A Texas federal court granted American Dairy Queen Corporation’s motion for partial summary judgment against a terminated franchisee, finding no dispute to the material facts establishing the franchisee’s material breach of...more
A federal district court in Tennessee granted a motion for a default judgment in the franchisor’s favor against its former franchisee requiring the franchisee to pay damages and comply with the post-termination obligations...more
4/1/2025
/ Arbitration ,
Contract Termination ,
Damages ,
Default Judgment ,
Franchise Agreements ,
Franchise Termination ,
Franchisee ,
Franchisors ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Permanent Injunctions ,
Trademark Infringement
A Kansas district court denied a franchisor’s motion for preliminary injunction against its former franchisee who engaged in competing businesses immediately after terminating the franchise relationship....more
11/1/2024
/ Breach of Contract ,
Contract Termination ,
Conversion ,
Franchise Agreements ,
Franchisee ,
Injunctive Relief ,
Irreparable Harm ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Trademark Infringement ,
Unfair Competition
A federal district court in Florida denied a former moving and junk hauling franchisee’s motion to dismiss claims of trademark infringement and unfair competition by franchisor College Hunks Hauling Junk (“CHHJ”)....more
A California federal court denied Mountain Mike’s Pizza a temporary restraining order (“TRO”) against one of its franchisees who did not renew its franchise agreement and opened a new restaurant under a different name.
In...more
An Indiana federal court granted hamburger and milkshake franchisor, Steak n Shake, a temporary restraining order (“TRO”) against a franchisee to enforce post-termination obligations under franchise and area development...more
A Florida federal court granted a preliminary injunction against a terminated franchisee. The court enjoined the ex-franchisee from using the franchisor’s trademarks and trade dress. The court enforced the franchisor’s...more
8/4/2020
/ Breach of Contract ,
Employee Relocations ,
Franchise Agreements ,
Franchise Termination ,
Franchisee ,
Franchisors ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Non-Parties ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Restrictive Covenants ,
Successor Interests ,
Successor Liability ,
Trade Dress ,
Trademark Infringement ,
Trademarks
A federal court in Maryland entered default judgment and a permanent injunction in favor of an ice cream franchisor against a franchisee that continued operating its ice cream shop after termination....more
Twin City Lodging LLC bought a Best Western Hotel in Mankato, Minnesota, then entered into a “Membership Agreement” with Best Western International. Best Western granted Twin City a license to operate the hotel under Best...more
10/1/2019
/ Best Western ,
Breach of Contract ,
Community of Interest ,
Counterclaims ,
Franchise Fees ,
Franchise Termination ,
Franchisee ,
Franchises ,
Franchisors ,
Hotels ,
Licenses ,
Motion to Dismiss ,
Notice Requirements ,
Trademark Infringement
Sandwich shop franchisor Erbert and Gerbert (“E&G”) was unable to demonstrate a “better than negligible” likelihood of succeeding on allegations that a former franchisee infringed its trade dress in establishing a new...more
An ex-franchisee of a vehicle transportation and shipping management franchise was enjoined by a federal court, for two years, from operating a competitive business at its former location in Virginia or anywhere the...more
Though an individual owner and operator of a formerly franchised Church's Chicken restaurant in Texas was not a signer of the franchise agreement, a district court ruled the individual was subject to the agreement's...more
3/1/2018
/ Assignments ,
Breach of Contract ,
Cease and Desist ,
Confusingly Similar ,
Equitable Estoppel ,
Franchise Agreements ,
Franchisee ,
Franchisors ,
Motion To Enjoin ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Non-Signatories ,
Post-Termination Acts ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Third-Party Relationships ,
Trademark Infringement ,
Trademarks
A registered trademark is a valuable corporate asset and can be a significant part of a company's worth. A franchisor has an affirmative legal duty to police use of its mark by licensed franchisees and also third-party...more
2/2/2018
/ Cease and Desist ,
Duty to Monitor ,
Franchisee ,
Franchises ,
Franchisors ,
Injunctions ,
Likelihood of Confusion ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Trademark Infringement ,
Trademark Registration ,
Trademarks