The Franchise Memorandum

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently affirmed a decision that a group of franchisees are not employees of their franchisor, even though the trial court failed to apply the correct test. Haitayan v. 7-Eleven, Inc., 2022 WL17547805 (9th Cir. Dec. 9, 2022).

An appellate court in Louisiana recently affirmed summary judgment in favor of a franchisor, dismissing negligence and premises liability claims asserted by a customer was injured on unauthorized exercise equipment. Flynn v. Anytime Fitness, 2022 WL 17982922 (La. App. Dec. 29, 2022).

A federal court in Connecticut denied a franchisee’s motion for a temporary restraining order permitting it to operate until the court could hear a preliminary injunction motion. A.B. Corp. v. Dunkin' Donuts Franchising, LLC, 2022 WL 17337756 (D. Conn. Nov. 30, 2022).

A California appellate court recently affirmed a trial court’s ruling that a customer had not agreed to arbitrate claims against a franchisor when she was presented with a “Terms of Use Agreement” at a franchised location. Doe v. Massage Envy Franchising, LLC, 2022 WL 17984107 (Cal. Ct. App. Dec. 29, 2022).

A federal court in Missouri recently ruled that antitrust claims against four real estate broker franchisors and a trade association may proceed to trial based on evidence that the association’s code of ethics may inflate broker commissions. Burnett v. Nat’l Ass’n Of Realtors, 2022 WL 17741708 (W.D. Mo. Dec. 16, 2022).

A federal court in Florida recently granted a franchisor’s motion to dismiss a franchisee’s claim for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, but allowed a claim for breach of contract to proceed. Pinnacle Foods of Cal. v. Popeyes La. Kitchen, 2022 WL 17736190 (S.D. Fla. Dec. 16, 2022).

Towards the end of December, without conducting any outreach to industry groups or consumer organizations, the Federal Trade Commission issued a new guidance document, Health Products Compliance Guidance.

This year new and amended privacy laws are going into effect in several states, including California, Virginia, Connecticut, Colorado, and Utah. Read more about the laws in Lathrop GPM’s client alert.

A federal court in Illinois granted a manufacturer’s motion to dismiss in a dispute over the nonrenewal of a distribution agreement. Fluid Power Engr. Co. v. Cognex Corp., 2022 WL 16856395 (N.D. Ill. Nov. 10, 2022).

A Delaware trial court recently affirmed an administrative decision denying Tesla a dealer license because the Motor Vehicle Franchising Practices Act prohibits manufacturers from serving as dealers. Tesla v. Del. Div. of Motor Vehicles, 2022 WL 4483222 (Del. Super. Ct. Sept. 23, 2022).