McDonald’s USA, ESN/The Weather Group settle pending litigation

McDonald’s (MCD) USA, LLC and Entertainment Studios Network/The Weather Group announced an agreement to settle pending litigation between them. The parties reached a confidential commercial agreement whereby McDonald’s will continue to purchase advertising from ESN in a manner that aligns with its advertising strategy and commercial objectives and ESN will dismiss its lawsuit against McDonald’s in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Under the terms of the agreement, which are confidential, McDonald’s is not admitting any wrongdoing, and the ads sold will, as per all such commercial deals, be priced at market value. McDonald’s USA, LLC said: “We are pleased that Mr. Allen has come to appreciate McDonald’s unwavering commitment to inclusion, and has agreed to refocus his energies on a mutually beneficial commercial arrangement that is consistent with other McDonald’s supplier relationships. Our company’s unique three-legged stool model relies on mutual respect, and we look forward to ESN’s contributions to the betterment of our system.”