Lawsuit keeps local GM dealer open

A local auto dealership will remain open despite receiving a termination notice from General Motors of Canada last year.

"It's just like the weight of the world has been lifted," said Cindy Robinson of Robinson Pontiac Buick in Guelph after learning the lawsuit she was a part of had been successful.

Robinson's was one of 21 dealerships that sued GM Canada earlier this year after being handed termination notices in May, 2009. The dealerships were scheduled to be closed at the end of October.

"We told our staff yesterday and they were very relieved and very excited," Robinson said. "We can get back to doing what we're supposed to do and what we do best (and that's) selling and servicing vehicles and looking after our customers and our communities."

Cindy's father, Howard, founded the dealership in 1965 before turning it over to his daughter in 2007. In an affidavit filed at Superior Court in January, Robinson wrote of the emotional toll the looming closure took on her and the staff at the dealership. In the 50-page document, Robinson stated that her children “couldn’t quite grasp GM was taking Robinson away.” Kids taunted her daughter at school, saying “your mom’s dealership is closing down.”

But it's all smiles today as Robinson looks forward to a future with familiar faces at her side. "Long-time employees that have been here many, many years, they all stuck around," she says. "We even hired some new people and we were very honest with them (about) what we were going through and they still came on board. We've got a very strong team -- new and old -- and everybody is ready to go forward."

A lawyer who represented the 21 dealers in the suit says the final terms of the settlement are confidential. Dealers have confirmed that confidentiality was part of the settlement process and that they are not to reveal the monetary terms of the agreement.