What makes a restriction on the statute of limitations period unreasonable for claims under the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act for a Chesters franchise?

According to Chesters's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, provisions in the franchise agreement or related documents that unreasonably restrict or limit the statute of limitations for claims under the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act may not be enforceable. This also applies to rights or remedies under the Act, such as the right to a jury trial.

For a prospective Chesters franchisee in Washington, this means that any attempt within the franchise agreement to shorten the time period they have to bring a claim under the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act could be deemed unenforceable. The statute of limitations is the time period within which a lawsuit must be filed. If the limitation is deemed unreasonable, a franchisee may have more time to bring a claim than what is written in the franchise agreement.

This protection ensures that Chesters franchisees in Washington are not unduly pressured to forfeit their legal rights due to restrictive clauses in the franchise agreement. Franchisees should consult with an attorney to determine what constitutes an unreasonable restriction in their specific circumstances.