{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/46.2-1572.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/46.2-1572.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/46.2-1572.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/46.2-1572.2.html"}],"law_id":75995,"edition_id":1,"section_id":75995,"structure_id":15134,"section_number":"46.2-1572.2","catch_line":"Mediation of disputes","history":"1994, c. 418.","full_text":"At any time before a hearing under this article is commenced before the Commissioner, either party to a franchise agreement for the sale or service of passenger cars, pickup trucks or trucks may demand that a dispute be submitted to nonbinding mediation as a condition precedent to the right to a hearing before the Commissioner.\n\t\tA demand for mediation may be served on the other party and shall be filed with the Commissioner at any time before a hearing is commenced by the Commissioner. The service of the demand for mediation shall, of itself, toll the time required to file requests for hearings and for the time for commencing and completing hearings under this article until mediation is concluded.\n\t\tA demand for mediation shall be in writing and shall be served upon the other party by certified mail at an address designated in the franchise agreement or in the records of the Department. The demand for mediation shall contain a brief statement of the dispute and the relief sought by the party filing the demand.\n\t\tWithin ten days after the date on which the demand for mediation is served, the Commissioner shall select one mediator from his approved list of mediators or from the lists of hearing officers as set forth in \u00a7 2.2-4024. Within twenty-five days of the date of demand, the parties shall meet with the mediator for the purpose of attempting to resolve the dispute. The meeting place shall be within the Commonwealth at a location selected by the mediator. The mediator may extend the date of the meeting for good cause shown by either party or upon the stipulation of both parties.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":272812,"text":"At any time before a hearing under this article is commenced before the Commissioner, either party to a franchise agreement for the sale or service of passenger cars, pickup trucks or trucks may demand that a dispute be submitted to nonbinding mediation as a condition precedent to the right to a hearing before the Commissioner.\n\t\tA demand for mediation may be served on the other party and shall be filed with the Commissioner at any time before a hearing is commenced by the Commissioner. The service of the demand for mediation shall, of itself, toll the time required to file requests for hearings and for the time for commencing and completing hearings under this article until mediation is concluded.\n\t\tA demand for mediation shall be in writing and shall be served upon the other party by certified mail at an address designated in the franchise agreement or in the records of the Department. The demand for mediation shall contain a brief statement of the dispute and the relief sought by the party filing the demand.\n\t\tWithin ten days after the date on which the demand for mediation is served, the Commissioner shall select one mediator from his approved list of mediators or from the lists of hearing officers as set forth in \u00a7 2.2-4024. Within twenty-five days of the date of demand, the parties shall meet with the mediator for the purpose of attempting to resolve the dispute. The meeting place shall be within the Commonwealth at a location selected by the mediator. The mediator may extend the date of the meeting for good cause shown by either party or upon the stipulation of both parties.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15134,"edition_id":1,"name":"Franchises","identifier":"7","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13356,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:52:26","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:52:26","permalink":{"id":231519,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15134,"identifier":"7","token":"46.2\/IV\/15\/7","url":"\/46.2\/IV\/15\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13356,"edition_id":1,"name":"Motor Vehicle Dealers","identifier":"15","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13355,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:42","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:42","permalink":{"id":231067,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13356,"identifier":"15","token":"46.2\/IV\/15","url":"\/46.2\/IV\/15\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13355,"edition_id":1,"name":"Dealers and Driver Training Schools","identifier":"IV","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12770,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:42","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:42","permalink":{"id":231065,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13355,"identifier":"IV","token":"46.2\/IV","url":"\/46.2\/IV\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12770,"edition_id":1,"name":"Motor Vehicles","identifier":"46.