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NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. vs LOVE NISSAN, INC.; ROBERT L. HALLEEN; AND CHAD A. HALLEEN, 05-003680 (2005)

Court: Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Number: 05-003680 Visitors: 20
Petitioner: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Respondent: LOVE NISSAN, INC.; ROBERT L. HALLEEN; AND CHAD A. HALLEEN
Judges: HARRY L. HOOPER
Agency: Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Locations: Tallahassee, Florida
Filed: Oct. 10, 2005
Status: Closed
Recommended Order on Wednesday, January 18, 2006.

Latest Update: Apr. 13, 2006
Summary: The issue is whether Nissan North America, Inc.'s (Nissan) rejection of the proposed transfer of the equity interest in Love Nissan, Inc. (Love), from Robert Halleen and Chad Halleen to Marilyn Halleen, is in violation of the laws regulating the licensing of motor vehicle dealers and manufacturers, maintaining competition, providing consumer protection and fair trade and providing minorities with opportunities for full participation as motor vehicle dealers, as set forth in Sections 320.61-320.7
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STATE OF FLORIDA el EE od 7 DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES f l bes E by DOAH CASE NOS.: 05-3680 and 05-3987 700b APA 13 Adk 13 DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC., HEARINGS FINAL ORDER #: HSMV-06-379-FOF-DMV Petitioner, vs. LOVE NISSAN, INC.; ROBERT L. HALLEEN; AND CHAD A. HALLEEN. Respondents. LOVE NISSAN, INC.; ROBERT L. HALLEEN; AND CHAD A, HALLEEN, Petitioner, vs. NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC., Respondent. — . : / FINAL ORDER This matter came before the Department for entry of a Final Order upon submission of a Recommended Order by Harry L. Hooper, an Administrative Law Judge of the Division of Administrative Hearings, a copy of which is attached and incorporated by reference in this order!. The Department hereby adopts the Recommended Order as its Final Order in this matter, WHEREFORE, it is Ordered that pursuant to Nissan’s verified Petition for Determination of Invalid Proposed Transfer Pursuant to Section 320.643, Florida Statutes, and Notice of Rejection of Proposed Transfer, no transfer under Section 320.643, Florida Statutes, is proposed and Nissan’s ! Respondent, Love Nissan, Inc. and Petitioner, Nissan North America, filed exceptions to the Recommended Order. These exceptions are ruled on in the Appendix to this Order. rejection of it was proper. Furthermore, Robert Halleen and Chad Halleen’s Petition for Determination of Wrongful Turndown is dismissed, DONE AND ORDERED this fa 4, of April, 2006, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. A. FORD, Directo, Division of Motor Vehicles Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Neil Kirkman Building Tallahassee, Florida 32399 Filed with the Clerk of the Division rae Vehicles this 7,224. day of April, 2006. NOTICE OF APPEAL RIGHTS Judicial review of this order may be had pursuant to section 120.68, Florida Statutes, in the District Court of Appeal for the First District, State of Florida, this state in an appellate district where a party resides. In order to initiate such review, or in any other district court of appeal of one copy of the notice of appeal must be filed with he Department and the other copy of the notice of appeal, together with the filing fee, must be filed with the court within thirty days of the filing date of this order as set out above, pursuant to Rules of Appellate Procedure, Copies furnished: S. Keith Hutto, Esq. Steven A. McKelvey; Jr. Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, L.L.P. Keenan Building, Third Floor 1320 Main Street Columbia, South Carolina 29201 Dean Bunch, Esq, Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan, L.L.P. 3600 Maclay Boulevard South, Suite 202 Tallahassee, Florida 32312 w John W. Forehand, Esq. : Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A. 125 South Gadsden Street Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Alex Kurkin, Esq. Pathman Lewis, LLP One Biscayne Tower, Suite 2400 Two South Biscayne Boulevard Miami, Florida 33131 Michael J. Alderman, Esquire Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Neil Kirkman Building, Rm. A-432 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0504 Harry L. Hooper, Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearings The-DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550 Ronald D. Reynolds Dealer License Administrator Florida Administrative Law Report Post Office Box 385 ; Gainesville, Florida 32602 STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES DOAH CASE NOS: 05-3680 and 05-3987 FINAL ORDER #: HSMV-06-379-FOF-DMV NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC., Petitioner, vs. LOVE NISSAN, INC.; ROBERT L. HALLEEN; AND CHAD A, HALLEEN. Respondents. LOVE NISSAN, INC.; ROBERT L. HALLEEN; AND CHAD A. HALLEEN, Petitioner, ys. NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC., Respondent. / APPENDIX TO FINAL ORDER RULING ON PETITIONER'S EXCEPTIONS TO RECOMMENDED ORDER 0 ee ER “Exception 1, Rejected — The Administrative Law Judge found it necessary to determine whether there was a change in management because the Administrative Law Judge found that the proposed transfer of equity was illusory. Ruling on Exceptions to Findings of Fact 18. Rejected. The finding is based on competent substantial evidence. 20. Rejected. The finding is based on competent substantial evidence. 22. Rejected. The finding is based on competent substantial evidence. 23. Rejected. The finding is based on competent substantial evidence. 24. ‘Rejected. The finding is based on competent substantial evidence, 25. Rejected. The finding is based on competent substantial evidence, Ruling on Exceptions to Legal Conclusions A. Legal Principles The conclusions of law are correct interpretations of the law and correctly apply the law to the established facts. B. Specific Exceptions Exception to conclusions of law 34, 36 and 38. The conclusions are correct statements of the law. Exceptions to conclusions of law 39 and 40. The conclusions are correct statements of the law. ‘GALegaiMIKEWZO06\DMV\Dealer License\Nissan North America (05-3680 05-3987)\exeyptions doe

