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The Franchise Memorandum

The Franchise Memorandum

  • Posts by Rachel L. O'Connor
    Associate

    Rachel is an associate in the firm's Franchise & Distribution practice group. Located in our Minneapolis office, Rachel counsels clients on transactional, business law, and franchise matters such as corporate governance and ...

Posted in Contracts

A federal court in Illinois recently dismissed a former franchisee’s counterclaims for alleged fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of contract regarding the franchisor’s advertising fund, and breach of contract and implied contract for failure to certify a franchisee’s SBA loan. Chicago Franchise Sys., Inc. v. Dominque, 2024 WL 756806 (N.D. Ill. Feb. 23, 2024).

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A federal court in Florida recently granted in part and denied in part a former franchisee’s motion to dismiss claims for breaching a post-termination noncompete agreement, trademark infringement, and unfair competition. CHHJ Franchising LLC v. Spaulding, 2024 WL 229406 (M.D. Fla. Jan. 22, 2024).

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A federal court in Maryland recently granted a motion for class certification by consumers who brought negligence, breach of contract, and consumer protection claims against hotel franchisor Marriott International and data security company Accenture. In re Marriott Int'l Customer Data Sec. Breach Litig., 2023 WL 8247865 (D. Md. Nov. 29, 2023).

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Posted in Contracts

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed an Indiana court's order dismissing a claim by inventor Thomas Russell that his exclusive distributor, Zimmer, Inc., failed to use commercially reasonable efforts to sell Russell’s products. Russell v. Zimmer, Inc., 82 F.4th 564 (7th Cir. 2023).

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Posted in Arbitration

A federal court in New Jersey recently declined to issue an order invalidating the class action waiver and arbitration provision used by franchisor The UPS Store, Inc. and certain TUPSS franchisees’ (collectively, TUPSS) and it would not bar TUPSS from soliciting such waivers from their customers going forward. Tripicchio v. UPS Store, Inc., 2023 WL 6307528 (D.N.J. Sept. 28, 2023).

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The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently affirmed the enforcement of a jury trial waiver against a franchisee. Pizza Hut L.L.C. v. Pandya, 79 F.4th 535 (5th Cir. Aug. 22, 2023).

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Posted in Contracts

A federal court in Michigan granted Little Caesar Pizza Enterprises, Inc.’s motion for summary judgment seeking to enforce its termination of the franchise agreements between it and franchisee S&S Pizza Enterprises, Inc. Little Caesar Enters., Inc. v. S&S Pizza Enters., Inc., 2023 WL 5489021 (E.D. Mich. Aug. 24, 2023).

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Posted in Contracts

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a Texas federal court’s (i) dismissal of a distributor’s fraud claims against an automobile-product manufacturer and (ii) grant of summary judgment in favor of the manufacturer on the distributor’s breach of contract claim. Wesdem, LLC  v. Illinois Tool Works, Inc., 70 F.4th 285 (5th Cir. 2023).

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Posted in Arbitration

A federal court in Tennessee recently compelled arbitration for parties in a franchise disclosure dispute. B&P Glass Mirror, LLC v. Clozetivity Franchising, LLC, 2023 WL 3484205 (M.D. Tenn. May 16, 2023).

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Posted in Arbitration

A federal court in Tennessee granted franchisor Frost Shades’ motion to compel arbitration of franchisee Lunt’s fraudulent inducement of contract claims, but the court also granted in part franchisee Lunt’s request for a preliminary injunction preventing Frost Shades’ enforcement of noncompete restrictions under the franchise agreement while that arbitration was pending. Lunt v. Frost Shades Franchising, LLC, 2023 WL 3484202 (M.D. Tenn. May 16, 2023).

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Reflecting a shifting national landscape on restrictive covenants, the Minnesota Legislature recently adopted legislation that prohibits franchisors from placing certain nonsolicitation and no-poach restrictions in franchise agreements.

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A federal court in Oklahoma granted franchisor Pizza Inn, Inc.’s motion for preliminary injunction preventing two former Pizza Inn franchisees – Odetallah and Allen’s Dynamic Food – from operating competing pizza restaurants in the same location as each of their former Pizza Inn franchises. Pizza Inn, Inc. v. Allen's Dynamic Food, Inc., 2023 WL 3015297 (W.D. Okla. Apr. 19, 2023).

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Posted in Terminations

A federal court in Tennessee denied a manufacturer’s motion to dismiss claims that it acted in bad faith and constructively terminated a dealership when it denied the dealer’s proposed relocation sites. Hyundai Subaru of Nashville v. Hyundai Motor Am., 2023 WL 2201015 (M.D. Tenn. Feb. 24, 2023).

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Posted in Renewals

A federal court in Virginia recently enforced an alleged “scrivener’s error” that extended the term of a development agreement for one developer, while enforcing notice requirements to uphold a nonrenewal for another developer. Road King Dev. v. JTH Tax, 2023 WL 2090280 (E.D. Va. Feb. 17, 2023).

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A federal court in New York has denied a franchisor’s motion for preliminary injunction aimed at preventing a former franchisee from operating a competing business in the same location as its former franchised business because the franchisor did not establish that it would suffer irreparable harm absent an injunction. Doctor's Assocs. LLC v. Khononov, 2023 WL 184389 (E.D.N.Y. Jan. 13, 2023).

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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).

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A federal court in Illinois denied a motion to dismiss a beverage distributor’s claims for alleged violations of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act. Rhine Enters. LLC v. Refresco Beverage US, Inc., 2022 WL 2439966 (S.D. Ill. July 5, 2022).

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Posted in Settlement

In an unpublished opinion, a Utah appellate court affirmed the enforcement of a settlement agreement related to a dispute over a terminated franchise agreement. Park Prop. Mgmt. LLC v. G6 Hosp. Franchising LLC, 2022 WL 2165335 (Utah Ct. App. June 16, 2022).

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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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