Does the Cinnaholic General Release cover claims related to a prior business relationship with Cinnaholic?
Cinnaholic Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| This General Release is made effective this day of, 20 In consideration for the grant by Cinnaholic Franchising, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company ("CINNAHOLIC"), to the undersigned of certain rights in connection with transfer or renewal thereof, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned, individually and collectively, hereby unconditionally release, discharge, and acquit CINNAHOLIC, its past and present subsidiaries and affiliates, and its and their shareholders, owners, directors, officers, managers, members, partners, employees, agents, representatives, successors and assigns, from any and all liabilities, damages, claims, demands, costs, expenses, debts, indemnities, suits, disputes, controversies, actions and causes of action of any kind whatsoever, whether known or unknown, fixed or contingent, regarding or arising out of any prior or existing franchise relationship, development agreement, franchise agreement or any other agreement executed by any of the any CINNAHOLIC Bakery (whether currently or of them), or any other prior or existing business relationship between any of the undersigned and CINNAHOLIC (or any subsidiary or affiliate individually or collectively has asserted, may have (or any of the specifically, without limitation, claims arising from contract, written or oral communications, alleged misrepresentations, and acts of negligence, whether active or passive. This General Release shall survive the assignment or termination of any of the franchise agreements or other documents entered into by and between CINNAHOLIC and any of the undersigned. This General Release is not intended as a waiver of those rights of the undersigned which cannot be waived under applicable state franchise laws nor is it intended to relieve CINNAHOLIC or any other person, Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law. This General Release shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia without regard to its conflicts of law provisions. WITNESS: | the operation of a CINNAHOLIC Bakery and/or the undersigned and CINNAHOLIC (or any subsidiary or affiliate of CINNAHOLIC), previously owned or operated by the undersigned or any of CINNAHOLIC), which the undersigned or any of them asserted or could have asserted against CINNAHOLIC aforementioned related parties) at any time up to the date of this General Release, including directly or indirectly, from liability imposed by the |
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Source: Item 17 — RENEWAL, TERMINATION, TRANSFER, AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION THE FRANCHISE RELATIONSHIP (FDD pages 42–50)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Cinnaholic Franchise Disclosure Document, the General Release covers claims related to prior business relationships. The release explicitly includes the discharge of Cinnaholic from liabilities, damages, claims, and demands arising out of any prior or existing franchise relationship, development agreement, franchise agreement, or any other agreement. It also encompasses any other prior or existing business relationship between the franchisee and Cinnaholic, or its subsidiaries or affiliates.
This means that by signing the General Release, a Cinnaholic franchisee waives their rights to pursue any claims against Cinnaholic related to previous business dealings. This includes claims arising from contracts, written or oral communications, alleged misrepresentations, and acts of negligence. The release applies to claims that the franchisee has asserted, may have, or could have asserted against Cinnaholic up to the date of the release.
However, the General Release does not act as a waiver of rights that cannot be waived under applicable state franchise laws. It also does not relieve Cinnaholic from liability imposed by the Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law. The General Release is governed by the laws of Georgia, without regard to its conflicts of law provisions.
Prospective Cinnaholic franchisees should carefully review the General Release with legal counsel to fully understand the scope of the claims they are waiving and the implications for any past or ongoing disputes with Cinnaholic.