Massachusetts Right to Repair Court Case Decision Delayed for Sixth Time

BETHESDA, Md. – July 1, 2022 – United States District Judge Douglas Woodlock issued a notice on Friday, July 1, 2022, informing of another delay to provide a decision on the Right to Repair court case in Massachusetts.

Citing “the need to consider fully the implications of the long-anticipated decision” and “unforeseen and unforeseeable scheduling complications encountered in the past several weeks coming upon the extended holiday weekend”, Judge Woodlock further delayed the conclusion of the case. Based on his statement, the delay is expected to be short.

The judge previously stated that he would issue a final judgment no later than July 2, 2022.

Approved by Massachusetts voters on November 3, 2020, by an overwhelming 75-25 percent margin, the new Right to Repair law would require manufacturers to provide vehicle owners both access and control of the diagnostic and repair data generated by their vehicles. Subsequent to the vote, the car company trade group, Alliance for Automotive Innovation filed a lawsuit (Alliance for Automotive Innovation vs. Maura Healey, Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts) in November 2020 asking the court to overturn the data access ballot question based on a host of allegations including cybersecurity concerns, insufficient time to comply with the new data access requirements and their contention that the ballot initiative is preempted by federal law.

The Auto Care Association continues to fight for the consumers right to choose where they get their vehicle maintained and repaired through both state and federal legislation.