Facts

Plaintiffs, Charanjot Singh and Manpreet Dhillon, and defendant, 7-Eleven, entered into a franchise agreement which granted plaintiffs a license to operate a 7-Eleven convenience store business in Azusa, California. Singh sent a letter to 7-Elevent asserting multiple grievances and soon thereafter filed a lawsuit in state court. Singh agreed to dismiss the lawsuit without prejudice and retained the right to refile if the parties did not resolve their disputes at mediation. At mediation, plaintiffs and 7-Eleven entered into a termination agreement where the parties agreed that their franchise agreement would terminate and 7-Eleven would pay plaintiffs $225,000. Plaintiffs refiled and in their second amended complaint, they alleged the entry into the termination agreement was a product of duress.

PLAINTIFFS' CONTENTIONS: Plaintiffs contended defendant threatened Singh that "if he did not comply with the directions from 7-Eleven . . . such as remain in his store during fumigation process, the equity account would be subject to deductions." Plaintiff contended defendant threatened Singh by stating that if they did not enter into the Termination Agreement, "the franchise agreement would be canceled and the store taken back." Plaintiffs also contended defendant breached the Franchise Agreement. Plaintiffs contended defendants also engaged in racial discrimination.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS: Defendant denied all of the contentions. Defendant contended that there was no duress because plaintiffs failed to present any evidence they had no reasonable alternative other than to enter the Termination Agreement. Defendant also contended there are no genuine disputes.

Result

Defendant's motion for summary judgment was granted.