GNYADA February 2014 Newsletter

9 Auto Broker Arrested on Forgery Charges

$75,000 bond with the State and make specific disclosures on websites and other advertisements. In light of the inappropriate actions of brokers and the harm caused by their unlicensed operations to dealers and consumers, GNYADA has made a request to DMV for more enforce- ment and stricter rules for these types of businesses.

The brokers arrest will likely focus new attention on automobile brokers in our area. Brokers are operating as unlicensed dealers; selling and leasing new cars, while avoiding the require- ments and expenses imposed under the Vehicle and Traffic law to operate as a new car dealership. Legislation was passed back in 2012 that requires brokers to disclose that they are brokers and not licensed franchised new car dealers. The new law also requires brokers to post a

A Rockland County “broker” has been arrested on forgery-related charges stemming from the discovery of a fake temporary license plate. Police became suspicious while checking a temporary out-of-state license plate on a car parked at a local community college. Police discovered the temp was a fake and traced the issuance of the fake plate back to the broker’s place of business where they found an additional copy of the same license plate.

Large Number of Dealers Have Already Renewed in GNYADA’s Labor Law Program

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Intercedes with Government agency actions on employee com- plaints (EEOC, Division of Human rights, Department of Labor). If you have not yet renewed your 2014 ERP dues we suggest that you do not let your plan benefits lapse and if you are not yet a member of this important Association service please contact Susan Bieber, GNYADA’s Dealer Services Director at 718.746.5900 for further information. n

Unlimited access to GNYADA’s labor law experts and attorneys Constant monitoring of changes in legislation effecting labor relations in your business and legal cases or settlements that will also affect how you handle employee issues. Model Employee Handbooks that reduces the hassle of putting together a handbook that complies with all State and Federal Employment laws. Complete training material for the Federal Dept of Labor Right-to- Know Law.

70% of GNYADA dealers who sub- scribe to the Association’s Employee Relations Plan (ERP) have paid their 2014 dues. Dealers who belong to this important employment law pro- gram benefit from the expert assis- tance and consultation that our labor law experts and attorneys give dealers on issues dealing with staff. ERP offers expert guidance on key labor issues which enables dealers to respond to employment issues affect- ing day-to-day operations. Here are some of the program’s benefits:

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GNYADA’s ERP Wins Dealer Discrimination Case

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Despite record awards in discrimina- tion claims in 2013, GNYADA’s Employee Relations Plan (ERP) attorneys have again been successful in defeating a discrimination claim brought against one of our members.

cost-cutting measure. The former employee filed the case with the NYS Division of Human Rights claiming she was discriminated against because she was terminated while pregnant.

GNYADA labor lawyer James E. McGrath, III that there was no evidence to support a claim that the pregnancy influenced the dealer’s decision to fire her and that the dealer had a legitimate business reason to terminate this employee.

The case involved an employee ter- minated as part of a dealership-wide

The Division of Human Rights dis- missed the complaint agreeing with

Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association • www.gnyada.com

The Newsletter • February 2014 5