Amos v. Shell Oil Co.

We address the impact of the Federal Petroleum Marketing and Practices Act (PMPA) (15 U.S.C. §2801 et seq. (1978)) on the right of oil companies to abruptly terminate franchise agreements with gasoline service stations and to repossess the station when the operator defaults on his obligations. We hold that under certain circumstances an oil company may unilaterally terminate a franchise agreement, repossess a service station, and lock out an operator who engages in fraudulent conduct. We further hold that the PMPA preempts the Illinois Forcible Entry and Detainer Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987,…