( March 30, 2017, 11:28 AM EDT) -- CHICAGO — A federal judge in Illinois on March 3 ruled that a couple that owned and operated a franchise selling Sears home appliances have valid claims for economic duress, breach of contract and unfair competition against Sears for changes the company made to the franchising agreement between the parties (Sears Home Appliances Showrooms LLC, et al. v. Appliance Alliance LLC, et al. v. Samantha Wilks, et al., No. 15-4414, N.D. Ill.; 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 30552)....