Does the Canine Dimensions Mutual General Release Agreement discharge employees of the parties?
Canine_Dimensions Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
itioning its consent to such transfer or renewal on the execution of this Mutual General Release Agreement by Franchisee.
In consideration of the mutual covenants and conditions contained in this Mutual General Release and in the Franchise Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged by each of the parties, the parties agree as follows:
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- Canine Dimensions and Franchisee do hereby mutually release and forever discharge each other and each other's heirs, successors, representatives, assigns, agents, employees, officers, and directors ("Designees"), and each of them, of and from any claims, debts, liabilities, demands, obligations, costs, expenses, actions, and causes of action of every nature, character, and description known or unknown, vested or contingent, which each party now owns or holds, or has at any time heretofore owned or held, or may at any time own or hold against the other party hereto, arising prior to and including the date of this Mutual General Release Agreement; provided, however, that this release shall exclude claims arising from assertion of any continuing rights reserved in this Mutual General Release Agreement.
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- This release shall not apply to any claims which the Franchisee may have arising under (a) the California Franchise Investment Law or the California Franchise Relations Act; (b) the Hawaii Franchise Investment Law; (c) the Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law; (d) the Minnesota Franchise Act; (e) the New York Franchise Investment Law; (f) the North Dakota Franchise Investment Law; or (g) the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act, RCW 19.100, and the rules adopted thereunder. This release shall exclude claims arising from Franchisee's failure to pay any amounts due Canine Dimensions in the ordinary course of business. The parties expressly agree that this Mutual General Release Agreement will not apply to any claims Canine Dimensions may have under any Promissory Notes ancillary to the Franchise Agreement, or that pertain to other payment arrangements that the parties may have agreed upon.
- Waiver of California Civil Code Section 1542. Franchisee, for itself and its affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, divisions, partners, owners, shareholders, members, trustees, receivers, executors, representatives, administrators, and the respective officers, directors, agents, managers, principals, members, employees, insurers, successors, assigns, representatives and attorneys of each of them ("Constituents"), acknowledges that it is familiar with Section 1542 of the California Civil Code, which reads as follows:
A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.
3.2 With respect to those Claims being released pursuant to this Mutual General Release Agreement, Franchisee, for itself and its Constituents, acknowledges that it is releasing unknown claims and waives all rights it has or may have under California Civil Code Section 1542 or any other statute or common law principle of similar effect. For purposes of this Section 3, Franchisee shall be considered to be a creditor of the Designees, and each of them.
3.3 Franchisee acknowledges that this general release extends to claims which Franchisee does not know or suspect to exist in favor of Franchisee at the time of executing this Mutual General Release Agreement, which if known by Franchisee may have materially affected its decision to enter into this Mutual General Release Agreement. It is understood by Franchisee that the facts in respect of which this Mutual General Release Agreement is given may hereafter turn out to be other than or different from the facts in that connection known or believed to be true. Franchisee therefore, expressly assumes the risk of the facts turning out to be so different and agrees that this Mutual General Release Agreement shall be in all respects effective and not subject to termination or rescission by any such difference in facts.
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- By executing this Mutual General Release Agreement, Canine Dimensions and Franchisee, for themselves and their respective successors, represent and warrant that their representations herein are true and correct and that each of them has the right and authority to enter into and to accept the terms and covenants of this Mutual General Release Agreement, and that no third party has or claims an interest in any claim released by Paragraph 1 of this Mutual General Release Agreement.
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- Canine Dimensions and Franchisee, for themselves and their respective Designees, acknowledge that Paragraphs 1 and 4 of this Mutual General Release Agreement shall be a complete defense to any claim that is subject to the terms thereof; consent to the entry of a temporary or permanent injunction, whether affirmative or negative, to prevent or end any breach hereof; and agree to indemnify each other and their successors for any and all costs and expenses incurred as a result of their breach of Paragraphs 1 and 3 hereof, including reasonable attorney's fees.
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- This Mutual General Release Agreement represents the complete, integrated, and entire agreement between the parties, and may not be modified except in writing signed by the parties.
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- This Mutual General Release Agreement shall take effect upon its execution and dating by Canine Dimensions in Florida, and shall be governed by the laws of the State of Florida, which laws shall be controlling in the event of any conflict of law.
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- The provisions of this Mutual General Release Agreement are severable, and, in the event that any of them is held void and unenforceable as a matter of law, the remainder shall continue in full force and effect.
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- Each of the undersigned, if a corporate entity, hereby represents and warrants that, as of the date of execution of this Mutual General Release Agreement, it is in good standing in the state of its formation, has the power to enter into this Mutual General Release Agreement, has duly authorized the execution of this Mutual General Release Agreement, and that such execution does not violate any other agreement to which it is a party.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Mutual General Release Agreement as of the date first above written.
(Name of Franchisee) (Signature) (Signature) (Print or type name and title of signatory) (Print or type name and title of signatory) (If the Franchisee is a corporate entity, this Agreement must be signed by each person owning any interest in the Franchisee.) ACCEPTANCE: Accepted on this day of, 20 (Acceptance by Canine Dimensions can only be made by a corporate officer at Canine Dimensions' corporate office.) Canine Dimensions Franchising, LLC
SCHEDULE C
NON-COMPETITION AND CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT
| whose | principal | place | of | business | is | |
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| ("Employer") | and | |||||
| ("Employee"), | an | individual | whose | |||
| address is | ||||||
A.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 36)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Canine Dimensions's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Mutual General Release Agreement does discharge employees of the parties. The agreement releases Canine Dimensions and the franchisee, along with their heirs, successors, representatives, assigns, agents, employees, officers, and directors, from claims, debts, liabilities, demands, obligations, costs, expenses, actions, and causes of action. This release covers matters of every nature, character, and description, whether known or unknown, vested or contingent, that either party has or may have against the other, arising before the date of the agreement.
However, the release has some exceptions. It does not apply to claims arising from the assertion of any continuing rights reserved in the Mutual General Release Agreement. Additionally, the release does not cover claims the franchisee may have under specific state franchise laws, such as the California Franchise Investment Law, the Hawaii Franchise Investment Law, the Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law, the Minnesota Franchise Act, the New York Franchise Investment Law, the North Dakota Franchise Investment Law, or the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act. The release also excludes claims arising from the franchisee's failure to pay amounts due to Canine Dimensions in the ordinary course of business, as well as claims Canine Dimensions may have under any promissory notes or other payment arrangements.
The agreement also includes a waiver of California Civil Code Section 1542, acknowledging that the franchisee is releasing unknown claims. Both Canine Dimensions and the franchisee represent and warrant that they have the right and authority to enter into the agreement and that no third party has an interest in any claim released by the agreement. The agreement serves as a complete defense to any claim subject to its terms, and both parties consent to injunctive relief to prevent breaches and agree to indemnify each other for costs and expenses resulting from breaches.
This Mutual General Release Agreement represents the entire agreement between the parties and can only be modified in writing signed by both parties. It takes effect upon execution by Canine Dimensions in Florida and is governed by Florida law. The provisions of the agreement are severable, meaning that if any part is deemed unenforceable, the rest remains in effect.