Who is required to attend the initial meeting to resolve a Carbones Pizzeria franchise dispute?
Carbones_Pizzeria Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Either party may apply for injunctive or other equitable relief to: (i) enforce its right to terminate this Agreement; and (ii) prevent or remedy a breach of this Agreement if such breach could materially impair the goodwill of such party's business, including to enforce the obligations of a party to be performed following the termination of this Agreement and enforcement of the non-competition and confidentiality provisions of this Agreement. Each party shall be entitled to the entry of temporary restraining orders and temporary and permanent injunctions enforcing its aforementioned rights. Except for matters for which a party is permitted to seek equitable or injunctive relief under this Agreement, the parties agree that the following procedure shall be used to resolve any dispute between them:
- a. The President of Franchisor and/or one other designated representative of Franchisor, shall meet with the Franchisee, if the Franchisee is an individual, or if the Franchisee is a business entity, the President of the Franchisee, within ten (10) days of a written request by either party for such a meeting.
The party requesting the meeting shall set forth in detail the nature of the dispute.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 30–116)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Carbones Pizzeria Franchise Disclosure Document, the President and/or another designated representative of Carbones Pizzeria is required to meet with the franchisee to resolve a dispute. If the franchisee is an individual, the franchisee must attend the meeting. If the franchisee is a business entity, the President of the franchisee must attend. This meeting is required within ten days of a written request from either party detailing the nature of the dispute.
This initial meeting is the first step in the dispute resolution process outlined in the franchise agreement. It provides an opportunity for both parties to communicate directly and attempt to resolve the issue before proceeding to mediation or arbitration. The requirement for specific individuals to attend (the President of Carbones Pizzeria and the franchisee or its President) ensures that decision-makers are involved in the resolution process from the outset.
If the initial meeting does not resolve the dispute, the parties are then required to submit to mediation in Hennepin County, Minnesota. If mediation is also unsuccessful, the dispute will proceed to arbitration in Hennepin County, Minnesota. It is important to note that either party may seek injunctive or other equitable relief to enforce termination rights or prevent breaches of the agreement that could harm their business's goodwill, without going through the initial meeting, mediation, or arbitration.