How does the Body20 Rider modify the consent to jurisdiction and governing law provisions in the Franchise Agreement for New York franchisees?

According to Body20's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a rider modifies the consent to jurisdiction and governing law provisions in the Franchise Agreement for franchisees in New York. Specifically, the rider adds a statement to the end of Sections 16.1 and 16.3(d) of the Franchise Agreement.

This addition ensures that, to the extent required by Article 33 of the General Business Law of the State of New York, the standard consent to jurisdiction and governing law clauses in the Franchise Agreement will not be interpreted as a waiver of any rights conferred upon the franchisee by the provisions of Article 33 of the New York State General Business Law, as amended, and the regulations issued thereunder.

In simpler terms, this means that while the Franchise Agreement may contain provisions about where lawsuits must be filed and which state's laws govern the agreement, these provisions will not override the protections provided to franchisees under New York law. This modification is included to comply with New York's franchise laws, which aim to protect franchisees' rights within the state.

This modification benefits New York franchisees by ensuring that they retain all rights granted to them under New York's General Business Law, regardless of what the standard Franchise Agreement might otherwise stipulate. This could be particularly important in disputes or legal proceedings where New York law provides more favorable terms or protections to the franchisee.