factual

Which sections of the Brueggers Bagels Franchise Agreement are amended, and what is the subject of the amendment?

Brueggers_Bagels Franchise · 2025 FDD

Answer from 2025 FDD Document

f the License Agreement and/or the relationship between you and BFC satisfy all of the jurisdictional requirements of the Rhode Island Franchise Investment Act, without considering this Addendum. Except as expressly modified by this Addendum, the License Agreement remains unmodified and in full force and effect.

BRUEGGER'S FRANCHISE CORPORATION LICENSEE [print company name]:
By: By: Print Name:
Title: Title:

RHODE ISLAND ADDENDUM TO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT

In recognition of the Rhode Island Franchise Investment Act, §§ 19-28.1-1 through 19-28.1-34, the parties agree to modify the Development Agreement as follows:

1. Governing Law. Section 20.1 is amended by adding the following:

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Rhode Island law governs any claim arising under the Rhode Island Franchise Investment Act.

2. Jurisdiction and Venue. Section 20.2 is amended by adding the following:

Notwithstanding the foregoing, you have the right to file any litigation under the Rhode Island Franchise Investment Act in Rhode Island.

3. This Addendum will have effect only if the Development Agreement and/or the relationship between you and BFC satisfy all of the jurisdictional requirements of the Rhode Island Franchise Investment Act, without considering this Addendum. Except as expressly modified by this Addendum, the Development Agreement remains unmodified and in full force and effect.

BRUEGGER'S FRANCHISE CORPORATION DEVELOPER [print company name]:
By: By: Print Name:
Title: Title:

INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

In recognition of the restrictions contained in Section 13.1-564 of the Virginia Retail Franchising Act, the Franchise Disclosure Document for use in the Commonwealth of Virginia is amended as follows:

Item 17, Additional Disclosure.

Pursuant to Section 13.1-564 of the Virginia Retail Franchising Act, it is unlawful for a franchisor to cancel a franchise without reasonable cause. If any grounds for default or termination stated in the Franchise Agreement does not constitute "reasonable cause," as that term may be defined in the Virginia Retail Franchising Act or the laws of Virginia, that provision may not be enforceable.

INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

In recognition of the requirements of the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act, Wash. Rev. Code §§ 19.100.180, the Franchise Disclosure Document for Bruegger's Franchise Corporation in connection with the offer and sale of franchises for use in the State of Washington shall be amended to include the following:

    1. Item 17, "Renewal, Termination, Transfer and Dispute Resolution," shall be amended by the addition of the following paragraphs at the conclusion of the Item:
    • a. In the event of a conflict of laws, the provisions of the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act, Chapter 19.100 RCW will prevail.
    • b. RCW 19.100.180 may supersede the franchise agreement in your relationship with the franchisor including the areas of termination and renewal of your franchise. There may also be court decisions which may supersede the franchise agreement in your relationship with the franchisor including the areas of termination and renewal of your franchise.
    • c. In any arbitration or mediation involving a franchise purchased in Washington, the arbitration or mediation site will be either in the state of Washington, or in a place mutually agreed upon at the time of the arbitration or mediation, or as determined by the arbitrator or mediator at the time of arbitration or mediation. In addition, if litigation is not precluded by the franchise agreement, a franchisee may bring an action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with the sale of franchises, or a violation of the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act, in Washington.
    • d. A release or waiver of rights executed by a franchisee may not include rights under the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act or any rule or order thereunder except when executed pursuant to a negotiated settlement after the agreement is in effect and where the parties are represented by independent counsel. Provisions such as those which unreasonably restrict or limit the statute of limitations period for claims under the Act, or rights or remedies under the Act such as a right to a jury trial, may not be enforceable.
    • e. Transfer fees are collectable to the extent that they reflect the franchisor's reasonable estimated or actual costs in effecting a transfer.
    • f. Pursuant to RCW 49.62.020, a noncompetition covenant is void and unenforceable against an employee, including an employee of a franchisee, unless the employee's earnings from the party seeking enforcement, when annualized, exceed $100,000 per year (an amount that will be adjusted annually for inflation). In addition, a noncompetition covenant is void and unenforceable against an independent contractor of a franchisee under RCW 49.62.030 unless the independent contractor's earnings from the party seeking enforcement, when annualized, exceed $250,000 per year (an amount that will be adjusted annually for inflation). As a result, any provisions contained in the franchise agreement or elsewhere that conflict with these limitations are void and unenforceable in Washington.
    • g. RCW 49.62.060 prohibits a franchisor from restricting, restraining, or prohibiting a franchisee from (i) soliciting or hiring any employee of a franchisee of the same franchisor or (ii) soliciting or hiring any employee of the franchisor. As a result, any such provisions

