Sec. 1. 10 MRSA §1244, sub-§3 is enacted to read:

3.__Arbitration.__In an action brought under this section, the Superior Court shall refer the matter for arbitration in accordance with the Uniform Arbitration Act under one arbitrator appointed by the court, subject to the following provisions.

A.__The cost of arbitration must be equally divided among the parties.

B.__The arbitrator shall hold a hearing within 6 months of the date of filing the complaint.

C.__The arbitrator shall issue a decision within 30 days of the hearing.__The decision must be in writing and contain findings of fact and a determination of the issue of whether there is good cause for not permitting the proposed new personal sports mobile dealership.

D.__The court shall enter judgment for the party that prevails at arbitration within 30 days of the date of the arbitrator's decision unless a party files a written objection to the entry of judgment setting forth the grounds for the objection.

E.__If a party objects to entry of judgment based upon the arbitrator's decision and the party that prevailed at arbitration also prevails in any further litigation, the prevailing party is entitled to collect attorney's fees and all other costs of litigation from the party or parties that objected to the entry of the arbitrator's decision.

Sec. 2. 10 MRSA §1250-F, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1997, c. 717, §5, is further amended to read:

1. Civil remedies. Any personal sports mobile dealer or franchisee who has been damaged by reason of a violation of a provision of this chapter may bring an action to enjoin that violation and to recover any damages arising from that violation. A franchisee or personal sports mobile dealer who suffers financial loss of money or property, real or personal, or who has otherwise been adversely affected as a result of an unfair method of competition, an unfair or deceptive act or a violation of a provision of this chapter may bring an action for damages and equitable relief, including injunctive relief.__When the