Franchise and Distribution Expertise
Altstadt Consulting provides services to both franchisors and franchisees in litigation related to every aspect of the business relationship. Franchise litigation typically involves issues of termination, cannibalization or disputes between individual owners of franchises. We have provided such services as damage analysis, discovery assistance to counsel, valuation of individual businesses, forensic investigations, and statistical and economic analysis of both franchisees and the markets in which they operate.
Selected Testimony
Toyota of Visalia, Inc. v. Toyota Motor Distributors, Inc. (Robert Ebe-McCutceon Doyle Brown & Enersen) Mr. Altstadt testified as an expert before the California New Motor Vehicle Board on behalf of the respondent in a franchise termination dispute.
Quaid Automotive, Inc. v. Mitsubishi Motor-Sales of America, Inc. (Elizabeth Grimes-Gibson Dunn & Crutcher) Mr. Altstadt provided an expert deposition on behalf of the respondent in a franchise termination dispute.
Kemp v. Mazda Motor of America, Inc. (Job Taylor-Latham & Watkins) Mr. Altstadt testified as an expert in State Supreme Court (Long Island, New York) on behalf of the defendant in a breach of contract matter.
Irvine Central Motors, Inc. v. Mazda Motor of America, Inc. (Maurice Sanchez-Alvarado, Smith, Villa & Sanchez) Mr. Altstadt testified before the California New Motor Vehicle Board on behalf of the respondent in a franchise protest matter.
Jennifer Christian v. Beauty for All Seasons (George Straggas - Law Offices of George Straggas) Mr. Altstadt provided an expert deposition in Superior Court (Orange County, California) on behalf of the plaintiff in a breach of contract matter involving cannibalization of the distributor's clients by the manufacturer.
Mazda Motor of America, Inc. v. David J. Phillips Mazda (Maurice Sanchez – Alvarado, Smith & Sanchez) Mr. Altstadt testified as an expert in Superior Court (Orange County, California) on behalf of the plaintiff in a breach of contract matter.
Rockville Harley-Davidson, Inc. v. Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Brad Weiss – Charapp & Weiss)Mr. Altstadt testified as an expert witness before the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings on behalf of the plaintiff in a breach of contract matter.
American Isuzu Motors v. Ray Fladeboe, et al. (James Mulcahy – The Mulcahy Law Firm) Mr. Altstadt testified as an expert witness in Superior Court (Orange County, California) on behalf of the plaintiff in a trademark infringement matter. Additionally, Mr. Altstadt provided an expert report in a separate matter in United States District Court (Los Angeles).
S&C Kia v. Kia Motors America (Maurice Sanchez – Adorno, Yoss, et al.) Mr. Altstadt testified before the California New Motor Vehicle Board on behalf of the respondent in a franchise termination matter.
Hartmann-Lausanne, et al. v. HemoCue (James Mulcahy - The Mulcahy Law Firm) Mr. Altstadt testified as an expert witness in a JAMS arbitration on behalf of the plaintiff in a breach of contract matter involving a distributor of medical products.
Caleel+Hayden v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals (Michael D. McCaffrey - The Law Offices of Michael D. McCaffrey) Mr. Altstadt testified as an expert witness in Superior Court (Santa Ana, California) on behalf of the defendant in a breach of contract matter involving a distributor of health products.
Stuft Pizza Franchise Company v. Rajbir Rai, et al. (James Mulcahy - The Mulcahy Law Firm) Mr. Altstadt testified as an expert witness in Superior Court (Santa Ana, California) on behalf of the plaintiff in a breach of contract matter involving pizza franchises.
Cascade Motorsports of Oregon v. American Suzuki Motor Corporation (James Mulcahy - The Mulcahy Law Firm) Mr. Altstadt provided an expert report in United States District Court (District of Oregon) on behalf of the defendant in a franchise termination matter.
In Re: IRMO Feldman (Various) Mr. Altstadt acted as the court appointed third party appraiser in a family law matter in San Diego County.The project included the valuation of eight automobile franchises. Mr Altstadt provided trial testimony in San Diego Family Court.
Hooman Nissani v. Long Beach Motors (Christopher Reeder – Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton) Mr. Altstadt provided an expert deposition in Superior Court (Los Angeles) on behalf of the plaintiff in a breach of contract case.
In Re: Burger (Steven Bishop – Law Offices of Steven Bishop) Mr. Altstadt critiqued the valuation of a Chrysler Jeep Dodge franchise in La Mesa, California in a divorce matter in San Diego County. Mr. Altstadt provided a written report to the court.