contained in the franchise agreement or elsewhere are void and unenforceable in Washington.

    1. No statement, questionnaire, or acknowledgment signed or agreed to by a franchisee in connection with the commencement of the franchise relationship shall have the effect of (i) waiving any claims under any applicable state franchise law, including fraud in the inducement, or (ii) disclaiming reliance on any statement made by any franchisor, franchise seller, or other person acting on behalf of the franchisor. This provision supersedes any other term of any document executed in connection with the franchise.
    1. Each provision of this addendum to the disclosure document shall be effective only to the extent, with respect to such provision, that the jurisdictional requirements of the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act, Wash. Rev. Code §§ 19.100.180, are met independently without reference to this addendum to the disclosure document.

WASHINGTON ADDENDUM TO THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT

In recognition of the requirements of the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act, Wash. Rev. Code §§ 19.100.010 through 19.100.940, the parties to the attached Bruegger's Franchise Corporation Franchise Agreement agree as follows:

    1. In the event of a conflict of laws, the provisions of the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act, Chapter 19.100 RCW will prevail.
    1. RCW 19.100.180 may supersede the franchise agreement in your relationship with the franchisor including the areas of termination and renewal of your franchise. There may also be court decisions which may supersede the franchise agreement in your relationship with the franchisor including the areas of termination and renewal of your franchise.
    1. In any arbitration or mediation involving a franchise purchased in Washington, the arbitration or mediation site will be either in the state of Washington, or in a place mutually agreed upon at the time of the arbitration or mediation, or as determined by the arbitrator or mediator at the time of arbitration or mediation. In addition, if litigation is not precluded by the franchise agreement, a franchisee may bring an action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with the sale of franchises, or a violation of the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act, in Washington.
    1. A release or waiver of rights executed by a franchisee may not include rights under the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act or any rule or order thereunder except when executed pursuant to a negotiated settlement after the agreement is in effect and where the parties are represented by independent counsel. Provisions such as those which unreasonably restrict or limit the statute of limitations period for claims under the Act, or rights or remedies under the Act such as a right to a jury trial, may not be enforceable.
    1. Transfer fees are collectable to the extent that they reflect the franchisor's reasonable estimated or actual costs in effecting a transfer.
    1. Pursuant to RCW 49.62.020, a noncompetition covenant is void and unenforceable against an employee, including an employee of a franchisee, unless the employee's earnings from the party seeking enforcement, when annualized, exceed $100,000 per year (an amount that will be adjusted annually for inflation). In addition, a noncompetition covenant is void and unenforceable against an independent contractor of a franchisee under RCW 49.62.030 unless the independent contractor's earnings from the party seeking enforcement, when annualized, exceed $250,000 per year (an amount that will be adjusted annually for inflation). As a result, any provisions contained in the franchise agreement or elsewhere that conflict with these limitations are void and unenforceable in Washington.
    1. RCW 49.62.060 prohibits a franchisor from restricting, restraining, or prohibiting a franchisee from (i) soliciting or hiring any employee of a franchisee of the same franchisor or (ii) soliciting or hiring any employee of the franchisor. As a result, any such provisions contained in the franchise agreement or elsewhere are void and unenforceable in Washington.
    1. Section 22 of the Franchise Agreement is amended to include the following: "Franchisees have no obligation to indemnify or hold harmless an indemnified party for losses to the

extent that they are determined to have been caused solely and directly by the indemnified party's negligence, willful misconduct, strict liability, or fraud."

