In a “continuing saga,” involving 7-Eleven franchise operators, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court answered a second certified question from a federal appellate court, finding that franchisees do not meet the definition of employees under the independent contractor statute.
For the second time, the Massachusetts high court weighed in on Dhananjay Patel v. 7-Eleven, a case filed by five plaintiff franchisees who operate 7-Eleven locations who alleged that they were misclassified as independent contractors, in violation of the Massachusetts independent contractor statute and wage and minimum wage laws, according to the opinion filed Sept. 5.
