Day 143 - 27 Jun 95 - Page 59
1 Q. Note there you are saying McDonald's is one of the
2 country's largest employers of young people; not
3 franchisees and what have you. The point is, Mr. Stein,
4 that whenever you feel franchisees are doing something good
5 you want to take the credit for it, do you not, but
6 whenever you feel they are doing something which will
7 attract adverse publicity you want to deny all
8 responsibility? Is that not correct?
9 A. I disagree with that.
10
11 Q. It is also correct, is it not, that you actually have a
12 clause in the franchise agreement that if the franchisee
13 does anything which might attract bad publicity to the name
14 of McDonald's, you can terminate the franchise agreement?
15 A. I am not an expert on franchise agreements. I think
16 from day one I have said that whatever is in there is in
17 there. Whatever the correct interpretation is that is
18 fine. I am not an expert on the franchise agreement.
19
20 MR. MORRIS: Dealing with another pleading which is No. 103,
21 I will read it out for Mr. Stein's benefit.
22 A. Which book are we referring to?
23
24 Q. I will read it out.
25
26 MR. JUSTICE BELL: It is in the Abstract. It is quite short.
27 Mr. Morris will just read it out to you.
28
29 THE WITNESS: Well very.
30
31 MR. MORRIS: "In August 83 in the United States there was a
32 strike by staff at Hardman's Bakeries Corporation of
33 Meridian who McDonald's supplies. McDonald's showed
34 hostility to trade union calls for support by increasing
35 their orders to the company, therefore, encouraging the
36 hiring of strike breakers." What do you know about this
37 dispute or this situation?
38 A. Very little. I question whether or not it was a
39 dispute.
40
41 Q. What do you remember about that situation then?
42 A. I do not remember very much. All I know is that
43 Hardman's Bakery I believe was a supplier of the Southern
44 part of the US, but I am not aware of any dispute involving
45 Hardman's.
46
47 Q. Regarding pleading No. 16, again I will read it out, it is
48 only a short one.
49
50 MR. JUSTICE BELL: 16 is rather longer, is it not?
51
52 MR. MORRIS: I will summarise it then.
53
54 MR. RAMPTON: No, my Lord.
55
56 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I think it is better if you just look at it.
57 I always find it much easier myself if I am reading as well
58 as listening. Page 6 in tab 7, it actually starts at the
59 top of the page. Ask your question, Mr. Morris.
60
