Twenty years ago, I was sitting in my office when I got a call from a client who had just been served a lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) for not having handicapped access to its restaurant. Amongst other things, the lawsuit alleged that the restaurant did not have an ADA compliant ramp…
The Fall Meeting of the National Association of Dealer Counsel (NADC) in Chicago is always an informative meeting for me, where I can learn about the latest legal and business issues from fellow attorneys representing dealerships nationwide and attorneys working for the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). Here are some highlights of the issues from…
Three of our attorneys have been named to the 2022 Super Lawyers, New York Metro Edition in the following categories: Lee A. Schwartz, Esq., Founding Member (Corporate Law, Real Estate Law), Jeffrey S. Ettenger, Esq., Member (Employment Law) and Marci S. Goldfarb, Esq., Senior Counsel (Trusts and Estates). Additionally, Kevin E. Timson, Esq., Counsel (Car…
Warning: this article offers no discussion of legal issues, just my commentary on the continued viability of automotive dealerships in the face of franchisors looking to insert themselves more directly into the electric vehicle (EV) customer sales model. It is a pivotal time for franchised dealers, who are responding to a fresh wave of changes…
With electric vehicles (“EVs”) becoming more popular, many franchised dealers are entering into contracts with vendors to purchase advanced charging stations to be installed at specific dealerships. These purchases are often in conjunction with OEM and government programs that help to subsidize the cost of these stations. These vendors not only sell these chargers to…
Whether you are new to commercial leasing, or a seasoned pro, it is important to be educated in determining whether a commercial space is well-suited for your business and whether you are protected by the lease. Commercial leases are complicated and can be intimidating to tenants. To avoid being taken advantage of by the landlord…
Did you know that in New York once your child turns 18 you are no longer legally entitled to know anything about them? Their school can’t talk to you, even if you are paying for their education. Their health care providers can’t talk to you, even though you are their parent, and even if they…
By now, many dealers have likely heard about the FTC’s proposed rules on dealership advertising and F&I office disclosures (16 CFR Part 463). To help dealers sort through all the commentary on these proposed rules, we have provided a brief summary of these proposed rules as well as some of the highlights of what you…
In my former life as a financial analyst for a Fortune 250 company, a manager and long-time mentor of mine handed me an informative book entitled “Merchants of Debt” that gave an inside look into how private equity (“PE”) firms purchased businesses and operated them to support the continued investment in other businesses. As dealership…
Schwartz Ettenger, PLLC is proud to welcome Marci Goldfarb, Esq. to the firm. Ms. Goldfarb serves as Senior Counsel to the firm and brings with her over 30 years’ experience in providing excellent representation to her clients. At Schwartz Ettenger, she focuses her practice on all aspects of Trusts and Estates. Additionally, Ms. Goldfarb has…
As we head into the second quarter of 2022, the impact of chip shortages on vehicle supplies has not subsided. As a result, many more dealers are facing a steeper challenge of meeting OEM sale metrics than at any time prior to the pandemic. Even before the pandemic, franchised dealers have called out factories that…
MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE Effective December 31, 2021, New York State minimum wage has increased once again. The present minimum wages are as follows: New York City $15.00 per hour Long Island and Westchester $15.00 per hour Rest…
