Who are the parties involved in the Augusta Lawn Care Addendum?
Augusta_Lawn_Care Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
, view or opinion made in the mediation procedure is discoverable or admissible in evidence for any purpose, not even impeachment, in any proceeding involving either of the parties. However, evidence that would otherwise be discoverable or admissible will not be excluded from discovery or made inadmissible simply because of its use in the mediation.
11.8 Arbitration
Except as provided in Section 11.9, and if not resolved by the negotiation and mediation procedures described in Section 11.7 above, any dispute, controversy, or claim between you and/or any of your Related Parties, on the one hand, and Augusta Lawn Care and/or any of Augusta Lawn Care's Related Parties, on the other hand, including, without limitation, any dispute, controversy, or claim arising under, out of in connection with or related to: (a) this Agreement; (b) the relationship of the parties; (c) the events leading up to the execution of this Agreement; (d) any loan or other finance arrangement between you and Augusta Lawn Care or its Related Parties; (e) the parties' relationship; (f) any System standard; (g) any claim based in tort or any theory of negligence; and/or (j) the scope or validity of the arbitration obligation under this Agreement, shall be determined in Whatcom County, Washington, by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"). This arbitration clause will not deprive Augusta Lawn Care of any right it may otherwise have to seek provisional injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.
- 11.8.1 The arbitration will be administered by the AAA pursuant to its Commercial Arbitration Rules then in effect by one (1) arbitrator. The arbitrator shall be an attorney with substantial experience in franchise law. If proper notice of any hearing has been given, the arbitrator will have full power to proceed to take evidence or to perform any other acts necessary to arbitrate the matter in the absence of any party who fails to appear.
- 11.8.2 In connection with any arbitration proceeding, each party will submit or file any claim which would constitute a compulsory counterclaim (as defined by the then-current Rule 13 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure) within the same proceeding as the claim to which it relates. Any such claim which is not submitted or filed in such proceeding will be forever barred.
- 11.8.3 Any arbitration must be on an individual basis and the parties and the arbitrator will have no authority or power to proceed with any claim as a class action, associational
action, or otherwise to join or consolidate any claim with any claim or any other proceeding involving third-parties. If a court or arbitrator determines that this limitation on joinder of, or class action certification of claims is unenforceable then the agreement to arbitrate the dispute will be null and void and the parties must submit all claims to the jurisdiction of the courts in accordance with Section 11.8. The arbitration must take place in Whatcom County, Washington, or at such other location as Augusta Lawn Care designates.
- 11.8.4 The arbitrator must follow the law and not disregard the terms of this Agreement. The arbitrator may not consider any settlement discussions or offers that might have been made by either you or Augusta Lawn Care. The arbitrator may not, under any circumstance, (a) stay the effectiveness of any pending termination of this Agreement, (b) assess punitive or exemplary damages, (c) certify a class or a consolidated action, or (d) make any award which extends, modifies or suspends any lawful term of this Agreement, or any reasonable standard of business performance that Augusta Lawn Care sets. The arbitrator will have the right to make a determination as to any procedural matters as would a court of competent jurisdiction be permitted to make in the state in which the main office of Augusta Lawn Care is located. The arbitrator will also decide any factual, procedural, or legal questions relating in any way to the dispute between the parties, including, but not limited to, any decision as to whether Section 11.8 is applicable and enforceable as against the parties, subject matter, timeliness, scope, remedies, unconscionability, and any alleged fraud in the inducement.
- 11.8.5 The arbitrator can issue summary orders disposing of all or part of a claim, and provide for temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, injunctions, attachments, claim and delivery proceedings, temporary protective orders, receiverships, and other equitable and/or interim/final relief. Each party consents to the enforcement of such orders, injunctions, etc., by any court having jurisdiction.
- 11.8.6 The arbitrator will have subpoena powers limited only by the laws of the State of Washington.
- 11.8.7 The parties ask that the arbitrator limit discovery to the greatest extent possible consistent with basic fairness in order to minimize the time and expense of arbitration. The parties to the dispute will otherwise have the same discovery rights as are available in civil actions under the laws of the State of Washington.
- 11.8.8 All other procedural matters will be determined by applying the statutory common laws and rules of procedure that control a court of competent jurisdiction in the state of Washington.
- 11.8.9 Other than as may be required by law, the entire arbitration proceedings (including but not limited to, any rulings, decisions or orders of the arbitrator), will remain confidential and will not be disclosed to anyone other than the parties to this Agreement.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 44–184)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
Based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the parties involved in dispute, controversy, or claim, as it relates to the Augusta Lawn Care franchise agreement, are the franchisee and their related parties, and Augusta Lawn Care and its related parties. This encompasses disputes arising from the agreement itself, the relationship between the parties, events leading up to the agreement, loan or finance arrangements, system standards, tort claims, negligence, and the validity of the arbitration obligation.
According to the FDD, any legal action between the parties must be conducted on an individual basis, not as a class action or multi-party action. This means a franchisee cannot join with other franchisees to pursue a claim against Augusta Lawn Care. The FDD also stipulates that the franchisee and their related parties must indemnify Augusta Lawn Care and its affiliates against claims, obligations, and damages arising from the franchisee's operation of the Augusta Lawn Care business or any breach of the agreement.
In the event of termination of the franchise agreement, both parties have specific rights and obligations. Augusta Lawn Care has no further obligations under the agreement, while the franchisee must cease operating the Augusta Lawn Care business, discontinue using Augusta Lawn Care's marks and system, and fulfill financial obligations to Augusta Lawn Care. The franchisee must also maintain records as required by Augusta Lawn Care for a specified period after termination.