Opinion ID: 767065
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Transfer of Southdale Franchise.

Text: 35 We next turn to the grant of summary judgment in favor of The Body Shop on its refusal to consent to BASCO's transfer of the Southdale franchise to a prospective buyer. On this issue, BASCO presented substantial testimony to present a fact question as to whether or not The Body Shop unreasonably withheld its consent to a transfer. 36 Rholan Larson, a certified public accountant, compared the franchise application of the Johnsons, the prospective purchaser, to the franchise applications of fourteen franchisors who were approved by The Body Shop. According to this witness, the Johnsons had greater financial ability than the majority of the applicants. The record similarly reveals that a lack of retail experience and inability to work in the store full-time had not prevented The Body Shop from approving other applicants. The evidence from Barbara Schonwetter as well as other evidence from Denice DeNardi, who operates other franchises for The Body Shop in the Minneapolis area, indicated that full-time experience in the store did not constitute a necessary prerequisite for obtaining a franchise. 37 We need not detail the evidence but believe there is sufficient evidence so that a jury will have to determine whether or not the consent was withheld unreasonably. 38 Accordingly, we reverse the summary judgment of dismissal and remand this case for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.