|
 Overview
Established
to provide financial and /or legal assistance to dealers or
dealer groups in proceedings before state and federal courts
and administrative agencies where the outcome of the
proceedings would have a substantial impact on the dealer
body. The Fund is financed by voluntary contributions from
OADA members.
The
Legal Defense Fund arose from a need to promote dealers
interests, especially in legal controversies, when the cost to
an individual dealer litigating the issue was prohibitive. In
many instances, dealers could not continue to fight for their
rights because of the expense involved and were forced to
compromise their positions through settlements. The Legal
Defense Fund provides the resources for OADA and its members
to pursue cases affecting dealer interests, and in particular,
cases arising from legislation supported by OADA.
OADA,
as a tax exempt organization, is not allowed to practice law
or to provide legal services for the benefit of its individual
members. The issue must be one that is of importance and
concern to dealers as a whole for OADA to be permitted to
provide assistance without violating its tax-exempt status.
The governing criterion then is that any benefit resulting to
an individual member is an indirect effect from the
fundamental purpose of protecting and defending the interests
of its dealer members as a whole. The
following material outlines the structure and the policies and
procedures governing the operation of the OADA Legal Defense
Fund.
For
more information concerning the Ohio Automobile Dealers
Association Legal Defense Fund, contact Charlie Howard at
766-9100 or (800)686-9100 or choward@oada.com. |
