Last Thursday, US District Judge Timothy M. Burgess issued an order for Avis Budget Car Rental LLC to pay Alaska Rent A Car
$16 million in damages, following a jury verdict last October. Robert C. Halcro, a 54-year veteran franchisee, started his car rental business in 1955 in Valdez,
Alaska. His legal battle began in 2002 when Cendant
Corporation, then parent to the Avis car rental franchisor, acquired
and continued to operate competitor Budget Rent A Car. He alleged that
the acquisition violated all three of his franchise agreements.
Judge Burgess said of franchise expert witness testimony "The court, having heard the testimony and the evidence presented at trial, independently finds that there was sufficient evidence to support the jury’s verdict.”
For more, see bluemaumau.org.
