Does the Checkers franchise agreement require the franchisee to indemnify Checkers for losses and expenses incurred in connection with any investigation?
Checkers Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You agree to indemnify us, our Affiliates and our respective directors, officers, employees, shareholders, members, agents, successors and assigns (collectively "indemnitees"), and to hold the indemnitees harmless to the fullest extent permitted by law, from any and all losses and expenses (as defined below) incurred in connection with any litigation or other form of adjudicatory procedure, claim, demand, investigation, or formal or informal inquiry (regardless of whether it is reduced to judgment) or any settlement thereof which arises directly or indirectly from, or as a result of, a claim of a third party against any one or more of the indemnitees in connection with (i) your failure to perform or breach of any covenant, agreement, term or provision of this Agreement, (ii) your breach of any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement, and (iii) any allegedly unauthorized service or act rendered or performed in connection with this Agreement, (collectively "event") and regardless of whether it resulted from any strict or vicarious liability imposed by law on the indemnitees.
The foregoing indemnity shall apply even if it is determined that the indemnitees' negligence caused such loss, liability or expense, in whole or in part, provided, however, that this indemnity will not apply to any liability arising from a breach of this Agreement by the indemnitees or the gross negligence or willful acts of indemnitees (except to the extent that joint liability is involved, in which event the indemnification provided herein will extend to any finding of comparative or contributory negligence attributable to you).
The term "losses and expenses" includes compensatory, exemplary, and punitive damages; fines and penalties; attorneys' fees; experts' fees; court costs; costs associated with investigating and defending against claims; settlement amounts; judgments; compensation for damages to our reputation and goodwill; and all other costs associated with any of the foregoing losses and expenses.
We agree to give you reasonable notice of any event of which we become aware for which indemnification may be required, and we may elect (but are not obligated) to direct the defense thereof, including appropriate counsel at our sole determination.
We may, in our reasonable discretion, take such actions as we deem necessary and appropriate to investigate, defend, or settle any event or take other remedial or corrective actions with respect thereto as may be necessary for the protection of indemnitees or Restaurants generally, provided however, that any settlement shall be subject to your consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
Further, notwithstanding the foregoing, if the insurer on a policy or policies obtained in compliance with your Franchise Agreements agrees to undertake the defense of an event (an "Insured Event"), we agree not to exercise our right to select counsel to defend the event if such would cause your insurer to deny coverage.
We reserve the right to retain counsel to represent us with respect to an Insured Event at our sole cost and expense.
This Section shall continue in full force and effect subsequent to and notwithstanding the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 92–384)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Checkers' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchise agreement does require the franchisee to indemnify Checkers and its affiliates. Specifically, the franchisee must indemnify Checkers from losses and expenses resulting from any investigation, claim, or litigation arising from the franchisee's failure to perform the agreement, breach of warranty, or unauthorized acts. This means that if a third party makes a claim against Checkers due to something the franchisee did or didn't do, the franchisee could be responsible for covering Checkers' losses and expenses.
The term "losses and expenses" is broadly defined and includes compensatory, exemplary, and punitive damages; fines and penalties; attorneys' fees; experts' fees; court costs; costs associated with investigating and defending against claims; settlement amounts; judgments; compensation for damages to Checkers' reputation and goodwill; and all other costs associated with any of the foregoing losses and expenses. This definition makes it clear that the franchisee's indemnification obligation extends to a wide range of potential costs and damages that Checkers might incur.
However, the indemnification requirement does not apply to liability arising from a breach of the agreement by Checkers or the gross negligence or willful acts of Checkers, except in cases of joint liability where the franchisee's comparative or contributory negligence is involved. Checkers agrees to provide reasonable notice of any event that may require indemnification and may elect to direct the defense, including selecting counsel. However, any settlement is subject to the franchisee's consent, which cannot be unreasonably withheld or delayed. If the event is covered by the franchisee's insurance, Checkers agrees not to select counsel if it would cause the insurer to deny coverage, but Checkers reserves the right to retain its own counsel at its own expense.