• January 11, 2013

Starbucks is hoping to derail a $9.15 million bid by actor Patrick Dempsey and his investor group to acquire the Tully's Coffee chain. Tully's and its creditors accepted that bid last week in a private auctino.

Tully's franchisee AgriNurture and Starbucks are arguing that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Seattle should reconsider the bids for the coffee chain -- that is, accept a combined offer of $10.56 million from them instead of Dempsey's bid, reports The Salt Lake Tribune. 

Starbucks wants to buy 25 of Tully's' 47 locations and rebrand them as Starbucks; AgriNurture wants to buy the rest. Dempsey's group would continue the Tully's branding.

The court is scheduled to hear the case on Jan. 11.