Patriot Golf Carts, LLC, a retailer of golf carts and all-terrain vehicles in Louisiana, has filed a federal lawsuit alleging unfair treatment by the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission (LMVC). The complaint was lodged on April 16, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana against Gregory Lala and Amy M. Casey, officials at LMVC.
The plaintiff claims that LMVC has issued multiple Recreational Products Dealer licenses to competitors within a 30-mile radius without providing Patriot Golf Carts with the legally required notice or opportunity to object. This action allegedly violates Patriot's rights to equal protection and due process under the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. According to Andrew Stewart, manager of Patriot Golf Carts, this unequal application of licensing laws has allowed larger retailers like Lowe’s, Tractor Supply Company (TSC), and Academy Ltd., who do not meet statutory requirements such as maintaining spare parts or employing licensed salespersons, to gain an unfair competitive advantage.
Patriot Golf Carts asserts that it has complied with all statutory requirements set forth by LMVC, including significant investments in infrastructure and compliance with insurance obligations. Despite this adherence to regulations, they argue that larger nationwide retailers have been granted licenses without meeting similar criteria. The plaintiff alleges that this disparate treatment is unjustified and lacks any rational basis.
In their lawsuit, Patriot Golf Carts seeks a permanent injunction prohibiting LMVC from continuing its alleged unequal application of licensing laws. They are also requesting declaratory relief affirming that their constitutional rights have been violated. Additionally, they seek compensation for damages incurred due to lost business revenue and increased operational costs attributed to this unfair competition. The legal team representing Patriot Golf Carts includes attorneys Allison A. Jones and Michael A. Marino from Downer, Jones, Marino & Wilhite, L.L.C., based in Shreveport, Louisiana.
This case is presided over by an unnamed judge in the Western District of Louisiana under Case ID 1:25-cv-00506.