Korangy v. Mobil Oil Corporation, 84 F. Supp. 2d 660 (D. Md. 1-21-00)

In 1996, Mobil assigned a franchise agreement with dealer/plaintiff that was due to expire in 1998 to CIF, a marketer. Mobil argued that its franchise with the dealer ended at the time of the assignment, and sought summary judgment on the ground that plaintiff's PMPA claims were barred by the statute's one-year limitations period. However, since the district court had previously found that Mobil's assignment to CIF might have constituted a violation of state law, it found that CIF's 1998 attempt to renew the franchise agreement with plaintiff could constitute a nonrenewal under the PMPA (citing Beachler v. Amoco Oil Co.), and that the limitations period ran from this latter date. Mobil's motion was denied on this ground.