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":225289,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12770,"identifier":"46.2","token":"46.2","url":"\/46.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":81977,"structure_id":15134,"section_number":"46.2-1566","catch_line":"Filing of franchises","url":"\/46.2-1566\/","token":"46.2\/IV\/15\/7\/46.2-1566","metadata":false},{"id":75377,"structure_id":15134,"section_number":"46.2-1567","catch_line":"Exemption of franchises from Retail Franchising Act","url":"\/46.2-1567\/","token":"46.2\/IV\/15\/7\/46.2-1567","metadata":false},{"id":85096,"structure_id":15134,"section_number":"46.2-1568","catch_line":"Coercion of retail dealer by manufacturer or distributor with respect to retail installment sales contracts, extended service contracts or extended maintenance plans, financing, or leasing prohibited; penalty","url":"\/46.2-1568\/","token":"46.2\/IV\/15\/7\/46.2-1568","metadata":false},{"id":74199,"structure_id":15134,"section_number":"46.2-1568.1","catch_line":"Discrimination by manufacturers or distributors prohibited","url":"\/46.2-1568.1\/","token":"46.2\/IV\/15\/7\/46.2-1568.1","metadata":false},{"id":60913,"structure_id":15134,"section_number":"46.2-1569","catch_line":"Other coercion of dealers; transfer, grant, succession to and cancellation of dealer franchises; delivery of vehicles, parts, and accessories","url":"\/46.2-1569\/","token":"46.2\/IV\/15\/7\/46.2-1569","metadata":false},{"id":57658,"structure_id":15134,"section_number":"46.2-1569.1","catch_line":"Manufacturer or distributor right of first refusal","url":"\/46.2-1569.1\/","token":"46.2\/IV\/15\/7\/46.2-1569.1","metadata":false},{"id":85388,"structure_id":15134,"section_number":"46.2-1570","catch_line":"Discontinuation of distributors","url":"\/46.2-1570\/","token":"46.2\/IV\/15\/7\/46.2-1570","metadata":false},{"id":60902,"structure_id":15134,"section_number":"46.2-1571","catch_line":"Recall, warranty, maintenance and sales incentive obligations","url":"\/46.2-1571\/","token":"46.2\/IV\/15\/7\/46.2-1571","metadata":false},{"id":67472,"structure_id":15134,"section_number":"46.2-1572","catch_line":"Operation of dealership by manufacturer","url":"\/46.2-1572\/","token":"46.2\/IV\/15\/7\/46.2-1572","metadata":false},{"id":75339,"structure_id":15134,"section_number":"46.2-1572.1","catch_line":"Ownership of service facilities","url":"\/46.2-1572.1\/","token":"46.2\/IV\/15\/7\/46.2-1572.1","metadata":false},{"id":75995,"structure_id":15134,"section_number":"46.2-1572.2","catch_line":"Mediation of disputes","url":"\/46.2-1572.2\/","token":"46.2\/IV\/15\/7\/46.2-1572.2","metadata":false},{"id":65117,"structure_id":15134,"section_number":"46.2-1572.3","catch_line":"Waiver prohibited","url":"\/46.2-1572.3\/","token":"46.2\/IV\/15\/7\/46.2-1572.3","metadata":false},{"id":74526,"structure_id":15134,"section_number":"46.2-1572.4","catch_line":"Manufacturer or distributor use of performance standards","url":"\/46.2-1572.4\/","token":"46.2\/IV\/15\/7\/46.2-1572.4","metadata":false},{"id":69981,"structure_id":15134,"section_number":"46.2-1573","catch_line":"Hearings and other remedies; civil penalties","url":"\/46.2-1573\/","token":"46.2\/IV\/15\/7\/46.2-1573","metadata":false},{"id":84529,"structure_id":15134,"section_number":"46.2-1573.01","catch_line":"Recovery of attorney's fees","url":"\/46.2-1573.01\/","token":"46.2\/IV\/15\/7\/46.2-1573.01","metadata":false},{"id":67893,"structure_id":15134,"section_number":"46.2-1573.02","catch_line":"Limited right of dealers to sell new motor vehicles following termination of franchise","url":"\/46.2-1573.02\/","token":"46.2\/IV\/15\/7\/46.2-1573.02","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":75339,"structure_id":15134,"section_number":"46.2-1572.1","catch_line":"Ownership of service facilities","url":"\/46.2-1572.1\/","token":"46.2\/IV\/15\/7\/46.2-1572.