Douglas v. Petroleum Wholesale, Inc.

OPINION

SAM NUCHIA, Justice.

Appellant, Jack Douglas, sued appellee, Petroleum Wholesale, Inc. (“PWI”), for violation of the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act (“PMPA”) 1 by terminating Douglas’s use of the Diamond Shamrock trademark, signage, branded motor fuel, and credit card facilities. Following a bench trial on the merits, the trial court entered a take-nothing judgment in favor of PWI, concluding that the relationship between Douglas and PWI was not a franchise within the meaning of the PMPA. We affirm.

BACKGROUND

PWI was an authorized wholesale distributor of several brands of motor fuel,…