Tim Hortons franchisee group files lawsuit

VANCOUVER — The legal battle between a group of Tim Hortons franchisees and their parent company escalated Friday as the corporate-unsanctioned franchisee association filed a lawsuit alleging Restaurant Brands International, its subsidiary and several executives of subverting their right to associate.

A lawsuit filed on behalf of two franchisees who belong to The Great White North Franchisee Association claims the defendants sought “to interfere with, restrict, penalize, or threaten franchisees from exercising their rights to associate.”

The statement of claim alleges this happened in a number of ways, including commencing legal action late last month against a group of GWNFA board members that RBI alleges provided confidential information that was then leaked to a Canadian newspaper. The GWNFA denies this claim.