Ronald K. Gardner

Ronald K. Gardner is the managing partner of Dady & Garner, P.A., and limits his practice to the representation of franchisees, dealers and distributors when they are in disputes with their franchisors, manufacturers and suppliers.  Ron, along with the rest of his colleagues at Dady & Garner, P.A., prides himself on the fact that the firm has a national reputation for effectively and efficiently helping their franchisee, dealer and distributor clients to resolve their disputes through litigation, negotiation, mediation and arbitration.  More specifically, Ron has helped clients in dozens of industries, including fast food, automobile, trucking, construction equipment and agricultural implements.  He was co-counsel and the principal brief writer in the widely discussed trilogy of Fiat cases (See e.g. Coehlo & Bacchetti v. Ford New Holland, Bus. Franchise Guide (CCH) ¶10,924 (AAA 1996)), and the frequently cited case of Dunafon v. Taco Bell, Bus. Franchise Guide (CCH) ¶10,919 (W.D. Mo. 1996) and Bus. Franchise Guide (CCH) ¶11,239 (W.D. Mo. 1997).  More recently, Ron was lead counsel in the widely publicized decision Pool Concepts, Inc. v. Watkins,  Bus. Franchise Guide (CCH) ¶12,249 (D. Minn. 2002)(finding that payment of funds into a co-op ad fund was an indirect franchise fee under the Minnesota Franchise Act, entitling the franchisee to the protections of the Act, including a preliminary injunction against termination). 

Ron is a member of the American, Minnesota, Hennepin County and Rice County Bar Associations.  He is an active member of the ABA Forum on Franchising, is a past Division Director of the Forum’s Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Division, and is currently serving as the Forum’s Program Officer on the Governing Committee of the Forum on Franchising.  Ron was a Co-Chair of the Orlando Forum and is an active participant in the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers.

Ron is a frequent speaker at various gatherings on franchise and distribution-related topics, such as the Annual Forum on Franchising, the National Convention of the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers and the International Franchise Association.  He also speaks regularly to various franchise and industry groups about their rights.  Ron is a former author of the widely cited treatise Franchising: Realities and Remedies, published by Law Journal Seminars Press and distributed nationally, as well as being a co-author of the “Annual Franchise and Distribution Law Developments 2002" published by the American Bar Association.

Ron has represented businesses of all sizes, including multi-unit franchisees, as well as single owner operations.  Ron also does extensive representation of franchisee associations.  He has handled disputes ranging from unlawful terminations to encroachment to cases regarding franchisor’s failure to comply with registration and disclosure requirements of the FTC and state governments.  He has represented or counseled clients in virtually all 50 states.  Ron has also been named as a “Super Lawyer” by Law & Politics magazine, a ”Legal Eagle” by the Franchise Times, and recently in the Best Lawyers in America.

Ron graduated magna cum laude in 1991 from Mankato State University, and is a 1994 cum laude with honors graduate of the Hamline University School of Law.  He and his wife Becky are also the proud parents of Devyn and Zach.

Email address:  rkgardner@dadygarner.com