Who is responsible for the mediator's fees and expenses during mediation with Buona?
Buona Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
24.1 Mediation. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, prior to the initiation of litigation by either party pursuant to this Agreement, the parties must make a good faith effort to resolve any controversies between them by non-binding mediation either through a mutually acceptable mediator or through an established mediation service selected by Franchisor (in either case, "Mediator"). Mediation shall take place in the Cook County, Illinois. Prior to mediation, each party involved in mediation shall sign the standard confidentiality agreement reasonably required by Mediator or a confidentiality agreement reasonably required by Franchisor if the Mediator does not have a standard confidentiality agreement. No litigation proceeding may be commenced until the earlier of thirty (30) days from the selection of the Mediator, or the mutual agreement by both parties that mediation has been unsuccessful, or if the notified party fails to respond to the requesting party within thirty (30) days of the delivery of notice requesting mediation. The parties will share equally all fees and expenses of the mediator, and each part shall bear its own costs otherwise. Each party hereby agrees that all statements made in the course of mediation shall be strictly confidential and shall not be disclosed to or shared with any third parties, other than the mediator. Each party also agrees that any documents or data specifically prepared for use in good faith negotiations and/or mediation shall not be disclosed to or shared with any third party except those parties whose presence is necessary to facilitate the mediation process. The parties agree not to make copies of any such documents, and to return them to the other party upon the conclusion of the mediation. Each party agrees and acknowledges that no statements made in, or evidence specifically prepared for mediation shall be admissible for any purpose in any subsequent proceedings.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 78)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Buona's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, in the event that mediation is required to resolve disputes, the costs are shared between the parties. Specifically, Buona and the franchisee will each pay their own costs, but will equally split the fees and expenses of the mediator. This applies to mediations taking place in Cook County, Illinois, and only after both parties sign a confidentiality agreement.
This arrangement is fairly standard in franchising, as it ensures that neither party is unduly burdened by the cost of mediation. It also incentivizes both parties to approach the mediation process in good faith, as they both have a financial stake in reaching a resolution quickly and efficiently. However, Buona is not obligated to mediate claims that are the subject of Paragraph 12.2, which concerns specific performance and injunctive relief related to the use of trademarks, non-disclosure, and non-competition obligations.
It is important to note that all statements made during mediation are confidential and cannot be disclosed to third parties. Similarly, any documents prepared specifically for mediation are also confidential and must be returned to the other party at the conclusion of the process. This confidentiality provision is designed to encourage open and honest communication during mediation, without fear that statements or documents will be used against either party in future legal proceedings.