Terms Used In Michigan Laws 445.1579

  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • in writing: shall be construed to include printing, engraving, and lithographing; except that if the written signature of a person is required by law, the signature shall be the proper handwriting of the person or, if the person is unable to write, the person's proper mark, which may be, unless otherwise expressly prohibited by law, a clear and classifiable fingerprint of the person made with ink or another substance. See Michigan Laws 8.3q
  • Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. Source: FDIC
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  (1) Notwithstanding the terms, provisions, or conditions of any dealer agreement, a manufacturer or distributor shall indemnify and hold harmless its new motor vehicle dealers against any judgment for damages or settlement agreed to in writing by the manufacturer, including, but not limited to, court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees of the new motor vehicle dealer arising solely out of the complaints, claims, or actions from defects that relate to the manufacture, assembly, or design of vehicles, parts, or accessories, or other functions by the manufacturer or distributor, that are beyond the control of the dealer, including, without limitation, the selection by the manufacturer or distributor of parts or components for the vehicle, or any damages to merchandise occurring in transit to the dealer if the carrier is designated by the manufacturer or distributor. If a complaint, claim, or action contains independent allegations against the new motor vehicle dealer, the manufacturer shall pay only that portion of the costs, fees, and judgment or settlement that is directly related to the manufacture, assembly, or design of the vehicle, parts, or accessories or other functions of the manufacturer that are beyond the control of the dealer.
  (2) A manufacturer must respond to a request for indemnification under this section within 30 days after the date the new motor vehicle dealer submits all documents necessary to support its request to the manufacturer.
  (3) A dealer does not have a right to indemnification or attorney fees under subsection (1) unless the dealer has given reasonable notice in writing of the complaint, claim, or action to the manufacturer or distributor.