Docket for Case No: 05-003680
Issue Date Proceedings
Apr. 13, 2006 Final Order filed.
Jan. 18, 2006 Recommended Order (hearing held December 12, 2005). CASE CLOSED.
Jan. 18, 2006 Recommended Order cover letter identifying the hearing record referred to the Agency.
Jan. 09, 2006 Respondent`s Appendix to Proposed Recommended Order filed.
Jan. 09, 2006 Proposed Recommended Order of Love Nissan, Inc., Robert L. Halleen, and Chad A. Halleen filed.
Jan. 09, 2006 Proposed Recommended Order of Nissan North America filed.
Dec. 28, 2005 Transcript (Volumes 1 and 2) filed.
Dec. 12, 2005 CASE STATUS: Hearing Held.
Dec. 07, 2005 Index to Nissan North America`s Trial Exhibits filed.
Dec. 07, 2005 Exhibit List of Love Nissan, Inc., Robert L. Halleen, and Chad A. Halleen filed.
Dec. 01, 2005 Pre-hearing Stipulation filed.
Nov. 30, 2005 Respondent`s Response to Petitioner`s First Request for Production to Respondents filed.
Nov. 30, 2005 Respondents` Response to Petitioner`s First Interrogatories to Respondents filed.
Nov. 30, 2005 Notice of Serving Interrogatories Answers filed.
Nov. 30, 2005 Notice of Telephonic Deposition filed.
Nov. 30, 2005 Corrected Notice of Deposition filed.
Nov. 28, 2005 Notice of Deposition filed.
Nov. 17, 2005 Order Denying Motion in Limine.
Nov. 14, 2005 Petitioner Nissan North America, Inc.`s Memorandum in Response to Respondents` Motion in Limine filed.
Nov. 14, 2005 Nissan North America, Inc.`s Answer to Love Nissan`s Petition for Determination of Wrongful Turndown filed. (filed in Case No. 05-003987)
Nov. 14, 2005 Request for Oral Argument filed.
Nov. 08, 2005 Order of Consolidation (consolidated cases are: 05-3680 and 05-3987).
Nov. 04, 2005 Motion in Limine filed.
Nov. 04, 2005 Joint Motion to Consolidate with Case No. 05-3680 (filed in Case No. 05-3987).
Oct. 27, 2005 Notice of Serving Interrogatories filed.
Oct. 27, 2005 Order Denying in Part and Granting in Part Respondents` Motion to Dismiss.
Oct. 25, 2005 Petitioner`s Sur-reply to Respondents` Reply in Support of Motion to Dismiss filed by Dean Bunch.
Oct. 24, 2005 Undeliverable envelope returned from the Post Office.
Oct. 19, 2005 Reply to Response to Motion to Dismiss filed.
Oct. 19, 2005 Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
Oct. 19, 2005 Notice of Hearing (hearing set for December 12 and 13, 2005; 9:00 a.m.; Tallahassee, FL).
Oct. 17, 2005 Petitioner`s Response to Respondent`s Motion to Dismiss filed.
Oct. 13, 2005 Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
Oct. 10, 2005 Notice of Proposed Equity Transfer Pursuant to s. 320.643(2), Fla. Stat filed.
Oct. 10, 2005 Petition for Determination of Invalid Proposed Transfer Pursuant to Section 320.643, Florida Statutes and Notice of Rejection of Proposed Transfer filed.
Oct. 10, 2005 Agency referral filed.
Oct. 10, 2005 Motion to Dismiss filed.
Oct. 10, 2005 Initial Order.

Orders for Case No: 05-003680
Issue Date Document Summary
Apr. 12, 2006 Agency Final Order
Jan. 18, 2006 Recommended Order Petitioners claimed to have transferred the equity in their automobile dealership to a close family member subsequent to a Recommended Order of Termination. Held: the proposed transfer wa a sham and of no effect.
Source:  Florida - Division of Administrative Hearings

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