AM/PM Franchise Ass'n v. Atlantic Richfield Co. Case Brief
Complete case briefs with LSD+
Every LSD.Law brief pairs a full IRAC analysis with opinion summaries at three levels of depth, written by a team of Harvard Law and MIT graduates - a quick synopsis when you are pressed for time, the complete reasoning when you need to go deep.
Adaptive Case Views
Toggle between Flash, Standard, and Expanded. Get what you need, when you need it.
Exam-Ready IRAC Format
We deliver the precise structure professors look for in exam answers.
Complex Cases, Clarified
We break down dense legal reasoning into something digestible, helping you grasp core concepts.
Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: Franchisees sued their supplier for providing defective gasoline that drove away customers. The court expanded recoverable damages under the UCC for breach of warranty, allowing claims for lost profits on both the defective product and related items, and overturned precedent to permit claims for future lost profits (goodwill).
Legal Significance: This case modernized Pennsylvania’s contract law by overruling the per se ban on recovering “goodwill” damages for breach of warranty. It established a new, three-part framework for lost profits as consequential damages under the UCC, recognizing primary, secondary, and prospective (goodwill) profit loss.
AM/PM Franchise Ass'n v. Atlantic Richfield Co. Law School Study Guide
Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.
Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
The plaintiffs, a class of over 150 AM/PM franchisees, had franchise agreements with Atlantic Richfield Co. (ARCO) that required them to purchase and sell only ARCO petroleum products. From 1982 to 1985, ARCO supplied its franchisees with a new unleaded gasoline blended with oxinol. The franchisees alleged that this oxinol blend was defective, causing poor engine performance and damage to customers’ vehicles. They claimed ARCO breached express and implied warranties regarding the gasoline’s quality and suitability. As public awareness of the gasoline’s problems grew, the franchisees experienced a significant decline in gasoline sales and, consequently, a drop in sales of other items in their associated convenience stores. The franchisees sued ARCO to recover these lost profits as consequential damages for breach of warranty. Because their franchise agreement prevented them from purchasing gasoline from other suppliers, they were unable to “cover” under the UCC to mitigate their losses.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Under the Uniform Commercial Code, may a buyer who resells goods recover consequential damages for lost profits, including profits on the nonconforming goods (primary profits), profits on other items (secondary profits), and future profits lost due to reputational harm (goodwill)?
Yes. The court reversed the dismissal of the warranty claims, holding that Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in re
IRAC Legal Analysis
About IRAC analysis
IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the structure professors expect in exam answers. Each LSD.Law brief states the issue, the governing rule with citations, the court's application of that rule, and the conclusion - the same reasoning pattern you will use on exams and in practice.
Legal Issue
Under the Uniform Commercial Code, may a buyer who resells goods recover consequential damages for lost profits, including profits on the nonconforming goods (primary profits), profits on other items (secondary profits), and future profits lost due to reputational harm (goodwill)?
Conclusion
This landmark decision significantly expanded the scope of recoverable consequential damages for Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis no
Legal Rule
For a breach of warranty under the Uniform Commercial Code, a buyer Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est l
Legal Analysis
The court's analysis centered on modernizing the interpretation of consequential damages under Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure do
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- Establishes three types of recoverable lost profits for breach of warranty: