Publication
Legal Alert – Patterson v. Domino’s: California Supreme Court Lends Important Guidance on Franchisor Liability
by M.C. Sungaila
Taylor Patterson claimed that Domino’s, as the franchisor of thousands of pizza stores across the nation, should be held responsible for sexual harassment she experienced from a fellow employee over a two-week period when she worked at a Thousand Oaks Domino’s store owned and run by franchisee Sui Juris. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of Domino’s Pizza LLC, Domino’s Pizza Franchising and Domino’s Pizza, Inc. (collectively, Domino’s), on the grounds that Domino’s did not have the power to control day-to-day operations at Sui Juris; rather, Sui Juris, as the franchisee, had the power to hire, fire and train employees, and therefore Domino’s could not be vicariously liable for the alleged harassment. The Court of Appeal reversed.
About Snell & Wilmer
Founded in 1938, Snell & Wilmer is a full-service business law firm with more than 500 attorneys practicing in 16 locations throughout the United States and in Mexico, including Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego, California; Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Denver, Colorado; Washington, D.C.; Boise, Idaho; Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Portland, Oregon; Dallas, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Seattle, Washington; and Los Cabos, Mexico. The firm represents clients ranging from large, publicly traded corporations to small businesses, individuals and entrepreneurs. For more information, visit swlaw.com.
Contributors
