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Is Franchising Doomed?
Strategies for Negotiating with a Franchisee and Franchisor
Before committing to a franchise business, consider...
Franchise Agreements are typically drafted by the franchisor and presented on a “take it or leave it” basis. These contracts often impose strict controls over how you operate your business — from approved vendors and...more
A federal court in South Carolina recently sua sponte vacated its own grant of partial summary judgment due to the abusive nature of the ongoing litigation. YGM Franchise, LLC v. Wong, 2025 WL 1549606 (D.S.C. May 30, 2025)....more
A federal court in Missouri recently denied franchisor Three Dog Bakery, LLC’s request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against its former franchisee, J.L.E.T. Enterprises SWF, LLC, and its owners, Joseph and Lynette...more
A federal court in Missouri recently granted a franchisor’s motion for a preliminary injunction, finding that the franchisee’s operation of a competing business demonstrated irreparable harm. Three Dog Bakery, LLC v. Crit,...more
In May of last year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sought to ban non-compete agreements in most employment contracts. Franchise agreements were an exception. However, before the rule could take effect in September, a...more
Virginia Senate Bill 798, introduced by former in-home senior care franchisee Sen. Chris Head, was passed unanimously by the Virginia Senate on January 17, 2025. The bill would amend Virginia's Retail Franchising Law to...more
A federal court in Minnesota recently granted franchisor Snap Fitness Inc.’s motion for preliminary injunction against an out-of-state franchisee that announced its intentions to open a competing gym during the term of the...more
In a recent decision of interest, the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan held that a non-compete clause within a franchise agreement as well as confidentiality agreement could not be rejected as an...more
A federal court in Michigan has granted a franchisor’s motion for preliminary injunction against former franchisees for violating the franchise agreements’ post-termination noncompete provisions. 1-800 Water Damage Int’l LLC...more
A federal court in Michigan recently granted several related franchisors’ motions to dismiss a franchisee’s claims for violations of the Michigan Franchise Investment law. Benjamin Franklin Franchising SPE LLC v. David...more
A state trial court in Minnesota granted Renters Warehouse USA, LLC’s motion for a temporary injunction, and enjoined Life Property Managers, LLC (LPM) from violating its post-termination obligations and a covenant not to...more
A Michigan bankruptcy court recently granted debtor/franchisee Empower Central Michigan Inc.’s motion to reject a franchise agreement as an executory contract but found that a non-compete clause and a related confidentiality...more
A federal court in New Jersey recently granted a franchisor’s motion for a preliminary injunction, enjoining the former franchisee from using the franchisor’s marks and violating the franchise agreement’s noncompete clause,...more
A federal court in Virginia denied a franchisor’s motion for preliminary injunction against a former franchisee violating the franchise agreement’s post-termination noncompete. JTH Tax, LLC v. Younan, 2023 WL 6304865 (E.D....more
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...more
The right to rescind (or void) a contract is an extraordinary remedy. However, as franchise lawyers know, certain states provide franchisees a right to rescind a franchise agreement in certain situations, particularly where a...more
New Standard Contract Language for Data Transfers Facilitates Lawful Personal Data Transfers to/from EU and U.S. (Published June 4, 2021) - In response to the EU Court of Justice Schrems II opinion, which declared that...more
Welcome to The Franchise Memorandum by Lathrop GPM. Below are summaries of recent legal developments of interest to franchisors. Missouri Federal Court Holds Franchisor Controls Sufficient to Survive Motion to Dismiss...more
Colorado Federal Court Applies Forum Selection Clause to Non-Signatory Entities Controlled by Former Franchisees - A federal court in Colorado held that entities controlled by former franchisees were bound by the forum...more
A set of former franchisees are prohibited from violating the terms of a non-compete clause with franchisor Wild Bird Centers of America (“WBCA”) for two years after the Fourth Circuit recently upheld the denial of their...more
Former franchisees filed a petition to vacate an arbitration award entered in favor of their former franchisor which enforced a 2-year non-compete provision in the parties’ franchise agreement when the agreement expired. The...more
This Thanksgiving, Trade Secrets Watch is serving a delicious tale about protecting trade secrets in a franchising relationship. In 1994, Quizno’s entered into a franchise agreement with Robert Kampendahl, an...more
In This Issue: - The Next Hot Trend in Economic Development: Craft Beer - Class Action Attempt to Void Jimmy John’s Non-Competes Goes Stale - Use of Customer Survey Data Upheld in Hotel Franchise...more