PMPA Litigation — Petroleum Marketing Practices Act

Rules for Ending a Franchise Relationship

The Petroleum Marketing Practices Act (PMPA) establishes substantive and procedural rules for ending a franchise relationship, including compensating the franchisee. The rules for terminating a franchise are narrower than those for not renewing one.

Termination

The Petroleum Marketing Practices Act (PMPA) allows a supplier to terminate a covered franchise (1) for noncompliance with a franchise agreement concerning a reasonable and important requirement, (2) for the franchisee’s lack of a good faith effort to carry out the franchise’s terms, (3) by mutual agreement, (4) if the supplier withdraws from the market area, or (5) for certain other reasons.

These other reasons include the franchisee’s:

1. Fraud or criminal action;
2. Declaration of bankruptcy;
3. Severe physical or mental disability lasting at least three months that renders the franchisee incapable of properly operating the premises;
4. Failure to pay the supplier on time;
5. Failure to operate the premises for seven consecutive days or for a shorter period if the failure is unreasonable;
6. Intentional adulteration, misbranding, or mislabeling of the fuel;
7. Failure to comply with relevant law; or
8. Conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude.

They also include:

1. Expiration of the supplier’s underlying property lease,
2. The property is taken through eminent domain,
3. Loss of the supplier’s right to grant the use of the trademark, and
4. Destruction of the premises other than by the supplier.

Non-Renewal

Under the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act (PMPA), a supplier may choose not to renew a franchise for the same reasons that it may terminate one. It may also choose not to renew (1) if the franchisee fails to agree to changes or additions to the franchise; (2) if there is a record of numerous customer complaints relating to the condition of the premises or the conduct of employees; (3) for unsafe or unhealthful operations, or (4) the supplier has decided, in the normal course of business, (a) to change the use of the property on which the premises operates, (b) to materially alter or add to the premises, (c) to sell the premises, or (d) that continuing the franchise is uneconomical. In the case of a leased marketing premises, the PMPA requires the supplier, during the 90-day notice period, to make a bona fide offer to sell, transfer, or assign the premises to the franchisee or, if applicable, to give the franchisee a right of first refusal of at least 45 days of an offer, made by another, to purchase the franchisor’s interest in the premises.

Compensation

The Petroleum Marketing Practices Act (PMPA) sets certain rules for compensating a franchisee when a franchise is terminated or not renewed. Generally, if termination or non-renewal happens after (1) the underlying property was taken through eminent domain or other governmental action or (2) the supplier lost the right to grant use of the trademark, the PMPA requires the supplier to fairly share with the franchisee any compensation received for loss of business opportunity or good will. If termination or non-renewal occurs because the premises was destroyed, the PMPA requires the supplier to give the franchisee the right of first refusal if the premises is rebuilt or replaced.

Procedural Rules

The PMPA’s procedural rules require a supplier to give notice, usually 90 days, before taking any action. If 90-day notice is not possible, then a supplier must give notice as soon as he can. Notices must state the intention to terminate or not renew and the date the action takes effect. For certain grounds, the PMPA also requires the supplier to give the franchisee and opportunity to correct the problem. For example, if a franchise is being terminated or not renewed for failure to carry out the terms of the franchise, the supplier must inform the franchisee of the intention and give a reasonable opportunity to make good faith efforts to comply. The act also prescribes the method and form of giving notice.

Enforcement

The Petroleum Marketing Practices Act (PMPA) authorizes franchisees to sue in federal court to enforce the rights it establishes. Courts may grant equitable relief and must grant a preliminary injunction if the franchisee shows (1) that his franchise has been terminated or not renewed and that there are “sufficiently serious questions going to the merits” and (2) the court determines that, on balance, that the hardship imposed on the supplier by granting temporary relief is less than that imposed on the franchisee if relief were not granted.

The PMPA Preempts State Laws on Termination or Non-Renewal

The Petroleum Marketing Practices Act (PMPA) prohibits states and their political subdivisions from adopting or enforcing any law concerning the termination or non-renewal of a franchise unless its provisions are the same as the provision in the PMPA. Further, states may not adopt laws that require a goodwill payment on the termination or non-renewal of a franchise by a supplier.

The act states that it does not (1) authorize or prohibit a transfer or assignment of a franchise allowed by the franchise or by state law or (2) prohibit states from specifying terms and conditions under which a franchise may be transferred to a designated successor upon the franchisee’s death.