Exhibit 5.2
Richards, Layton & Finger
A PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION
One Rodney Square
920 North King Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
(302) 651-7700
Fax: (302) 651-7701
WWW.RLF.COM
March 10, 2005
DaimlerChrysler Services North America LLC
27777 Inkster Road
Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334
Re: DaimlerChrysler Services North America LLC.
Registration Statement on Form S-3
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special Delaware counsel for DaimlerChrysler
Services North America LLC (the "Registrant") in connection with the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement"), filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"), for the registration under the Act of up to $1,000,000
aggregate principal amount of asset backed notes (the "Notes") and asset
backed certificates (the "Certificates"; and together with the Notes, the
"Securities"). Each series of such Securities may be issued pursuant to a
trust agreement (the "Trust Agreement") among a trustee named in the related
prospectus supplement, the Registrant and another entity named in such
prospectus supplement. This opinion is being delivered to you at your request.
For purposes of giving the opinions hereinafter set forth, our
examination of documents has been limited to the examination of originals or
copies of the following:
(a) The form of Trust Agreement (including the form of Certificate of
Trust (the "Certificate of Trust") attached as Exhibit B thereto); and
(b) The Registration Statement.
Initially capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are
used as defined in the Trust Agreement.
DaimlerChrysler Services North America LLC
March 10, 2005
Page 2
For purposes of this opinion, we have not reviewed any documents
other than the documents listed above, and we have assumed that there exists
no provision in any document that we have not reviewed that bears upon or is
inconsistent with the opinions stated herein. We have conducted no independent
factual investigation of our own but rather have relied solely upon the
foregoing documents, the statements and information set forth therein and the
additional matters recited or assumed herein, all of which we have assumed to
be true, complete and accurate in all material respects.
With respect to all documents examined by us, we have assumed (i) the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as authentic originals, (ii) the
conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies or
forms, and (iii) the genuineness of all signatures.
For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed (i) that the Trust
Agreement will constitute the entire agreement among the parties thereto with
respect to the subject matter thereof, including with respect to the creation,
operation and termination of the Trust, (ii) the due creation or due
organization or due formation, as the case may be, and valid existence in good
standing of each party to the documents examined by us under the laws of the
jurisdiction governing its creation, organization or formation, (iii) the
legal capacity of natural persons who are parties to the documents examined by
us, and (iv) that each of the parties to the documents examined by us has the
power and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations
under, such documents. We have not participated in the preparation of the
Registration Statement and assume no responsibility for its contents.
This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Delaware
(excluding the securities laws of the State of Delaware), and we have not
considered and express no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction,
including federal laws and rules and regulations relating thereto. Our
opinions are rendered only with respect to Delaware laws and rules,
regulations and orders thereunder which are currently in effect.
Based upon the foregoing, and upon our examination of such questions
of law and statutes of the State of Delaware as we have considered necessary
or appropriate, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations
and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. When each Trust Agreement in respect of which we have
participated as your counsel has been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action and has been duly executed and delivered by the parties
thereto, and when the Certificate of Trust has been duly authorized, executed
and filed, such Trust Agreement will constitute a valid and binding obligation
of the Registrant enforceable in accordance with its terms; and
2. When the issuance, execution and delivery of the Certificates
in respect of which we have participated as your counsel have been duly
authorized by all necessary trust action, and when such Certificates have been
duly executed and delivered and sold as described in the
DaimlerChrysler Services North America LLC
March 10, 2005
Page 3
Registration Statement, such Certificates will be validly issued and the
holders of such Certificates will be entitled to the benefits provided by the
Trust Agreement pursuant to which such Certificates were issued.
The foregoing opinions regarding enforceability are subject to (i)
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, receivership,
fraudulent transfer and similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and
remedies of creditors generally, (ii) principles of equity, including
applicable law with respect to fiduciary duties (regardless of whether
considered and applied in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) the
effect of applicable public policy on the enforceability of provisions
relating to indemnification or contribution.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the heading
"Legal Matters" in the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration
Statement. In giving the foregoing consents, we do not thereby admit that we
come within the category of Persons whose consent is required under Section 7
of the Act, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission thereunder with respect to any part of the Registration Statement,
including this exhibit.
Very truly yours,
/s/Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.
Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.
EAM