If a Churchs Chicken franchisee is a resident of Illinois, does this trigger the need for the addendum?
Churchs_Chicken Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
EXHIBIT O
STATE-SPECIFIC ADDENDA TO DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit O-1
ADDENDUM TO THE CHURCH'S TEXAS CHICKEN DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT REQUIRED FOR ILLINOIS FRANCHISEES
| This | Addendum to the Church's Texas Chicken Development Agreement dated ("Development Agreement") between CAJUN GLOBAL LLC, d/b/a Church's | |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Chicken | a Delaware limited liability company ("Cajun"), and , a formed in ("Developer") is entered into simultaneously with the | |
| execution | of | Development |
| the | Agreement. | |
| Development to all (C) | 1. Developer was or part of | The provisions of this Addendum form an integral part of, and are incorporated into the Agreement. This Addendum is being executed because: (A) the offer or sale of a franchise made in the State of Illinois; (B) Developer is a resident of the State of Illinois; and/or the Development Area will be located, in the State of Illinois. |
| 2. | The | |
| following | ||
| sentence | ||
| is | ||
| added | ||
| at | ||
| the | ||
| end | ||
| of | ||
| Section | ||
| 23.A. | ||
| of | ||
| the | ||
| Agreement: | ||
| Notwithstanding | ||
| the | ||
| foregoing, | ||
| Illinois | ||
| law | ||
| shall | ||
| govern | ||
| this | ||
| Agreement. | ||
| 3. | The | |
| following | ||
| sentence | ||
| is | ||
| added | ||
| to | ||
| the | ||
| end | ||
| of | ||
| Section | ||
| 23.B. | ||
| of | ||
| the | ||
| Agreement: | ||
| Section | ||
| 4 | ||
| of | ||
| the | ||
| Illinois | ||
| Franchise | ||
| Disclosure | ||
| Act | ||
| provides | ||
| that | ||
| any | ||
| provision | ||
| in | ||
| a | ||
| franchise | ||
| agreement | ||
| that | ||
| designates | ||
| jurisdiction | ||
| or | ||
| venue | ||
| in | ||
| a | ||
| forum | ||
| outside | ||
| of | ||
| Illinois | ||
| is | ||
| void | ||
| with | ||
| respect | ||
| to | ||
| any | ||
| cause | ||
| of | ||
| action | ||
| that | ||
| otherwise | ||
| is | ||
| enforceable | ||
| in | ||
| Illinois. | ||
| 4. | The | |
| following | ||
| sentence | ||
| is | ||
| added | ||
| at | ||
| the | ||
| end | ||
| of | ||
| Section | ||
| 23.C. | ||
| of | ||
| the | ||
| Agreement: | ||
| Section | ||
| 27 | ||
| of | ||
| the | ||
| Illinois | ||
| Franchise | ||
| Disclosure | ||
| Act | ||
| provides | ||
| that | ||
| causes | ||
| of | ||
| action | ||
| under | ||
| the | ||
| Act | ||
| must | ||
| be | ||
| brought | ||
| within | ||
| the | ||
| earlier | ||
| of: | ||
| 3 | ||
| years | ||
| of | ||
| the | ||
| violation, | ||
| 1 | ||
| year | ||
| after | ||
| the | ||
| franchisee | ||
| becomes | ||
| aware | ||
| of | ||
| the | ||
| underlying | ||
| facts | ||
| or | ||
| circumstances | ||
| or | ||
| 90 | ||
| days | ||
| after | ||
| delivery | ||
| to | ||
| the | ||
| franchisee | ||
| of | ||
| a | ||
| written | ||
| notice | ||
| disclosing | ||
| the | ||
| violation. | ||
| 5. | The | |
| following | ||
| sentence | ||
| is | ||
| added | ||
| to | ||
| the | ||
| end | ||
| of | ||
| Section | ||
| 25 | ||
| of | ||
| the | ||
| Agreement: | ||
| Section | ||
| 41 | ||
| of | ||
| the | ||
| Illinois | ||
| Franchise | ||
| Disclosure | ||
| Act | ||
| states | ||
| that | ||
| any | ||
| condition, | ||
| stipulation, | ||
| or | ||
| provision | ||
| purporting | ||
| to | ||
| bind | ||
| any | ||
| person | ||
| requiring | ||
| any | ||
| franchise | ||
| owner | ||
| to | ||
| waive | ||
| compliance | ||
| with | ||
| any | ||
| provision | ||
| of | ||
| this | ||
| Act | ||
| is | ||
| void. |
[SIGNATURES CONTAINED ON NEXT PAGE]
Any capitalized terms that are not defined in this Addendum shall have the meaning given
Source: Item 17 — RENEWAL, TERMINATION, TRANSFER AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION (FDD pages 50–55)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Churchs Chicken's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, an addendum to the Development Agreement is required for Illinois franchisees. Specifically, the document states that the addendum is executed because the offer or sale of a franchise was made in Illinois, the developer is a resident of Illinois, and/or the development area will be located in Illinois. Therefore, if a Churchs Chicken franchisee is a resident of Illinois, this triggers the need for the addendum.
This addendum modifies certain aspects of the standard Churchs Chicken Development Agreement to comply with the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act. These modifications address specific legal requirements within Illinois, such as those pertaining to jurisdiction, venue, and enforceability of certain provisions. For instance, the addendum clarifies that any provision designating jurisdiction or venue outside of Illinois is void with respect to actions enforceable in Illinois.
Furthermore, the addendum includes statements to be added to the risk factors on the cover page of the franchise disclosure document, emphasizing the stipulations of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act. It also addresses conditions, stipulations, or provisions that might require a franchisee to waive compliance with the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act, stating that such waivers are void.
In practical terms, this means that prospective Churchs Chicken franchisees in Illinois will have additional protections and clarifications within their franchise agreement, ensuring compliance with Illinois state law. This addendum helps to safeguard the franchisee's rights and provides a legal framework that is consistent with Illinois regulations, which is a beneficial aspect for those looking to establish a Churchs Chicken franchise in Illinois.