The outcome of the widely publicized legal case that’s trying to discern whether or not McDonald’s is ultimately responsible for the actions of its franchisees isn’t expected to be settled for two to three years, when most legal experts predict it will land in front of a newly formed Supreme Court.
The court’s decision won’t just affect McDonald’s; the precedent set by this case will have an impact on the entire fast-food industry and, more broadly, the multi-billion-dollar franchising industry in the U.S., from hotels to health clubs to convenience stores. But because many of the largest and most successful franchise systems are fast-food chains, that’s where the jolt will likely be felt most strongly.