McDonald’s faces a setback as the Supreme Court declines to review a pivotal ruling in an antitrust case involving its franchise agreements. The decision means a proposed class action alleging the fast-food giant’s past use of no-poach provisions will continue its course.
Justices Won’t Review McDonald’s No Poach Case : Legal Battle Resumes
McDonald’s had sought the Supreme Court’s intervention after the Seventh Circuit revived the case. The lawsuit targets restrictions in franchise agreements preventing franchisees from hiring employees who had worked at another location within the previous six months.
Dean M. Harvey of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP, representing the workers, accused McDonald’s of conspiring with franchisees to deprive employees of fair wages. He emphasized that antitrust laws safeguard workers against employer collusion, mirroring protection for consumers from price-fixing.
Antitrust Complexity Unveiled
The Seventh Circuit’s ruling in August rejuvenated the case, critiquing the trial court’s premature dismissal of complex antitrust issues. McDonald’s had argued that these provisions were justifiable as they bolstered competition in the fast-food market.
