Who administers the mediation process for Beggars Pizza disputes?
Beggars_Pizza Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Such mediation will take place before a sole mediator at a location nearest Franchisor's principal business address or at such other location as determined by Franchisor in its sole discretion.
The parties will each bear all of their own costs of mediation; provided, however, the fees of the mediator will be divided equally between the parties.
The parties hereto agree that mediation will not be required with respect to (a) any claim or dispute involving any payment obligation of Franchisee that is more than forty-five (45) days past due, (b) any claim or dispute involving actual or threatened disclosure or misuse of any Confidential Information, (c) any claim or dispute involving the ownership, validity, or use of the Proprietary Marks, (d) any claim or dispute involving the insurance or indemnification provisions of the Agreement, or (e) any action by Franchisor to enforce the covenants set forth in Section 17.
- 25.3 Jurisdiction and Venue.
Any action, whether or not arising out of, or relating to, the Agreement, brought by Franchisee (or any principal thereof) against Franchisor must be brought in the U.S.
District Court for the Northern District of Illinois or, if such court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, in a state court located in Cook County, Illinois; provided, however, that Franchisee will not commence any such action subject to mediation hereunder without complying with Section 25.2.
Franchisee irrevocably waives any objection that such courts are an inconvenient forum.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 39)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Beggars Pizza's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, mediation will occur before a sole mediator. The mediator's location will be nearest to Beggars Pizza's principal business address or another location determined by Beggars Pizza at its discretion.
Both parties are responsible for their own mediation costs; however, the mediator's fees will be split equally between the parties. This arrangement is fairly typical in franchise mediation, where both sides share the burden of the process.
Mediation is not required for certain claims or disputes, including those involving payment obligations more than 45 days past due, actual or threatened disclosure or misuse of confidential information, ownership, validity, or use of proprietary marks, insurance or indemnification provisions, or actions by Beggars Pizza to enforce specific covenants.
Any action brought by the franchisee against Beggars Pizza must be brought in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois or a state court in Cook County, Illinois, if the federal court lacks jurisdiction. The franchisee also waives any objection to these courts as an inconvenient forum.