How might RCW 19.100.180 affect the Christies International Real Estate franchise agreement?
Christies_International_Real_Estate Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
[Note for Washington Release – add the following to Section 1, at the end of the first sentence: "excluding only such claims arising under the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act."]
2. General Terms.
2.1. This Release will be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, each party's respective heirs, representatives, successors, and assigns.
2.2. This Release will take effect upon its acceptance and execution by each of the parties hereto.
2.3. This Release may be executed in counterparts, and signatures exchanged by fax or pdf, and each such counterpart, when taken together with all other identical copies of this Release also signed in counterpart, will be considered as one Release.
2.4. The captions in this Release are for the sake of convenience only, and will neither amend nor modify the terms hereof.
2.5 The parties agree that all actions arising under this Release must be commenced in the local or federal court of general jurisdiction in New York, and each of the undersigned irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of those courts and waives any objection he/she/it might have to either the jurisdiction of or venue in those courts. This Release will be interpreted and construed under the laws of the State of New York. In the event of any conflict of law, the laws of the State of New York will prevail (without regard to, and without giving effect to, the application of New York conflict of law rules).
2.6. This Release constitutes the entire, full, and
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 54–177)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Christies International Real Estate FDD, the franchise agreement is subject to state-specific addenda that address potential conflicts with state laws. For franchisees in Washington, a note is included to address claims arising under the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act. This suggests that RCW 19.100.180, which is part of this Act, could influence the interpretation and enforcement of the Christies International Real Estate franchise agreement within Washington.
The Washington addendum indicates that the standard terms of the Christies International Real Estate license agreement are amended to the extent they are inconsistent with the California Franchise Investment Law, Cal. Corp. Code §§ 31000-31516 or the California Franchise Relations Act, Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§20000-20043. The note for Washington release further clarifies that this exclusion applies to claims arising under the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act.
In practical terms, this means that certain provisions of the Christies International Real Estate franchise agreement that might conflict with RCW 19.100.180 would be superseded by the state law. This could affect areas such as termination rights, renewal conditions, and other aspects of the franchise relationship, providing additional protection to Christies International Real Estate franchisees in Washington beyond what is offered in the standard agreement. Prospective franchisees in Washington should carefully review the Washington addendum and consult with legal counsel to understand their rights and obligations under both the franchise agreement and RCW 19.100.180.