§45-2-22.08. Compensation for violation; arbitration.

(a) Except as provided for in this part, a supplier that has amended, modified, cancelled, terminated, or refused to renew any agreement; or has caused a wholesaler to resign from any agreement; or has interfered with, prevented, or unreasonably delayed, or where required by this part, has withheld or unreasonably delayed consent to or approval of, any assignment or transfer of a wholesaler's business, shall pay the wholesaler reasonable compensation for the diminished value of the wholesaler's business, including any ancillary business which has been negatively affected by the act of the supplier. The value of the wholesaler's business or ancillary business shall include, but not be limited to, any good will. Provided, however, nothing contained in this part shall give rise to a claim against the supplier or wholesaler by any proposed purchaser of wholesaler's business.

(b) Should either party, at any time, determine that mutual agreement on the amount of reasonable compensation cannot be reached, the supplier or the wholesaler may send by certified mail, return receipt requested, written notice to the other party declaring its intention to proceed with arbitration. Arbitration shall proceed only by mutual agreement by both parties.

(c) Not more than 10 business days after the notice to enter into arbitration has been delivered, the other party shall send written notice to the requesting party declaring its intention either to proceed or not to proceed with arbitration. Should the other party fail to respond within the 10 business days, it shall be conclusively presumed that the party shall have agreed to arbitration.

(d) The matter of determining the amount of compensation may, by agreement of the parties, be submitted to a three-member arbitration panel consisting of one representative selected by the supplier but unassociated with the affected supplier; one wholesaler representative selected by the wholesaler but unassociated with the wholesaler; and an impartial arbitrator.

(e) Not more than 10 business days after mutual agreement of both parties has been reached to arbitrate, each party shall designate, in writing, its one arbitrator representative and the party initiating arbitration shall request, in writing, a list of five arbitrators from the American Arbitration Association or its successor and request that the list shall be mailed to each party by certified mail, return receipt requested. Not more than 10 business days after the receipt of the list of five choices, the wholesaler arbitrator and the supplier arbitrator shall strike and disqualify up to two names each from the list. Should either party fail to respond within 10 business days or should more than one name remain after the strikes, the American Arbitration Association shall make the selection of the impartial arbitrator from the names not stricken from the list.

(f) Not more than 30 days after the final selection of the arbitration panel is made, the arbitration panel shall convene to decide the dispute. The panel shall conclude the arbitration within 20 days after the arbitration panel convenes and shall render a decision by majority vote of the arbitrators within 20 days from the conclusion of the arbitration. The award of the arbitration panel shall be final and binding on the parties as to the amount of compensation for the diminished value.

(g) The cost of the impartial arbitrator, the stenographer, and the meeting site shall be equally divided between the wholesaler and the supplier. All other costs shall be paid by the party incurring them.

(h) After both parties have agreed to arbitrate should either party, except by mutual agreement, fail to abide by the time limitations as prescribed in subsections (c), (e), and (f), or fail or refuse to make the selection of any arbitrators, or fail to participate in the arbitration hearings, the other party shall make the selection of its arbitrator and proceed to arbitration. The party who has failed or refused to comply as prescribed in this section shall be considered to be in default. Any party considered to be in default pursuant to this subsection shall have waived any and all rights the party would have had in the arbitration and shall be considered to have consented to the determination of the arbitration panel.

(Act 2004-420, p. 708, §9.)