§1248. Warranty
1.
Parts or labor; satisfaction of warranty or recall.
If a franchisor requires or permits a franchisee to perform labor or provide parts to satisfy a warranty created by the franchisor, the franchisor shall properly and promptly fulfill its warranty obligations and:
A.
Reimburse the franchisee at the retail rate customarily charged for all parts used by the franchisee to satisfy the warranty or any recall. If the franchisor provides a part to the franchisee for a specific warranty repair, the franchisor shall compensate the franchisee for the difference between the cost of the part to the franchisee and the full retail price of the part, which may not be less than the cost of any such part already in the franchisee's parts inventory; and
[PL 2025, c. 592, §9 (RPR).]
B.
Reimburse the franchisee for actual labor performed by the franchisee to satisfy the warranty, including time to diagnose the problems. The diagnostic time must be reasonable and supported by the franchisee's records. Reimbursement for labor must be in accordance with the time manual used by the franchisee and may not be less than the retail rate customarily charged by that franchisee for the same labor when not performed to satisfy a warranty. To be entitled to reimbursement under this section, a franchisee must post the rate for labor not performed to satisfy a warranty in a place conspicuous to service customers.
[PL 2025, c. 592, §9 (RPR).]
[PL 2025, c. 592, §9 (RPR).]
2.
Claim.
A claim by a franchisee for compensation for parts provided or for reimbursement for labor performed to satisfy a warranty must be approved or disapproved within 30 days of receipt by the franchisor. A claim that is approved must be paid within 30 days of its approval. If a franchisor disapproves a claim, the franchisor shall notify the franchisee that submitted the claim within 30 days of disapproval of the specific reasons for disapproval.
[PL 2025, c. 592, §9 (RPR).]
3.
Restrictions prohibited.
A franchisor may not, by agreement, by restriction upon reimbursement or otherwise, restrict the nature or extent of labor performed or parts provided if such a restriction impairs the franchisee's ability to satisfy a warranty created by the franchisor or any recall by performing labor competently or by providing parts in accordance with generally accepted standards.
[PL 2025, c. 592, §9 (RPR).]
4.
Costs; fees.
If a franchisee brings a legal action to collect a disapproved claim and is successful in that action, the court shall award the franchisee the cost of the action and reasonable attorney's fees. Reasonable attorney's fees must be determined by the value of the time reasonably expended by the attorney and not by the amount of the recovery on behalf of the franchisee.
[PL 2025, c. 592, §9 (RPR).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1997, c. 473, §3 (NEW). PL 1997, c. 717, §4 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 592, §9 (RPR).