Ohio Code 4517.541 – Termination of franchise; notice
(A) Each franchisor proposing to terminate, cancel, discontinue, or not renew a franchise based upon any of the following shall send written notice by certified mail of the proposed action to the franchisee at such time as may be necessary to ensure that the notice is received not later than twelve months before the effective date of the proposed action, unless prohibited by law or regulation:
Terms Used In Ohio Code 4517.541
- Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
- cancellation: means the annulment or termination by the bureau of motor vehicles of a driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege because it was obtained unlawfully, issued in error, altered, or willfully destroyed, or because the holder no longer is entitled to the license, permit, or privilege. See Ohio Code 4510.01
- suspension: means the permanent or temporary withdrawal, by action of a court or the bureau of motor vehicles, of a driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege for the period of the suspension or the permanent or temporary withdrawal of the privilege to obtain a license, permit, or privilege of that type for the period of the suspension. See Ohio Code 4510.01
(1) As a result of any change in ownership, operation, or control of all or any part of the business of the manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, or distributor branch, whether by sale or transfer of assets, corporate stock or other equity interest, or by assignment, merger, consolidation, combination, joint venture, redemption, operation of law, or otherwise;
(2) The termination, suspension, or cessation of a part or all of the business operations of the manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, or distributor branch;
(3) Discontinuance of the sale of a line-make, series, brand or class of vehicles or a change in distribution system by the manufacturer, whether through a change in distributors or the manufacturer’s decision to cease conducting business through a distributor altogether.
(B) Each notice described in division (A) of this section shall set forth the specific grounds for the proposed termination, cancellation, or refusal to continue or renew a franchise.
(C) This section shall not apply to franchisors or franchisees who deal in recreational vehicles.