Who must execute the written instrument to waive terms of the Canine Dimensions agreement?

According to Canine Dimensions' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Mutual General Release Agreement requires execution and dating by Canine Dimensions in Florida to take effect. The agreement is governed by Florida law. If the franchisee is a corporate entity, each person owning any interest in the franchisee must sign the agreement. Canine Dimensions' acceptance can only be made by a corporate officer at Canine Dimensions' corporate office.

This means that for a release to be valid, a Canine Dimensions corporate officer must sign it, ensuring that the company is in agreement with the terms of the release. If the franchisee is a corporation, all individuals with an ownership stake must sign, indicating their consent to the release. This protects Canine Dimensions by ensuring all relevant parties agree to the release terms.

Several state-specific addenda included in the FDD address the enforceability of waivers. For example, the Illinois addendum states that no statement signed by a franchisee can waive claims under state franchise law or disclaim reliance on franchisor statements. Similarly, Iowa law voids any provision requiring a prospective waiver of liability under the Iowa Business Opportunity Promotions Law. The Virginia addendum specifies that any termination grounds not constituting "reasonable cause" under Virginia law may be unenforceable. These addenda modify the standard franchise agreement to comply with local regulations, preventing franchisees from unknowingly waiving rights protected by state laws.

Prospective franchisees should be aware of these requirements and ensure that all necessary parties execute any release or waiver to make it legally binding. They should also carefully review any state-specific addenda to understand how local laws may affect the enforceability of certain provisions in the franchise agreement.