Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers v. Gwadosky

SELYA, Circuit Judge.

This appeal is the latest chapter in an epic struggle between motor vehicle manufacturers and their dealers in the State of Maine. See Alliance of Auto. Mfrs. v. Gwadosky, 304 F.Supp.2d 104, 106-09 (D.Me.2004) [Alliance I] (discussing the historical antecedents). The controversy centers on reimbursement for warranty work. Thirty years ago, the state legislature intervened in this tug-of-war to ensure equity and to prevent collateral damage to consumers. More recently, the legislature: amended the state regulatory scheme to prohibit manufacturers from adding state-specific…