Does the Bee Organized franchise agreement include a waiver of jury trial?
Bee_Organized Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
enforceable in North Dakota."
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- Article 6 of the Franchise Agreement are hereby amended by the addition of the following language: "Covenants not to compete such as those mentioned above are generally considered unenforceable in the State of North Dakota."
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Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 54–218)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Bee Organized Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchise agreement generally includes provisions requiring franchisees to consent to a waiver of trial by jury. However, the enforceability of such provisions is subject to certain state laws. Specifically, for Bee Organized franchisees in North Dakota, the North Dakota Franchise Investment Law states that provisions requiring a franchisee to consent to a waiver of trial by jury are not enforceable. Therefore, if a franchisee is located in North Dakota, they cannot be forced to waive their right to a jury trial.
For franchisees outside of North Dakota, the standard Bee Organized franchise agreement may contain a clause requiring the franchisee to waive their right to a jury trial. This means that in the event of a dispute with Bee Organized, the franchisee may be required to resolve the issue through a bench trial (where a judge makes the decision) rather than a jury trial. Jury trial waivers are relatively common in franchise agreements.
Prospective Bee Organized franchisees should carefully review Article 18 of the Franchise Agreement, as well as any state-specific amendments, to fully understand their rights and obligations regarding dispute resolution. Franchisees should seek legal counsel to understand the implications of waiving their right to a jury trial and how it may impact their ability to resolve disputes with Bee Organized.