Week 8 Learning Activities
I had essentially a Franchise to operate the Trailways Bus
Station in Silver Spring, from September 1, 1983 through July 20,
1987. This was located across from what
is now City Place where the Chik Fila is located now. There was a Franchise
Agreement. Terms included that the
Franchisor was to give 30 days notice prior to the termination of the Franchise
Agreement. On July 14, 1987 Greyhound and Trailways merged. On July 16, 1977
there was a full page featured article, in color, in the Washington Post about
my Beach Bus company that I had started.
On July 20, 1987 two managers from what was Trailways and two from
Greyhound came to the Silver Spring station.
I was advised that the Franchise was being terminated immediately. By the end of the morning, these individuals
threatened to do mean and nasty things to my body, ordered that the utilities
be turned off and routed all the busses to the Greyhound station at Fenton and
Sligo Avenue up the street. I was
operating a Ryder Truck Dealership, a courier company called Executive Express,
a parking lot with contracts with customers, contracted bus service with Eyre
Trailways an independent company, and
Goldline another independent company.
When the utilities were cut so where the telephone lines and therefore
there was no telephones for the various undertakings. The new Greyhound/Trailways entity called
Eyre Trailways and Goldline to tell them to go to the other station. What did I do? What do you think the outcome of this case
was? What causes of action could I take
against Greyhound/Trailways?
In class I will tell you about a similar case against
Greyhound and Trailways which after up until this year wasl my biggest case. I had a bigger one last year.
There is a lot in this basic fact pattern that will allow
you to draw upon several of the readings in this class. What about the franchise agreement, what
about damages, what about any torts that may have been committed and by
whom. What types of remedies were
available to me. Think.