College Park Motors, Inc. v. Volkswagen of America (Michael Charapp – Charapp & Weiss) Mr. Altstadt testified before the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings on behalf of the plaintiff in a franchise termination matter involving the Volkswagen dealership in College Park, Maryland.
In Re: Burger Estate (Charles Harris - Harris & Collins) Mr. Altstadt prepared a valuation of the Chrysler Jeep and Dodge franchises in La Mesa, California for estate tax purposes.
Mullahey Chevrolet v. General Motors Corporation (Jim Ferruzzo - Ferruzzo and Ferruzzo) Mr. Altstadt testified on behalf of the claimant in a AAA Arbitration in a franchise reinstatement matter involving the Chevrolet dealership in Fullerton, California. Services included analysis of the finances and operations of the dealership under criteria established by Congress.
William L. Morris Chevrolet v. General Motors Corporation (Greg Ferruzzo - Ferruzzo and Ferruzzo) Mr. Altstadt testified on behalf of the claimant in a AAA Arbitration in a franchise reinstatement matter involving the Chevrolet dealership in Simi Valley, California. Services included analysis of the finances and operations of the dealership under criteria established by Congress.
Hardin Automotive v. General Motors Corporation (Greg Ferruzzo - Ferruzzo and Ferruzzo) Mr. Altstadt provided a written expert report on behalf of the claimant in a AAA Arbitration in a franchise reinstatement matter involving the Buick-Pontiac-GMC dealership in Anaheim, California. Services included analysis of the finances and operations of the dealership under criteria established by Congress.
In Re: Hardin Automotive (No Attorney) Mr. Altstadt provided a written report of the valuation of the Honda, Buick and GMC franchises in Anaheim, CA for estate tax purposes.
Powerhouse Motorsports v. Yamaha Motor Corporation (Maurice Sanchez - Baker Hostetler) Mr. Altstadt testified in Superior Court (Paso Robles) for the defendant in a breach of contract matter.
Los Feliz Ford, Inc. v. Chrysler Corporation (Michael Sieving - Callahan, Thompson, Sherman & Caudill) Mr. Altstadt provided an expert deposition in U.S. District Court (Central District of California) on behalf of the plaintiff in a declatory relief matter involving a Glendale, CA Chrysler/Jeep dealership.
Leo Boese v. 3MJ Corp, et al. (Richard Ritchie - Callahan, Thompson, Sherman & Caudill) Mr. Altstadt provided an expert deposition in Superior Court (Santa Ana) on behalf of the plaintiff in a breach of contract matter involving the Nissan dealership in Moreno Valley, CA.
In Re: Play 'N Trade Franchise, Inc. (Jim Cover - The Cover Law Firm) Mr. Altstadt provided a valuation of a consumer electronics and video gaming franchise company for shareholder sale purposes. A written report was published.
Simi Management v. Bank of America, N.A. (William Logan - Putterman Logan and Giles) Mr. Altstadt provided a Rule 26 report and an expert deposition in U.S. District Court (Northern District of California) on behalf of the plaintiff in an aiding and abetting fraud matter involving Nissan and Chrysler-Jeep franchises in Oakland, CA.
In Re: JoyVida LLC (Jim Cover - The Cover Law Firm) Mr. Altstadt provided a valuation of a home health care franchisee in Colorado for shareholder sale purposes. A written report was published.
In Re: Burger Auto Group (Lawrence Kaplan - Solomon Ward) Mr. Altstadt provided a written report of the valuation of the Chrysler Jeep, Dodge and Ram franchises in La Mesa, California for estate tax purposes.
In Re: Hardin Automotive Group (Thomas Ferruzzo - Ferruzzo & Ferruzzo) Mr. Altstadt provided a written report of the valuation of the Honda, Buick-GMC, Hyundai and Kia franchises in Anaheim, Garden Grove and Irvine, CA for corporate reorganization purposes.
Eagle Grove, Inc. v. David Harake (Eric Hardeman - Fortis LLP) Mr. Altstadt testified in a AAA arbitration matter on behalf of the defendant in a negligent misrepresentation matter involving the Slaters 50/50 franchise in San Marcos, CA.
Selected Consulting Engagements
Infiniti Division of Nissan Motor Corp in USA v. Meier, et al. (Maurice Guinn-Gentry, Tipton, et al.) Mr. Altstadt analyzed the operations of a Knoxville, TN dealership in a breach of contract matter.
