Where will mediation, arbitration, and litigation take place for Bigfoot Forestry disputes?

According to Bigfoot Forestry's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, all mediation, arbitration, and litigation will occur in the county where Bigfoot Forestry maintains its principal place of business at the time the dispute arises. Currently, this location is York County, South Carolina.

This means that any legal disputes a franchisee has with Bigfoot Forestry, regardless of where the franchisee's business is located, must be resolved in York County, South Carolina. This could present a significant inconvenience and added expense for franchisees who are located far from South Carolina, as they would need to travel there for any in-person proceedings and potentially hire local counsel.

The FDD also states that the parties involved irrevocably waive any objection to this venue and consent to the jurisdiction of the courts in York County, South Carolina. This further emphasizes that franchisees are agreeing to resolve disputes in a specific location that may be advantageous to Bigfoot Forestry. Franchisees should consider this venue provision carefully and understand the potential costs and challenges associated with litigating or arbitrating a dispute far from their home location.