3 Key Takeaways | Is Franchising Doomed? The 2024 Version
Is Franchising Doomed?
II-27 - Our 1st Anniversary Special: Bringing Back Our Inaugural Guest to Discuss What Was and What Will Still Be With President Trump
Employment Law This Week: Break Pay, Misclassification of Franchisees, California Computer Professional Exemption, Non-Compete Payment
A federal court in New Jersey recently entered default judgment against franchisee Nisha Investments, LLC and its guarantor Rajesh Patel arising from their early termination of a franchise agreement with La Quinta...more
A federal court in Arizona recently dismissed a franchisee’s counterclaims for breach of contract, defamation, and injunctive relief against its former franchisor. LeTip World Franchise LLC v. Long Island Soc. Media Grp. LLC,...more
A federal court in California recently granted a franchisor’s motion to compel arbitration and stay the lawsuit in a dispute alleging breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and...more
A New York federal court denied a franchisor’s motion to dismiss a franchisee’s complaint for misrepresentations and improper financial performance representations which allegedly induced the franchisee to enter into multiple...more
The Eighth Circuit recently applied a novel, broad reading of the Missouri Franchise Act granting franchise protection to distributors which previously would not likely have been considered franchisees....more
An Ohio federal court granted a franchisor’s motion to dismiss a putative class of franchisees alleging antitrust violations and related claims, including interference to deflate franchisees’ reimbursement rates. Other class...more
On April 8, 2025, the New York State Legislature took up Senate Bill S7289, which, if enacted, would amend the New York Labor Law (NYLL) by adding a new article 35-A, otherwise known as the “New York State Fast Food...more
A federal court in California recently denied a franchisor’s motion to dismiss litigation, holding that a franchise agreement provision requiring the parties to mediate in Texas prior to instituting litigation or arbitration...more
A Massachusetts federal court granted a franchisor’s request to enforce the franchise agreement’s post-termination non-compete provision against a terminated franchisee....more
A positive development for franchise systems seeking to streamline the SBA loan approval process for their franchisees is coming this summer. The new version of the SBA Loan Origination Policies and Procedures for Lender and...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
An employee of a Domino’s Pizza franchisee, returning from a pizza delivery, collided with a motorcyclist who suffered serious injuries. After a Pennsylvania jury found Domino’s (as franchisor) vicariously liable for the...more
A recent federal court decision in T&T Management, Inc. v. Choice Hotels, Inc. underscores key contractual and operational considerations for franchisors. T&T filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota...more
On February 27, 2025, the District of Minnesota granted a franchisor’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit initiated by its franchisee, alleging, among other things, breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets under the...more
A federal court in North Dakota recently denied a motion to dismiss vicarious liability claims against the corporate entities constituting the Subway franchise system. C.S. v. Subway Worldwide, Inc., 2025 WL 472475 (D.N.D....more
The Superior Court of Pennsylvania recently affirmed a judgment holding Domino’s Pizza vicariously liable for a motorcycle accident involving a franchisee’s delivery driver. Coryell v. Morris, — A.3d —, 2025 Pa. Super. 28...more
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 Arizona recently granted a franchisee’s motion for temporary restraining order preventing termination of its franchise agreement and the franchisor’s withdrawal of any funds from the franchisee’s accounts....more
A New Jersey Court of Appeals found that a retailer was not a franchisee under New Jersey’s Franchise Practices Act (NJFPA) and therefore NJFPA’s termination requirements did not apply to the retailer’s termination....more
A district court in Arizona granted a franchisor’s motion to transfer venue to Missouri pursuant to the terms of the franchise agreement. S&G Elite LLC (“S&G”) and ST National Franchising, LLC (“Franchisor”) entered into a...more
The International Franchise Association’s Annual Convention is always filled with useful take home information for franchise practitioners. Last week, I attended the session “Proactive Strategies for Franchisors to Prevent...more
A New Jersey appellate court affirmed a state trial court’s ruling that a terminated retailer of custom outdoor kitchens was not in a franchise relationship with a manufacturer of outdoor grills and that the New Jersey...more
While 2024 saw more stability in the financial markets than 2023, many challenges arose in 2024 for franchised businesses, manufacturers and retail chains, including bankruptcies of many large restaurant and retail chains,...more
On January 31, 2025, Delegate Marc Korman of Montgomery County introduced Maryland House of Delegates Bill 992, entitled the Franchise Reform Act, which would make the first significant changes to the Maryland Franchise...more
Last May, the Federal Trade Commission looked to ban non-compete agreements in most employment contracts aside from franchise agreements. Although scheduled to become effective in September, a federal court vacated the ruling...more