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":65117,"structure_id":15134,"section_number":"46.2-1572.3","catch_line":"Waiver prohibited","url":"\/46.2-1572.3\/","token":"46.2\/IV\/15\/7\/46.2-1572.3","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-1572.2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1994. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 418<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":57586,"section_number":"2.2-4024","catch_line":"Hearing officers","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-4024\/"}],"permalink":{"id":231561,"object_type":"law","relational_id":75995,"identifier":"46.2-1572.2","token":"46.2\/IV\/15\/7\/46.2-1572.2","url":"\/46.2-1572.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-1572.2\/","token":"46.2\/IV\/15\/7\/46.2-1572.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Mediation of disputes","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-1572.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

At any time before a hearing<\/span> under this article is commenced before the Commissioner<\/span>, either party<\/span> to a franchise<\/span> agreement for the sale or service of passenger cars<\/span>, pickup trucks<\/span> or trucks<\/span> may demand that a dispute be submitted to nonbinding mediation as a condition precedent<\/span> to the right to a hearing<\/span> before the Commissioner<\/span>.\n\t\tA demand for mediation may be served on the other party<\/span> and shall be filed with the Commissioner<\/span> at any time before a hearing<\/span> is commenced by the Commissioner<\/span>. The service of the demand for mediation shall, of itself, toll the time required to file requests for hearings<\/span> and for the time for commencing and completing hearings<\/span> under this article until mediation is concluded.\n\t\tA demand for mediation shall be in writing and shall be served upon the other party<\/span> by certified mail at an address designated in the franchise<\/span> agreement or in the records of the Department<\/span>. The demand for mediation shall contain a brief<\/span> statement of the dispute and the relief sought by the party<\/span> filing the demand.\n\t\tWithin ten days after the date on which the demand for mediation is served, the Commissioner<\/span> shall select one mediator from his approved list of mediators or from the lists of hearing<\/span> officers as set forth in \u00a7 2.2-4024<\/a>. Within twenty-five days of the date of demand, the parties shall meet with the mediator for the purpose of attempting to resolve the dispute. The meeting place shall be within the Commonwealth at a location selected by the mediator. The mediator may extend the date of the meeting for good cause shown by either party<\/span> or upon the stipulation<\/span> of both parties.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nMEDIATION OF DISPUTES (\u00a7 46.2-1572.2)\n\nAt any time before a hearing under this article is commenced before the\nCommissioner, either party to a franchise agreement for the sale or service of\npassenger cars, pickup trucks or trucks may demand that a dispute be submitted\nto nonbinding mediation as a condition precedent to the right to a hearing\nbefore the Commissioner.\n\t\tA demand for mediation may be served on the other party and shall be filed\nwith the Commissioner at any time before a hearing is commenced by the\nCommissioner. The service of the demand for mediation shall, of itself, toll the\ntime required to file requests for hearings and for the time for commencing and\ncompleting hearings under this article until mediation is concluded.\n\t\tA demand for mediation shall be in writing and shall be served upon the other\nparty by certified mail at an address designated in the franchise agreement or\nin the records of the Department. The demand for mediation shall contain a brief\nstatement of the dispute and the relief sought by the party filing the demand.\n\t\tWithin ten days after the date on which the demand for mediation is served,\nthe Commissioner shall select one mediator from his approved list of mediators\nor from the lists of hearing officers as set forth in \u00a7 2.2-4024. Within\ntwenty-five days of the date of demand, the parties shall meet with the mediator\nfor the purpose of attempting to resolve the dispute. The meeting place shall be\nwithin the Commonwealth at a location selected by the mediator. The mediator may\nextend the date of the meeting for good cause shown by either party or upon the\nstipulation of both parties.\n\nHISTORY: 1994, c. 418.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}