Bluemaumau: Senior U.S. District Judge John L. Kane signed an Order on Motion for Preliminary Injunction today that ruled members of the Toasted Subs Franchisee Association (TSFA) are permitted to continue operating under the terms of their respective Franchise Agreements. The members are allowed to operate their Quiznos locations until a trial on the merits of their wrongful termination claims can be held.
Quiznos terminated the Toasted Subs members' franchise agreements in early December, saying the group uses hostile efforts to damage the company's reputation. The termination letter was sent after the Toasted Subs organization posted a suicide letter on its Web site from Baber Vhupinder, a longtime franchisee and litigant against Quiznos.
Vhupinder, also known as Bob Baber, in November shot himself three times in the chest with a .380 handgun in the store's bathroom. He blamed his suicide on his ongoing litigation woes. He was one of several franchisees suing Quiznos for fraud, exploitation, saturating geographies and violating the conditions of its Uniform Franchise Offering Circular.
In late December, a judge ordered Quiznos to halt the terminations of 10 operators and to resume sending food supplies to their stores. John L. Kane, a senior U.S. district judge in Colorado, set a preliminary injunction hearing for Dec. 22. Gregory R. Stross, the franchisees' attorney, said Quiznos attempted to delay the hearing.
