Is Aira Fitness's Franchisor Affiliate liable for consequential, incidental, special, or exemplary damages related to the lease transaction?
Aira_Fitness Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
(b) Exclusion of Consequential Damages. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY CONTAINED IN THIS LEASE, FRANCHISOR'S AFFILIATE SHALL NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, BE LIABLE TO FRANCHISEE OR ANY THIRD PARTY, FOR CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER, WHETHER IN AN ACTION BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR STRICT LIABILITY) OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF ANTICIPATED PROFITS, OR BENEFITS OF USE OR LOSS OF BUSINESS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH LOSSES ARE CONSTRUED TO BE CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, AND EVEN IF FRANCHISOR'S AFFILIATE IS APPRISED OF THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCH DAMAGES OCCURRING.
IT IS EXPRESSLY UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED THAT EACH AND EVERY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT WHICH PROVIDES FOR A LIMITATION OF LIABILITY, DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES OR EXCLUSION OF DAMAGES, IS INTENDED BY THE PARTIES TO BE SEVERABLE FROM ANY OTHER PROVISION AND IS A SEPARABLE AND INDEPENDENT ELEMENT OF RISK ALLOCATION AND IS INTENDED TO BE ENFORCED AS SUCH. THE PARTIES ALSO AGREE THAT, REGARDLESS OF THE FAILURE OF ANY SOLE OR EXCLUSIVE REMEDY APPLICABLE TO THE EQUIPMENT, FRANCHISEE WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO ANY CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF WHATSOEVER KIND OR NATURE. THE PARTIES INTEND THE EXCLUSION OF CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES AS AN INDEPENDENT AGREEMENT APART FROM ANY SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY APPLICABLE TO THE EQUIPMENT.
Source: Item 23 — **RECEIPTS (FDD pages 59–254)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Aira Fitness's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Franchisor's Affiliate, under certain leasing agreements, is not liable for specific types of damages. Specifically, the Franchisor's Affiliate will not be held liable to the franchisee or any third party for consequential, incidental, special, or exemplary damages arising from or related to the lease transaction. This exclusion applies regardless of whether the action is based on contract, tort (including negligence or strict liability), or any other legal theory.
This protection extends to potential losses such as anticipated profits, benefits of use, or loss of business, irrespective of whether these losses are categorized as consequential, incidental, special, or exemplary damages. This limitation of liability applies even if the Franchisor's Affiliate is aware of the possibility of such damages occurring.
The FDD emphasizes that each provision within the agreement that provides for a limitation of liability, disclaimer of warranties, or exclusion of damages is intended to be severable and independently enforced. Furthermore, even if any sole or exclusive remedy applicable to the equipment fails, the franchisee will not be entitled to any consequential damages. The exclusion of consequential damages is considered an independent agreement separate from any sole and exclusive remedy related to the equipment.