(a) In the event of the death or incapacity of the dealer, which in this context shall mean an owner, equal or majority partner, or the majority stockholder of a corporation, operating as a dealer, the supplier shall, at the option of the heirs at law, if the dealer died intestate, or the executor under the terms of the deceased dealer’s last will and testament, if the dealer died testate, repurchase the inventory from the estate as if the supplier had terminated the dealer contract and the inventory repurchase provisions of Section 22905 are applicable. The heirs or executor shall have 180 days from the date of the death of the dealer or majority stockholder to exercise the option under this section. However, nothing in this section shall require the repurchase of inventory, if the heirs or executor and the supplier enter into a new dealer agreement, or if a successor to the dealer is established pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 22903.1. This section shall be subject to that portion of the dealer contract pertaining to death of the dealer or succession, to the extent the contract is not inconsistent. Nothing in this section shall entitle an heir or personal representative of a deceased dealer or majority stockholder to operate the dealership beyond the 180 days provided for in this subdivision without the consent of the supplier.
(b) The provisions of this section shall be supplemental to any agreement between the dealer and the supplier covering the return of equipment, attachments, and repair parts. Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the rights of a supplier to charge back to the dealer’s account amounts previously paid or credited as a discount incident to the dealer’s purchase of inventory shall not be affected. Further, any repurchase shall not be subject to the provisions of the bulk sales law.
(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 712, Sec. 22. Effective October 7, 2005.)