Does the All Dogs Unleashed agreement allow for collective actions in arbitration or litigation?
All_Dogs_Unleashed Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- (d) No Class or Collective Actions. You agree that any arbitration, or, if applicable, litigation, between you (or any of your owners or guarantors), on the one hand, and us or any All Dogs Unleashed Franchise Related Party, on the other hand, will be on that party's individual claim and that the claim or claims subject to arbitration and/or litigation must not be arbitrated or litigated on a class-wide, associational or collective basis.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 49–158)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 All Dogs Unleashed Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are prohibited from participating in class or collective actions against the franchisor. The franchise agreement specifies that any arbitration or litigation between the franchisee (including owners or guarantors) and All Dogs Unleashed must be pursued on an individual basis.
This means that an All Dogs Unleashed franchisee cannot join with other franchisees to bring a single, collective claim against the franchisor, nor can they participate in a class action lawsuit. Each franchisee must pursue their claims independently. This clause is designed to prevent large, coordinated legal actions against All Dogs Unleashed, limiting their exposure to legal risks.
For a prospective All Dogs Unleashed franchisee, this clause has significant implications. If they believe they have a claim against the franchisor, they must pursue it on their own, bearing the full cost and risk of the legal action. They cannot rely on the resources or support of other franchisees in a collective action. This could make it more difficult and expensive to pursue certain types of claims, especially those involving complex or technical issues. Franchisees should carefully consider this provision and its potential impact on their legal rights before investing in an All Dogs Unleashed franchise.