The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment for a franchisor on a franchisee’s breach of contract claims, finding that the franchise agreement unambiguously granted the franchisor the right to suspend the...more
1/16/2026
/ Appeals ,
Appellate Courts ,
Breach of Contract ,
Contract Disputes ,
Contract Interpretation ,
Franchise Agreements ,
Franchisee ,
Franchisors ,
Liquidated Damages ,
Litigation Fees & Costs ,
Summary Judgment
The Tennessee Supreme Court recently rejected a manufacturer’s effort to set aside a $900,000 jury verdict for a former distributor’s shareholders for want of standing and jurisdiction. Houghton v. Malibu Boats, LLC, 2025 WL...more
A state appellate court in Michigan affirmed in part and reversed in part a trial court’s decision compelling arbitration and denying a motion to rescind two contracts related to a failed effort to establish a franchise...more
11/10/2025
/ Appellate Courts ,
Arbitration ,
Contract Disputes ,
Contract Terms ,
Dispute Resolution ,
Forum Selection ,
Franchise Agreements ,
Franchises ,
Limited Liability Company (LLC) ,
Motion to Compel ,
Non-Signatories ,
Operating Agreements ,
Stays
A federal court in Maryland recently granted, in part, a franchisor’s motion to compel arbitration in a dispute alleging fraud, negligent misrepresentation, violation of Maryland’s franchise law and consumer protection act,...more
9/15/2025
/ Arbitration ,
Arbitration Agreements ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Contract Disputes ,
Federal Arbitration Act ,
Franchise Agreements ,
Fraud ,
Misrepresentation ,
Motion to Compel ,
Negligence ,
RICO ,
State Law Claims ,
Stays
A federal court in Virginia recently granted McDonald’s USA, LLC’s motion to dismiss a former franchise employee’s Title VII and Virginia Human Rights Act claims. Edmonds v. McDonald’s USA, LLC, 2025 WL 1066193 (W.D. Va. Apr....more
5/5/2025
/ Dismissals ,
Employee Rights ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Employment Litigation ,
Former Employee ,
Franchises ,
Harassment ,
Joint Employers ,
McDonalds ,
Race Discrimination ,
Slurs ,
Title VII
A federal court in California recently granted Ringside Development Company’s motion to stay a franchisee-initiated lawsuit pending resolution through alternative dispute resolution. Jameson v. Ringside Development Company,...more
A federal court in Ohio recently narrowed two hotel franchisors’ attempt to implead their franchisee in a lawsuit under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). A.S. v. Red Roof Inns, Inc., 2024 WL...more
Last week, McDonald’s found itself in the national spotlight. However, instead of highlighting a holiday McFlurry, the hamburger giant was linked to an E. coli outbreak that spread across 13 states and caused approximately 75...more
An Ohio appellate court, reversing a summary judgment decision, recently held that the “full-time efforts” section of an Area Representative Agreement was applicable only to the area representative entity and not the...more
On Friday, July 12, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) published an analysis of the information it received in response to its Request for Information related to franchisors’ business practices, launched in March...more
7/17/2024
/ Contract Terms ,
Disclosure ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Fees ,
Franchise Agreements ,
Franchisee ,
Franchises ,
Franchisors ,
FTC Act ,
New Guidance ,
Policy Statement ,
Request For Information
A New Jersey appellate court, reversing a summary judgment decision, recently held that the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers, Inc. (the Coalition) had associational standing to bring an action against Ford Motor...more
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...more
3/15/2024
/ Advertising ,
Breach of Contract ,
Counterclaims ,
Dismissals ,
Federal Loans ,
Franchisee ,
Franchises ,
Franchisors ,
Fraud ,
Misrepresentation ,
SBA Lending Programs