Overview

John Consevage is a Partner in the Firm’s litigation group with over 35 years of experience in complex commercial litigation, beginning with the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. Over the course of the last 25 years, John has focused his practice on the representation of automobile and truck dealers in franchise and general business matters.

John has counseled motor vehicle dealers in franchise disputes concerning add-points and relocations, facility requirements, incentive programs, warranty reimbursements, audits and chargebacks, dealer terminations, buy-sells, transfers, market encroachments, and dealer franchise policies and programs. John has prosecuted over 50 cases on behalf of motor vehicle dealers before the Pennsylvania Board of Vehicles, state administrative agencies, and in state and federal courts. The geographic footprint of John’s practice encompasses dealers located throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and surrounding states including Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, and Virginia.

In association with the Firm’s automotive industry and corporate practice groups, John has extensive experience in transactional, corporate and other business-related matters that are unique to the motor vehicle dealer industry. John has successfully completed over 30 buy-sell transactions ranging from the sale of a single franchise to complex transactions involving multiple vehicle dealership franchises, real estate, and facilities.

Representative Experience

  • Rohrich Cadillac v. State Board of Veh. Mfrs., 73 A.3d 652 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2013). Successfully represented Pittsburgh area automobile dealership in challenging manufacturer’s denial of relocation request as unreasonable under the Board of Vehicles Act at a hearing before the Pennsylvania Board of Vehicles and on appeal before the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.
  • Gabe Staino Motors, Inc. v. Volkswagen of America, Inc. 2005 WL 1041196 (E.D. Pa. 2005). Lead counsel in federal court trial regarding manufacturer facility requirements.
  • Volkswagen of America, Inc. v. State Board of Vehicle Mfrs., 840 A.2d 497 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2004). Lead counsel in seminal case on manufacturer’s legal rights to charge back Pennsylvania auto and truck dealers pursuant to warranty audits.
  • Successfully represented Philadelphia area dealer in challenging manufacturer’s denial of request for change of ownership in hearing before the Pennsylvania Board of Vehicles.
  • Successfully represented Harrisburg area truck dealer in challenging manufacturer’s denial of request for retail warranty service and parts rate reimbursement requests under the Pennsylvania Board of Vehicles Act.
  • Successfully represented Pittsburgh area dealer in federal court with respect to manufacturer untimely exercise of right of first refusal.

Professional & Community Activities

  • Associate Member, Pennsylvania Automotive Association (PAA)
  • Associate Member, Greater Pittsburgh Automobile Dealers Association
  • National Automobile Dealers Association, Allied Industry

Speeches & Presentations

  • Presented “Present State of Affairs in Automobile and Truck Dealer Industry” for the Philadelphia Bar Association, Franchise Section.

Professional Recognition

  • United States Department of Justice, Tax Division, Outstanding Trial Attorney, 1988

Further information on methodologies is available via these links.

Representative Experience

  • Rohrich Cadillac v. State Board of Veh. Mfrs., 73 A.3d 652 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2013). Successfully represented Pittsburgh area automobile dealership in challenging manufacturer’s denial of relocation request as unreasonable under the Board of Vehicles Act at a hearing before the Pennsylvania Board of Vehicles and on appeal before the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.
  • Gabe Staino Motors, Inc. v. Volkswagen of America, Inc. 2005 WL 1041196 (E.D. Pa. 2005). Lead counsel in federal court trial regarding manufacturer facility requirements.
  • Volkswagen of America, Inc. v. State Board of Vehicle Mfrs., 840 A.2d 497 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2004). Lead counsel in seminal case on manufacturer’s legal rights to charge back Pennsylvania auto and truck dealers pursuant to warranty audits.
  • Successfully represented Philadelphia area dealer in challenging manufacturer’s denial of request for change of ownership in hearing before the Pennsylvania Board of Vehicles.
  • Successfully represented Harrisburg area truck dealer in challenging manufacturer’s denial of request for retail warranty service and parts rate reimbursement requests under the Pennsylvania Board of Vehicles Act.
  • Successfully represented Pittsburgh area dealer in federal court with respect to manufacturer untimely exercise of right of first refusal.