ADM Associates, Inc. v. Grease 'N Go, Inc.

905 F. Supp. 79, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15710, 1995 WL 625745
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. New York
DecidedOctober 19, 1995
DocketCiv. A. Nos. CV-88-3724 (DGT), CV-90-2740 (DGT)
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 905 F. Supp. 79 (ADM Associates, Inc. v. Grease 'N Go, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
ADM Associates, Inc. v. Grease 'N Go, Inc., 905 F. Supp. 79, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15710, 1995 WL 625745 (E.D.N.Y. 1995).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

TRAGER, District Judge:

In these two actions, which were consolidated on February 27, 1991, defendant Grease ’N Go Atlantic, Inc. (“GNGATL”) has moved for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. For the reasons set forth below, defendant’s motion is granted.

Background1

Grease ’N Go, Inc. (“GNG”) was a business which operated a nationwide set of franchises that performed ten minute oil changes. On January 29, 1988, plaintiff, ADM Associates, Inc. (“ADM”), entered into a license agreement with GNG to operate a Grease ’N Go franchise at a possible site in Nassau or Suffolk Counties. Def's. Mem.Supp. at Exh. 4, p. 1. ADM paid a $25,000 franchise fee for the franchise. Id. at 4. The basic license agreement required GNG, as franchisor, to provide a formal training program to franchisees, familiarize them with the GNG system, give them advice and assistance with regard to location, promotions, marketing, layout, equipment, construction and operation of the franchise, provide franchisees with a licensed logo, and bring suit against any unauthorized use of the GNG logo or licensed concepts of GNG. Id. at 9. ADM was required to get written approval from GNG with regard to the location, building, machines, and uniforms to be used. Id. at 8. ADM was also required to have completed construction of its franchise and be open for business within one year, with a provision for construction delays. Id. at 8. There was, however, a three page addendum to ADM’s license agreement which contained an option for a “Turnkey Building Lease Program” (or “Turnkey Option”).2 Id. at 36. This addendum required GNG to construct or acquire a building to be used as a Grease ’N Go lube [81]*81center and offer it to ADM for lease. Id. at 36. The addendum states that ADM would have the option to enter into a “Turnkey Building Lease Program,” only by written acceptance within 30 days after a lease proposal is made to them. Id. at 36. The Turnkey Option required franchisees to have a minimum of $25,000 in reserve capital after the franchise opened. Id. at 36. The addendum also states that all proposed sites would be reviewed by GNG and their affiliated investors and would be approved only if the site met income producing potential based on demographic requirements. Id. at 36. It is undisputed that GNG never complied with the Turnkey Option.

On January 11, 1988, plaintiffs John R. Doyle and John W. Doyle had entered into a similar license agreement with GNG for a fee of $25,000. Id. at Exh. 6, p. 1-4. This agreement authorized the Doyles to operate a Grease ’N Go franchise in Suffolk County and also had an addendum which contained the same Turnkey Option as ADM’s agreement. Id. at 36. It is undisputed that GNG never performed the Turnkey Option in the Doyle agreement.

On December 1, 1987, James Kelly and Michael LaBianea (“K & L”) also had entered into a license agreement with GNG which authorized K & L to open a Grease ’N Go in Suffolk County, and possibly Florida should the parties later agree. Id. at Exh. 5. K & L’s license agreement did not contain the first three pages of the addendum referring to the Turnkey Option as did ADM’s and the Doyles’ license agreements. However, the K & L agreement did contain a sheet describing the Turnkey Building Lease Program, as did ADM’s and the Doyles’ license agreements. This sheet states that GNG would assist franchisees in locating “build-to-suit” developers and investors for a “Turn Key” operation. Id. at 37. The sheet states that GNG would assist franchisees with site qualification, negotiation and review of all lease documents. Id. at 36. The sheet goes on to state that the out of pocket investment expense would be approximately $50,000-$65,000 and that qualified applicants may be able to lease equipment from a third-party leasing company. Id. Nevertheless, K & L alleged that GNG was obligated to provide the Turnkey Option because of a handwritten provision in their basic license agreement.3 Pl’s. Mem. Opp’n at 3.

Defendant GNGATL is owned by James Wallace Reid. In or about April 1986, R.S.Q. Associates, Inc. (“RSQ”), a Virginia based company founded by Reid, purchased from GNG one Grease ’N Go franchise for $25,000 which RSQ opened at its own expense. Reid Aff. at ¶ 4. At the same time, RSQ also paid a deposit of $48,000 for eight additional franchises. Id. at ¶ 4. After April 1986, RSQ proceeded to construct and open by June 1989 three more GNG oil change centers, and, subsequently, constructed and opened another three. Id. at ¶4. None of the license agreements that RSQ had signed with GNG from 1986-1988 contained a Turnkey Option. GNGATL Exh. 20.

In October 1987, Richard Lindstrom, president of GNG, asked Reid to make an “emergency loan” to GNG in the amount of $42,-000. Id. at ¶ 5. Reid gave GNG a personal loan and was issued a promissory note and obtained a security agreement from GNG dated October 6, 1987.4 Id. at ¶ 5. Reid made additional loans to GNG from October 1987 to January 1988 totalling $45,000, and these loans were similarly secured. Id. at ¶ 6. Later, an amended security agreement was issued granting Reid a primary security interest in franchise fees that were payable from his company, RSQ, to GNG. Id. at ¶ 7. Reid was also granted a second security interest entitling him to franchise fees and royalty fees that were payable to GNG from other franchises in Virginia and Maryland in [82]*82the event that the primary security agreement was insufficient. Id. at ¶ 7. Subsequently, GNG defaulted on payment of the notes. Id. at ¶8. In July of 1988, GNG agreed to pay Reid $19,000 by way of royalty fees that were owed by RSQ to GNG; at that time GNG also issued Reid a new promissory note for $74,091.70, dated July 13, 1988, consolidating and replacing the five previous notes. Id. at ¶ 8. The note was made payable on demand and contained a security agreement. Id. at ¶ 9.5 GNG later defaulted on payment of this note too, and Reid exercised his security interest and collected partial payment out of RSQ’s royalty fee obligation that was to be paid to GNG; but there was still an unpaid balance of $31,882.49 as of June 1989. Id. at ¶ 9.

Earlier, in or about September or October 1987, Reid and Lindstrom also agreed that Reid would purchase 5,000 shares of GNG stock for $10,000 and Reid would become a Director of GNG; in return Reid was to use his “best efforts” to obtain financing for GNG. Id. at ¶ 10. In or about February 1988, the October 1987 agreement was abandoned because GNG refused to comply with the terms of the agreement when it failed to provide Reid with audited financial statements and future operational budgets of GNG. Id. at ¶ 11. Reid informed Lindstrom that he wanted to return the shares of GNG stock and that he wanted a refund of the purchase price; Lindstrom did not accept that “offer.” Id. at ¶ 11.

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Bluebook (online)
905 F. Supp. 79, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15710, 1995 WL 625745, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/adm-associates-inc-v-grease-n-go-inc-nyed-1995.