Palmieri v. Mobil Oil Corp.

RULING ON PLAINTIFFS’ MOTIONS FOR A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION

CLARIE, Chief Judge.

The plaintiffs Joseph Palmieri and Anthony Morin seek to enjoin the defendant Mobil Oil Corporation (“Mobil”) from terminating their respective franchise agreements until such time as their claims for permanent relief have been adjudicated. In this consolidated action, they claim that the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act 1 (“PMPA”), as enacted by Congress, imposes a legal duty on petroleum franchisors like Mobil to act in a reasonable, nonarbitrary manner when dealing with their franchisees and that Mobil has…