Who are considered 'Releasing Parties' in the Cicis general release agreement?
Cicis Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Consistent with the previous introduction, you, on your own behalf and on behalf of your affiliated entities, and each such foregoing person's or entity's successors, heirs, executors, administrators, personal representatives, agents, assigns, partners, owners, managers, directors, officers, principals and employees (collectively, the "Releasing Parties"), hereby forever release and discharge us and our current and former affiliated entities, and each such entity's officers, directors, owners, managers, principals, employees, agents, representatives, successors, and assigns (collectively, the "Franchisor Parties") of and from any and all claims, damages (known and unknown), demands, causes of action, suits, duties, liabilities, and agreements of any nature and kind (collectively, "Claims") that you and any of the other Releasing Parties now has, ever had, or, but for this document, hereafter would or could have against any of the Franchisor Parties, including without limitation, (1) arising out of or related to the Franchisor Parties' obligations under the Agreement, or (2) otherwise arising from or related to your and the other Releasing Parties' relationship, from the beginning of time to the date of your signature below, with any of the Franchisor Parties. You, on your own behalf and on behalf of the other Releasing Parties, further covenant not to sue any of the Franchisor Parties on any of the Claims released by this paragraph and represent that you have not assigned any of the Claims released by this paragraph to any individual or entity who is not bound by this paragraph.
We also are entitled to release and covenant not to sue from your owners. By his, her, or their separate signatures below, your owners likewise grant to us the release and covenant not to sue provided above.
If the franchise you operate under the Agreement is located in Maryland or if any of the Releasing Parties is a resident of Maryland, the following shall apply:
Any general release provided for hereunder shall not apply to any liability under the Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 31–38)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cicis's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the "Releasing Parties" in the general release agreement include the franchisee, their affiliated entities, and each of their successors, heirs, executors, administrators, personal representatives, agents, assigns, partners, owners, managers, directors, officers, principals, and employees.
This means that when a franchisee signs a general release, they are doing so not only on their own behalf but also on behalf of a wide range of related individuals and business entities. This is a comprehensive release designed to protect Cicis from future claims arising from the franchisee and anyone associated with their business.
It is important for prospective Cicis franchisees to carefully review the terms of the general release with legal counsel to fully understand the scope of the release and its implications for themselves and their affiliated parties. Franchisees should be aware that in Maryland, any general release provided does not apply to any liability under the Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law.