What claims are excluded from the release required as a condition of assignment/transfer under the Cicis Area Development Agreement in Maryland?

According to Cicis's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, any release required as a condition of assignment or transfer will not apply to claims arising under the Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law. This means that even if a franchisee signs a release as part of transferring their Area Development Agreement, they still retain the right to pursue claims related to violations of Maryland's franchise laws.

This protection is significant for prospective Cicis franchisees in Maryland. It ensures that they cannot be forced to give up their legal rights under Maryland franchise law as a condition of transferring their franchise. This could be particularly relevant if a franchisee believes they have been misled or treated unfairly by Cicis during the franchise relationship.

This provision is included in a rider to the Area Development Agreement specifically for use in Maryland. This rider acknowledges that the franchisee is either a resident of Maryland, will operate Cicis restaurants in Maryland, or the offer to sell/buy the franchise occurred in Maryland. This highlights Cicis's awareness of and compliance with Maryland franchise law, offering an additional layer of security for franchisees operating in that state.