Where will the mediation take place for Bft disputes?
Bft Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
16.3 Mediation. Except as provided in Section 16.5 below, the Parties agree to submit any claim or dispute that they are unable to resolve informally, as described in Section 16.2 above, to mediation to be conducted by JAMS using its then-current mediation rules and procedures (see www.jamsadr.com/mediation) and to take place at Franchisor's or, as applicable, Franchisor's successor's or assign's, then-current principal place of business (currently, Irvine, California), or via a videoconferencing platform, if both Parties agree.
Each Party will bear its own costs in participating in the
mediation, and Franchisor and Franchisee will share JAMS' and the mediator's fees and costs equally. Neither Party will be required to mediate for more than one (1) day.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 79–265)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bft's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a dispute arises that cannot be resolved informally, the parties agree to submit to mediation conducted by JAMS (Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services). The mediation will take place at Bft's principal place of business, which is currently in Irvine, California. Alternatively, if both parties agree, the mediation can be conducted via a videoconferencing platform.
Each party is responsible for their own costs associated with participating in the mediation. The fees and costs charged by JAMS and the mediator will be shared equally between Bft and the franchisee. The agreement specifies that neither party is required to participate in mediation for more than one day.
This arrangement means that a Bft franchisee may need to travel to Irvine, California, for mediation, or arrange for videoconferencing. Franchisees should factor in potential travel costs when evaluating the franchise opportunity. The agreement to share JAMS' and the mediator's fees equally is a standard practice in franchising, aiming to distribute the financial burden of dispute resolution fairly.