Toyota Motor Distributors, Inc. v. Mike Harvey Toyota (Elizabeth Grimes-Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher) Mr. Altstadt analyzed the operations of this dealership group during its Chapter 11 bankruptcy for plan confirmation purposes.
NHUSD v. Taco Bell (In House Counsel) Mr. Altstadt valued a Taco Bell franchise in Northern California for eminent domain purposes.
Eng v. Tsai (Marc Weber - Geiger & Weber) Mr. Altstadt quantified the damages suffered by one of the owners of two Burger King franchises from the denial of a purchase option by the other owner.
Joe Conti Toyota v. Toyota Motor Sales of America (Merritt Spencer-Strasburger & Price) Mr. Altstadt analyzed the operations of this Texas dealership during its Chapter 11 bankruptcy for plan confirmation purposes.
In Re: Carlos O'Brien's Mr. Altstadt evaluated the debtor's reorganization plan of this Mexican food franchise in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in San Bernardino, California.
Jennifer Marilley v. Frisbee Management (Stuart Jasper - Jasper & Jasper) Mr. Altstadt analyzed the operations and potential value of four McDonald's franchises in a breach of fuduciary duty matter.
Popcal v. America's Favorite Chicken Co. (Mitchell Shapiro - Foley & Lardner) Mr. Altstadt quantified the business interruption losses suffered by three California Popeye's Chicken franchises caused by area construction.
In Re: Merisel (Various) Mr. Altstadt managed a financial and operational review of this computer distribution business on behalf of the consortium of lending banks that provided $650 million of funding.
In Re: Marriage of Schriber (Jon A. Shoenberger - Schlect, Shevlin & Shoenberger) Mr. Altstadt quantified the value of six fast food franchises as part of a family law matter in Riverside County, California.
In Re: Marriage of Robertson (Anne Kiley-Trope & Trope) Mr. Altstadt quantified the value of two Southern California Honda dealerships for the respondent in a family law matter.American Honda Motor Co., Inc. v. Premier Quality Imports, Inc. (Anthony Rollo – McGlinchey Stafford) Mr. Altstadt performed an analysis of the operations of a Honda dealership in New Oreleans as they related to the franchisor/franchisee relationship.
LB 4 Fish v. DDR (Gary Waldron - Waldron & Olson) Mr. Altstadt analyzed the damages suffered by the owners of a Gladstone's franchise in Long Beach, California due to lost business from parking issues.
Hubacher Cadillac v. General Motors Corporation (Greg Ferruzzo - Ferruzzo and Ferruzzo) Mr. Altstadt provided consulting services to the claimant in a AAA Arbitration in a franchise reinstatement matter involving the Cadillac Buick-Pontiac-GMC dealership in Sacramento, California. Services included analysis of the finances and operations of the dealership under criteria established by Congress.
Daugherty Chevrolet v. General Motors Corporation (Greg Ferruzzo - Ferruzzo and Ferruzzo) Mr. Altstadt provided consulting services to the claimant in a AAA Arbitration in a franchise reinstatement matter involving the Chevrolet dealership in Sacramento, California. Services included analysis of the finances and operations of the dealership under criteria established by Congress.
Wondries Chevrolet v. General Motors Corporation (Greg Ferruzzo - Ferruzzo and Ferruzzo) Mr. Altstadt provided consulting services to the claimant in a AAA Arbitration in a franchise reinstatement matter involving the Chevrolet dealership in Alhambra, California. Services included analysis of the finances and operations of the dealership under criteria established by Congress.
Foothill Ranch Chevrolet v. General Motors Corporation (Greg Ferruzzo - Ferruzzo and Ferruzzo) Mr. Altstadt provided consulting services to the claimant in a AAA Arbitration in a franchise reinstatement matter involving the Chevrolet dealership in Foothill Ranch, California. Services included analysis of the finances and operations of the dealership under criteria established by Congress.
Santa Cruz Nissan v. Nissan North America (Maurice Sanchez - Baker Hostetler) Mr. Altstadt consulted for the respondent in a California New Motor Vehicle Board termination matter.
Nader Subaru v. Subaru of America, Inc. (Maurice Sanchez - Baker Hostetler) Mr. Altstadt consulted for the respondent in a California New Motor Vehicle Board termination matter.
Home | Recent Cases | Expertise | Resumes | News | Presentations | Clients | References | Contact