Delaware Code Title 6. Commerce and Trade § 2552. Unjust termination of failure to renew franchise

(a) Termination of a franchise by a franchisor shall be deemed to be “unjust,” or to have been made “unjustly,” if such termination is without good cause or in bad faith.  Any termination of a franchise which is not unjust shall be deemed to be “just,” or to have been made “justly.”

(b) The failure of a franchisor to renew a franchise shall be deemed to be “unjust,” or to have been made “unjustly,” if such failure to renew is without good cause or in bad faith.  Any failure to renew a franchise which is not unjust shall be deemed to be “just,” or to have been made “justly.”

(c) A provision of a franchise which permits a franchisor to terminate that franchise, which provision does not specify the grounds upon which such termination may be made, shall be construed to permit the franchisor to make only a just termination.

(d) A provision of a franchise which permits a franchisor to fail to renew that franchise, which provision does not specify the grounds upon which such failure to renew may be made, shall be construed to permit the franchisor only justly to fail or refuse to renew.

(e) A provision in a franchise permitting a franchisor to make an unjust termination of a franchise is against the public policy of this State and shall not be enforced in the courts of this State.

(f) A provision in a franchise permitting a franchisor unjustly to fail or refuse to renew a franchise is against the public policy of this State and shall not be enforced in the courts of this State.

(g) No franchisor may unjustly terminate a franchise.

(h) No franchisor may unjustly fail or refuse to renew a franchise.

(i) No franchisor may unjustly refuse to deal with a franchised distributor with whom the franchisor has been dealing for at least 2 years.

(j) Notwithstanding any terms of the franchise agreement to the contrary, no franchisor who leases real or personal property to a franchised distributor may charge the franchised distributor a rent or other charge for the use or occupancy of such real or personal property which is unreasonable or excessive in light of the franchisor's interest in such real or personal property, and the purpose to which the real or personal property is being used.  The refusal of the franchisor to renew a lease for real or personal property except upon the payment of a rent or other charge which is unreasonable or excessive in light of the use to which the property has been placed by the franchisor and/or the interest of the franchisor in the real or personal property shall be deemed to be an unjust termination of the franchise.