Jiffy Lube Franchisee Missed Deadline for Appeal, 9th Cir. Says

Jiffy Lube International Inc. franchisees filed a challenge to an arbitrator’s decision one day too late, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled.

An arbitrator ruled for Jiffy Lube in the franchisees’ claim that the company improperly terminated their franchise agreement while they were engaged in a dispute with their business’ landlord. The franchisees asked a district court to vacate the award, but a judge ruled that Jiffy Lube acted within its rights.

The district judge shouldn’t have decided whether Jiffy Lube acted properly because the franchisees’ petition was tardy, Judge M. Margaret McKeown wrote for the ...