A federal district court in New Jersey has denied ExxonMobil's motion to dismiss various antitrust, franchise, and common law claims brought by a group of more than 50 gas station franchisees. S. Gas, Inc. v. ExxonMobil Oil Corp., 2016 WL 816748 (D.N.J. Feb. 29, 2016). The plaintiffs, who leased retail gas stations from Exxon and were required to purchase gas from Exxon for resale to their customers, alleged that Exxon had sold to them at discriminatory prices compared to competing wholesale customers in violation of the Robinson-Patman Act, violated the New Jersey Franchise Practices Act ("NJFPA") by imposing unreasonable standards of performance with the intention of driving them out of business, and committed other common law breaches and torts.
Regarding the Robinson-Patman Act claims, Exxon had argued that there were numerous legitimate explanations for the higher prices charged to the plaintiffs in comparison to the prices charged to their allegedly favored competitors. Although the court acknowledged that those explanations might ultimately have merit, it concluded that the plaintiffs had alleged sufficient other facts—such as Exxon's control over their profit margins, retail prices, rent, and technology costs—that, when viewed together, raised a plausible inference of price discrimination over a substantial period of time. In light of this inference, the plaintiffs did not need to prove that sales were actually diverted to any favored competitor in their pleading. Although the plaintiffs' NJFPA claim had previously been dismissed without prejudice, the court concluded that their recently amended complaint contained sufficient allegations about Exxon's inventory standards and volume requirements that, if true, could amount to evidence of "unreasonable standards of performance" within the meaning of the statute.
- Partner
Maisa Frank represents clients in a variety of litigation matters. Whether conducting pre-dispute investigations, navigating litigation, or negotiating resolutions, Maisa’s advice and strategy is vital to clients facing ...
The information contained in this post is provided to alert you to legal developments and should not be considered legal advice. It is not intended to and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Specific questions about how this information affects your particular situation should be addressed to one of the individuals listed. No representations or warranties are made with respect to this information, including, without limitation, as to its completeness, timeliness, or accuracy, and Lathrop GPM shall not be liable for any decision made in connection with the information. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisements.
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.
To subscribe to monthly emails for The Franchise Memorandum, please click here.