    1. Section 30 of the Franchise Agreement is deleted.
    1. The undersigned does hereby acknowledge receipt of this addendum.
    1. No statement, questionnaire, or acknowledgment signed or agreed to by a franchisee in connection with the commencement of the franchise relationship shall have the effect of (i) waiving any claims under any applicable state franchise law, including fraud in the inducement, or (ii) disclaiming reliance on any statement made by any franchisor, franchise seller, or other person acting on behalf of the franchisor. This provision supersedes any other term of any document executed in connection with the franchise.
    1. This amendment will apply only if the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act, Wash. Rev. Code Chapter 19.100, would apply independently without referring to this amendment.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have signed and delivered this Washington Amendment to the Franchise Agreement on the same date as the Franchise Agreement was executed.

BRUEGGER'S FRANCHISE CORPORATION FRANCHISEE [print company name]:
By: By: Print Name:
Title: Title:

WASHINGTON ADDENDUM TO THE LICENSE AGREEMENT

In recognition of the requirements of the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act, Wash. Rev. Code §§ 19.100.010 through 19.100.940, the parties to the attached Bruegger's Franchise Corporation License Agreement agree as follows:

    1. In the event of a conflict of laws, the provisions of the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act, Chapter 19.100 RCW will prevail.
    1. RCW 19.100.180 may supersede the franchise agreement in your relationship with the franchisor including the areas of termination and renewal of your franchise. There may also be court decisions which may supersede the franchise agreement in your relationship with the franchisor including the areas of termination and renewal of your franchise.
    1. In any arbitration or mediation involving a franchise purchased in Washington, the arbitration or mediation site will be either in the state of Washington, or in a place mutually agreed upon at the time of the arbitration or mediation, or as determined by the arbitrator or mediator at the time of arbitration or mediation.

Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 61–335)

What This Means (2025 FDD)

According to Brueggers Bagels' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, several sections of the Franchise Agreement are amended to comply with state-specific laws. For franchisees in Virginia, Item 17, concerning additional disclosures, is amended to address the Virginia Retail Franchising Act regarding franchise cancellation, ensuring that termination clauses align with the state's definition of "reasonable cause." In Washington, Item 17, which covers renewal, termination, transfer, and dispute resolution, is amended to prioritize the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act in case of conflicting laws, including stipulations about arbitration or mediation sites and the franchisee's right to bring actions in Washington.

For franchisees in Minnesota, multiple sections of the Franchise Agreement are amended. Section 20.2, concerning jurisdiction and venue, is modified to ensure franchisees retain their rights under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 80C, preventing Brueggers Bagels from mandating litigation outside of Minnesota. Section 21, regarding the time limit on filing claims, is amended to specify a three-year limit for claims related to Minnesota franchise law. Additionally, Sections 17, 19, and 22 are amended to reinforce that the agreement does not diminish franchisee rights under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 80C.

For franchisees in New York, several sections are amended to comply with the New York General Business Law. Section 3.2 and Section 15.5, relating to releases, are amended to clarify that the general release does not waive claims under the New York General Business Law. Section 15.1, concerning assignment by BFC, is amended to ensure that any assignee is capable of fulfilling Brueggers Bagels' obligations. Section 16, regarding default and termination, is amended to allow franchisees to terminate the agreement based on grounds available under New York law. Section 27.1, covering governing law, is amended to ensure New York law governs claims arising under that law.

For franchisees in Rhode Island, Section 27.1, concerning governing law, is amended to ensure that Rhode Island law governs any claim arising under the Rhode Island Franchise Investment Act. For franchisees in Maryland, the License Agreement is modified. Section 2.2, regarding the renewal term, is amended to state that releases do not apply to liabilities under the Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law. Section 12 is amended to ensure franchisees do not waive rights under the Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law. Section 14.7 is amended to allow franchisees to bring lawsuits in Maryland for claims arising under the Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law. Section 14.12 is amended to specify a three-year limit for claims related to Maryland franchise law. Section 14.17(a) and (d) are deleted.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.