This industry publications has some court documents attached (as PDF files) to the article:
http://www.bluemaumau.org/5531/dunkin_donuts_mom_and_pops_squeezed_out_private_equity_firms

There was an article about this franchisee in The New York Times several months ago. The article mentioned a contract dispute, but gave no details. Well, if you read the Dunkin Donuts complaint, the franchisee did sell part of the business. If you read the recent statements to the press by the franchisees, they did not sell any part of the business. Clearly, someone is lying. Well, maybe not lying in the strict definition of the term. Maybe just trying to pull the wool over our eyes.

With Dunkin Donuts taken over by investment bankers that will probably will want to take them public again in a few years and make a huge bundle of cash, it is worth looking at what relations are between the franchisor and franchisees. There is a Dunkin Donuts Independent Franchise Owners organization that levels the playing field a bit.