Does Care Plus Medical Ucc include State Addenda to Agreements in the Franchise Agreement?
Care_Plus_Medical_Ucc Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
ecuted pursuant to a negotiated settlement after the franchise agreement is in effect and where the parties are represented by independent counsel.
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Item 23 RECEIPTS
Detachable documents acknowledging your receipt of this disclosure document are attached as the last two pages of this disclosure document.
EXHIBIT A
STATE ADDENDA TO DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT
CALIFORNIA ADDENDUM TO DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT
The registration of this franchise does not constitute approval, recommendation, or endorsement by the commissioner by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.
In registering this franchise, the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation has not reviewed, and makes no statements concerning, the franchisor's compliance with state and federal licensing and regulatory requirements relating to the practice of medicine. You should consult with your attorney concerning these laws, regulations, and ordinances that may affect the operation of your business. If the California Medical Board, or any other agency overseeing the practice of medicine in this state, determines that the operation of the franchise fails to comply with state law, the franchisor may be required to cease operations of the franchised business in California. This may result in the termination of your franchise and loss of your investment.
California's Franchise Investment Law (Corporations Code sections 31512 and 31512.1) states that any provision of a franchise agreement or related document requir3en the franchisee to waive specific provisions of the law is contrary to public policy and is void and unenforceable. The law also prohibits a franchisor from disclaiming or denying (i) representations it, its employees, or its agents make to you, (ii) your ability to rely on any representations it makes to you, or (iii) any violations of the law.
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.
California limited liability companies Code, Section 31125 requires the franchisor to give the franchisee a disclosure document, approved by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, 14 days prior to the execution of an agreement or the solicitation of a proposed material modification of an existing agreement.
The California Franchise Investment Law requires that a copy of all proposed agreements relating to the sale of the franchise be delivered together with the offering circular 14 days prior to execution of agreement.
Our website, www.CPMedCenters.com, has not been reviewed or approved by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Any complaints concerning the content of this website may be directed to the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation at www.dfpi.ca.gov.
Any provision of a franchise agreement, franchise disclosure document, acknowledgement, questionnaire, or other writing, including any exhibit thereto, disclaiming or denying any of the following shall be deemed contrary to public policy and shall be void and unenforceable: (a) Representations made by the franchisor or its personnel or agents to a prospective franchisee. (b) Reliance by a franchisee on any representations made by the franchisor or its personnel or agents. (c) Reliance by a franchisee on the franchise disclosure document, including any exhibit thereto. (d) Violations of any provision of this division.
All the owners of the franchise will be required to execute personal guarantees. This requirement places the marital assets of the spouses domiciled in community property states – AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA and WI – at risk if your franchise fails.
- The following paragraph is added to the end of Item 3 of the Disclosure Document:
Neither franchisor nor any person or franchise broker in Item 2 of this disclosure document is subject to any currently effective order of any national securities association or national securities exchange, as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C.A. 78a et seq., suspending or expelling such persons from membership in that association or exchange.
- The following paragraph is added to the end of Item 6 of the Disclosure Document:
With respect to the Late Fee described in Item 6, this Item is amended to disclose that the maximum rate of interest permitted under California law is 10%.
- The following paragraphs are added at the end of Item 17 of the Disclosure Document:
The Franchise Agreement requires franchisee to sign a general release of claims upon renewal or transfer of the Franchise Agreement. California Corporations Code Section 31512 provides that any condition, stipulation or provision purporting to bind any person acquiring a franchise to waive compliance with any provision of that law or any rule or order thereunder is void.
California Business and Professions Code Sections 20000 through 20043 provide rights to the franchisee concerning termination, transfer, or non-renewal of a franchise. If the Franchise Agreement contains a provision that is inconsistent with the law, the law will control.
The Franchise Agreement provides for termination upon bankruptcy. This provision may not be enforceable under federal bankruptcy law (11 U.S.C.A. Sec. 101 et seq.).
The Franchise Agreement contains a covenant not to compete which extends beyond the termination of the franchise. This provision may not be enforceable under California law.
The Franchise Agreement contains a liquidated damages clause. Under California Civil Code Section 1671, certain liquidated damages clauses are unenforceable.
The Franchise Agreement requires mediation. The mediation will occur in Carson, California, with the costs being borne equally by Franchisor and Franchisee. Prospective franchisees are encouraged to consult private legal counsel to determine the applicability of California and federal laws (such as Business and Professions Code Section 20040.5, Code of Civil Procedure Section 1281, and the Federal Mediation Act) to any provisions of a franchise agreement restricting venue to a forum outside the State of California.
- The following paragraphs are added at the end of Item 5 of the Disclosure Document:
The Department has determined that we, the franchisor, have not demonstrated we are adequately capitalized and/or that we must rely on franchise fees to fund our operations. The Commissioner has imposed a fee deferral condition, which requires that we defer the collection of all initial fees from California franchisees until we have completed all of our pre-opening obligations and you are open for business. For California franchisees who sign a development agreement, the payment of the development and initial fees attributable to a specific unit in your development schedule is deferred until that unit is open.
- The following paragraphs are added at the end of Item 1 of the Disclosure Document:
You should be aware of the laws against the corporate practice of medicine and fee splitting. (See Business and Professions Code §2400 and Business and Professions Code §650(a).)
HAWAII ADDENDUM TO DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT
In the State of Hawaii only, this Disclosure Document is amended as follows:
**THESE FRANCHISES WILL BE/HAVE BEEN FILED UNDER THE FRANCHISE INVESTMENT LAW OF THE STATE OF HAWAII.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 41–119)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
Yes, according to the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, Care Plus Medical Ucc includes state-specific addenda to the disclosure document. These addenda modify certain aspects of the franchise agreement to comply with state laws and regulations, as evidenced by the inclusion of addenda for California, Illinois, Maryland, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Washington.
The California addendum clarifies that the state's Department of Financial Protection and Innovation does not endorse the franchise and advises franchisees to consult with an attorney regarding state and federal licensing requirements related to the practice of medicine. It also states that franchisees cannot waive specific provisions of California's Franchise Investment Law.
The Illinois addendum specifies that Illinois law governs the franchise agreement, voids any provision designating jurisdiction or venue outside of Illinois (though arbitration outside Illinois is permitted), and prevents franchisees from waiving compliance with the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act. Similarly, the Maryland addendum prevents franchisees from waiving claims under Maryland franchise law and specifies the statute of limitations for claims under the Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law.
The Ohio addendum includes cover pages with specific disclaimers required by Ohio law. The Rhode Island addendum modifies Item 17 regarding jurisdiction and venue restrictions. The Washington addendum states that the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act may supersede the franchise agreement, particularly in areas of termination and renewal, and addresses arbitration/mediation locations, non-competition covenants, and transfer fees. These addenda ensure that the Care Plus Medical Ucc franchise agreements comply with the franchise laws of each specific state, providing additional protections and disclosures to franchisees in those states.