What Minnesota statute prohibits Casiola from requiring litigation to be conducted outside Minnesota?

According to Casiola's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, Minn. Stat. §80C.21 prohibits Casiola from requiring litigation to be conducted outside Minnesota. Additionally, the FDD states that nothing in the disclosure document or franchise agreement can abrogate or reduce any franchisee's rights as provided for in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 80C, or their rights to any procedure, forum, or remedies provided for by the laws of the jurisdiction.

This means that if a Casiola franchisee in Minnesota has a legal dispute with the company, Casiola cannot force the franchisee to litigate the matter in a state outside of Minnesota. This protects the franchisee from having to travel to a different state, hire out-of-state counsel, and otherwise deal with the inconvenience and expense of litigating a case far from home.

This protection is especially important for individual franchisees who may lack the resources to effectively pursue legal claims in a distant jurisdiction. By ensuring that litigation can occur in Minnesota, the law helps to level the playing field between Casiola and its franchisees in the event of a dispute. Prospective franchisees should be aware of this protection and understand their rights under Minnesota law.