Article: Franchisees say Dunkin's brewing trouble ; Corporation accused of a campaign to fine or purge shop owners

Dunkin' Donuts franchisees, embroiled in more than 350 lawsuits with the coffee chain, are accusing the company of aggressively targeting shop owners in an effort to terminate store agreements and collect hefty penalties for alleged contract violations.

Miami lawyer Robert Zarco, speaking yesterday before about 100 franchisees at a meeting of the Dunkin' Donuts Independent Franchise Owners in Worcester, warned that the Canton-based coffee chain has turned its loss prevention department into a "profit center" and gone after franchisees for infractions that include improper tax filings, unauthorized transfers of the business, and cracked floor tiles, among other claims, as a way to increase ...

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