What is the impact of a Cicis franchisee's former parent company's actions on the General Release?
Cicis Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
and your owners' agreement to comply with the obligations under the Franchise Agreement that are triggered by or that survive the termination of the agreement.
- General Release. The Guarantors and you, on behalf of yourself, themselves and your and their respective current and former parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries, and the agents, spouses, heirs, principals, attorneys, owners, officers, directors, employees, representatives, predecessors, successors, and assigns of each (collectively, the "Releasing Parties"), hereby absolutely and irrevocably release and discharge us, our parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates, and the current and former owners, officers, directors, employees, managers, agents, representatives, predecessors, successors, and assigns of each (collectively, the "Released Parties"), of and from any and all claims, obligations, debts, proceedings, demands, rights to terminate and rescind, liabilities, losses, damages, and causes of action of whatever kind or nature, whether known or unknown, vested or contingent, suspected or unsuspected, at law or in equity (collectively, "Claims"), which any of the Releasing Parties ever owned or held, now own or hold, or may in the future own or hold, which are based on actions, omissions, or occurrences occurring on or prior to the Effective Date of this Addendum, including, without limitation, Claims based upon, arising out of, or in any way related to (i) applicable laws, rules and regulations, (ii) the Franchise Agreement and all other agreements between any Releasing Party and any Released Party, (iii) the relationships created by such agreements, or (iv) the sale, development, ownership, purchase or operation of the Restaurant or any other Cicisbranded restaurant. The Guarantors and you represent and warrant that no Claims released by the Releasing Parties in this paragraph have been assigned to any third party.
If the Restaurant you operate under the Franchise 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 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 65–263)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Cicis Franchise Disclosure Document, the General Release has implications for a franchisee's current and former parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries. The franchisee, along with these related entities, agrees to release Cicis and its related parties from any and all claims, obligations, debts, proceedings, demands, rights to terminate and rescind, liabilities, losses, damages, and causes of action. This release covers any issues that occurred on or before the effective date of the addendum.
Specifically, the release includes claims based on applicable laws, rules, and regulations, the Franchise Agreement and other agreements between the parties, the relationships created by these agreements, and the sale, development, ownership, purchase, or operation of the restaurant or any other Cicis-branded restaurant. This means that any past issues or disputes related to these areas are waived as part of the agreement.
However, there is an exception for restaurants located in Maryland or if any of the releasing parties are residents of Maryland. In these cases, the general release does not apply to any liability under the Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law. This ensures that franchisees in Maryland retain their rights under state franchise law, despite the general release.