35-8A-9.   Injunctive relief for violation of distribution agreement--Costs and attorney fees--Jurisdiction--Arbitration upon agreement by all parties. Any party to a distribution agreement aggrieved by a violation of any provision of this chapter may seek injunctive relief enjoining the violation and recovery of damages caused by the violation. The prevailing party to any action charging a violation of this chapter is entitled to recover costs of suit and reasonable attorney's fees. Relief shall be sought in a civil action brought in the circuit court for the county in which the wholesaler's principal place of business is located, or in a federal court of competent jurisdiction located in South Dakota.

     After a dispute arises, arbitration shall proceed only if all parties agree, at that time, to submit the dispute to arbitration and that the decision of the arbitrators shall be final and binding. The dispute shall be submitted to a panel of three arbitrators. One arbitrator shall be selected by the supplier within thirty days after the parties have agreed to arbitrate. One arbitrator shall be selected by the wholesaler within thirty days after the parties have agreed to arbitrate. The third arbitrator shall be selected from a list of five candidates supplied by the American Arbitration Association at the request of the parties and made within ten days after the parties have agreed to submit the dispute to arbitration. Within ten days after receipt of the list, the wholesaler and the supplier may disqualify up to two candidates from the list. The American Arbitration Association shall select the third arbitrator from the candidates not disqualified by the parties. The arbitration shall proceed in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association within thirty days after the selection of the arbitration panel has been completed. The cost of the arbitration shall be borne equally by the parties. The award of a majority of the arbitrators shall be final and binding on the parties.

Source: SL 1990, ch 300, § 9; SL 1999, ch 187, § 2.

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