The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a decision dismissing an anti-poaching class action against Burger King, holding that the franchisor and its franchisees are independent actors capable of concerted action in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. Arrington v. Burger King Worldwide, Inc., --- F.4th ----, 2022 WL 3931471 (11th Cir. Aug. 31, 2022).
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals recently reversed a lower court’s dismissal for lack of jurisdiction, upholding a floating forum selection clause in a franchise agreement. AFC Franchising, LLC v. Purugganan, 43 F.4th 1285 (11th Cir. 2022).
A federal court in Illinois granted a motion to dismiss a Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) claim against a franchisor brought by a franchisee employee. Stauffer v. Innovative Heights Fairview Heights, LLC, 2022 WL 3139507 (S.D. Ill. Aug. 5, 2022).
A federal court in Wisconsin recently held that a franchisor’s contractual right to approve or deny the transfer of a franchise includes the right to condition approval on the transferee’s signing the current form of franchise agreement. Am. Dairy Queen v. Wineinger, 2022 WL 3027004 (W.D. Wis. Aug. 1, 2022).
A federal bankruptcy court in Texas held that a former franchisor can seek continued enforcement of its nondisclosure and nondisparagement agreements with a debtor and former franchisee, even following the franchisee’s bankruptcy. In re Lager, 2022 WL 3330421 (Bankr. N.D. Tex. Aug. 11, 2022).
A federal court in Florida overruled a former franchisee’s objections to a magistrate judge’s report and recommendation, granting in full a franchisor’s request for preliminary relief enforcing the covenant not to compete contained in the franchise agreements. JTH Tax, LLC v. Gilbert, 2022 WL 3098407 (M.D. Fla. Aug. 4, 2022).
A federal court in Oklahoma preliminarily enjoined a former franchisee from using the franchisor’s marks and from violating its post-term noncompete following termination. Sonic Indus. LLC v. Olympia Cascade Drive Ins LLC, 2022 WL 3654748 (W.D. Okla. Aug. 24, 2022).
A federal court in Pennsylvania recently granted summary judgment to McDonald’s on a joint employer claim brought by a former franchisee employee. Bosley v. Rawden Joint Ventures Corp., 2022 WL 3701171 (E.D. Pa. Aug. 26, 2022).
About this Publication
The Franchise Memorandum is a collection of postings on summaries of recent legal developments of interest to franchisors brought to you by Lathrop GPM LLP.
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