Hoffnagle v. McDonald's Corp.

McGIVERIN, Chief Justice.

The question here is whether a franchisor may be held liable for injuries suffered by its franchisee’s employee as a result of an assault by third parties. The district court granted summary judgment for the defendant franchisor, McDonald’s Corporation, concluding as a matter of law that defendant owed no duty of security to the franchisee’s employee, plaintiff Dana Annette Hoffnagle. We agree with the district court that the defendant franchisor did not retain sufficient control of the business operation so as to give rise to a duty in this case. Accordingly, we…