STATE OF FLORIDA

DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

CORRECTED RECOMMENDED ORDER

Pursuant to notice, this cause was heard by Barbara J. Staros, Administrative Law Judge with the Division of Administrative Hearings, on May 7, 2009, by video teleconference with sites in Jacksonville and in Tallahassee, Florida.

APPEARANCES

For Petitioner: No Appearance For Respondent: No appearance

STATEMENT OF THE ISSUE

The issue is whether Petitioners should be allowed to establish a new point dealership for the sale of motorcycles manufactured by Zhejiang Xingyue Vehicle Co., Ltd. (ZXYV), in Jacksonville, Florida.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. On October 10, 2008, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (Department) published a notice in the Florida Administrative Weekly. The notice advised that Galaxy Powersports, LLC d/b/a JCL International, LLC, intends to allow the establishment of Putnam City Motors, d/b/a PC Motors, as a dealership for the sale of motorcycles manufactured by Zhejiang Xingyue Vehicle Co., Ltd. (ZXYV) at 7033 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, on or after September 29, 2008.

2. By letter received by the Department on October 31, 2008, Respondent, Roadpower USA LLC, opposed the establishment of the dealership selling the same products as Roadpower USA, LLC, within 11 miles from its established dealership.

3. On November 14, 2008, the Department referred this matter to the Division of Administrative Hearings to conduct an evidentiary hearing.

4. By Initial Order entered November 14, 2008, Petitioners and Respondent were required to provide certain information for the scheduling of the final hearing in this cause. None of the parties responded to the Initial Order.

5. A Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference was entered on December 12, 2008, scheduling this case for final hearing on May 7, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. An Order of Pre-hearing Instructions

   was entered that same date, which required the parties to exchange witness lists and copies of exhibits no later than seven days prior to the final hearing. Copies of the witness lists were also required to be filed with the Division of Administrative Hearings. No witness lists have been filed.

6. At 1:00 p.m. on May 7, 2009, the final hearing was convened. The only persons present were the court reporter, who was at the Jacksonville site, and the undersigned, who was at the Tallahassee site.

7. The undersigned waited until approximately 1:25 p.m., but neither the Petitioners nor the Respondent appeared for the final hearing. The hearing was adjourned at approximately

   1:30 p.m. No one on behalf of Petitioners or Respondent contacted the undersigned’s office with any explanation of their non-appearance before the hearing was adjourned, or thereafter.

   CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

   
   

8. The Division of Administrative Hearings has jurisdiction over the parties and subject matter of this proceeding pursuant to Sections 320.699, 120.569, and 120.57(1), Florida Statutes (2008).

9. Section 320.642, Florida Statutes (2008), sets forth the procedure for establishing proposed motor vehicle dealerships or permitting the relocations of such dealerships. Pursuant to this statute, the burden of proof to support a new

dealership is on the Petitioners. By failing to appear and present evidence at the final hearing, they have failed to meet their burden of proof.

RECOMMENDATION

Based on the forgoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is

ORDERED:

That the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles enter a final order denying Petitioners’ application for the new point dealership at issue in this case.

DONE AND ENTERED this 10th day of July, 2009, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida.

S

BARBARA J. STAROS

Administrative Law Judge

Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building

1230 Apalachee Parkway

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060

(850) 488-9675 SUNCOM 278-9675

Fax Filing (850) 921-6847 www.doah.state.fl.us

Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 10th day of July, 2009.

COPIES FURNISHED:

Michael James Alderman, Esquire Department of Highway Safety and

Motor Vehicles

Neil Kirkman Building, Room A-432 2900 Apalachee Parkway

Tallahassee, Florida 32344

Leo Su

Galaxy Powersports, LLC, d/b/a JCL International, LLC

2667 Northhaven Road

Dallas, Texas 75229

Pete Biltoc Claudio Biltoc

Putnam City Motors, Inc. 7033 Beach Boulevard

Jacksonville, Florida 32216

Jim Lee

Road Power USA, LLC 927 North 3rd Street

Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250

NOTICE OF RIGHT TO SUBMIT EXCEPTIONS

All parties have the right to submit written exceptions within

15 days from the date of this Recommended Order. Any exceptions to this Recommended Order should be filed with the agency that will issue the Final Order in this case.

Docket for Case No: 08-005718

Orders for Case No: 08-005718