or start looking for a buyer.

By e-mail dated April 8, 2008, plaintiff acknowledged the letter (supra) (defendants’ cross motion, exhibit K). Plaintiff noted that, while it was “certainly not satisfied” with the progress it had made, it was working hard within the constraints imposed by the local authorities to satisfy its obligations.

By letter dated May 1, 2008, Volkswagen Group informed plaintiff that it had not provided, as requested, a written plan for fulfilling its obligations under the Facility Renovation Agreement (Oyler affirmation, exhibit 19).

[287]*287By letter dated May 3, 2008, plaintiff stated that it believed that it was in compliance with the dealership agreement, and that it was discouraged by the hostile manner in which it was being treated by Volkswagen Group (Oyler affirmation, exhibit 30). Plaintiff sought a discussion on how it might proceed in order to achieve success.

By letter dated May 5, 2008, plaintiff complained to Volkswagen Group that, although it was working hard to accomplish its goals, Volkswagen Group was choosing to “routinely chastise” it for its shortcomings rather than help. Plaintiff characterized the parties’ relationship as “difficult from the start” and “combative.” Plaintiff asserted that it had made progress in improving the dealership, and had invested money in technology and the facility. Plaintiff suggested that the parties work together rather than exchange “accusatory correspondence.” (Plaintiffs cross motion, exhibit N.)

By e-mail dated July 2, 2008, Volkswagen Group noted that it was sending plaintiff two Jettas (Oyler affirmation, exhibit 29).

By letter dated July 14, 2008, Volkswagen Group followed up on a meeting held on June 16, 2008 (Oyler affirmation, exhibit 20). The letter noted that plaintiff was in violation of the dealership agreement as to the Facility Renovation Agreement, and that plaintiff had requested an extension of time to fulfill its obligations thereunder.

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Bluebook (online)
36 Misc. 3d 283, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/compass-motors-inc-v-volkswagen-group-of-america-inc-nysupct-2012.