Culligan Soft Water Service of Inglewood, Inc. v. Culligan International Co.

KELLY, Justice.

This appeal arises from an action for a declaratory judgment filed in the District Court of Hennepin County. At trial, plaintiffs sought a judicial determination that certain provisions of a franchise agreement entered into by plaintiff Culligan Soft Water Service of Inglewood, Inc. (Inglewood) and defendant Culligan International Company (Culligan) required defendant to consent to the transfer of the franchise to plaintiff United States Water Company (U.S. Water). After a 7-day trial, the trial court held that the controversy was justiciable, that the right of first refusal…