Overview

• A federal lawsuit filed Sept. 5 in Florida seeks an injunction to stop trademark use, a two-year, 10-mile operating restriction, damages, and the return of branded and confidential materials.
• As of Sept. 26, calls to the locations and local reporting indicate the restaurants remain open and continue to display Popeyes signage and materials.
• Court filings say the five Iowa agreements were ended after repeated failures to meet food-safety and brand standards despite notices dating back to October 2024.
• Defendants named are Asif Poonja and JAM Equities, a longtime franchisee operating the Iowa sites in Des Moines, Waterloo, Coralville, Dubuque, and Cedar Rapids.
• The suit alleges the locations failed to de-identify by removing signs, uniforms, menu boards, packaging, and manuals, and reports say Poonja and JAM have not responded in court.