Is a City Wide franchisee required to defend and indemnify City Wide from losses resulting from the operation of the franchised business?
City_Wide Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
press or implied, on behalf of CITY WIDE.
- 19.2 During the Term of this Agreement, Franchisee will hold itself out to the public as an independent contractor operating the business pursuant to a franchise from CITY WIDE. Franchisee will take such affirmative action as may be necessary to do so, including, without limitation, exhibiting a notice of that fact in a conspicuous place on the premises of the Franchised Business and on all forms, stationery, or other written materials, the content of which CITY WIDE reserves the right to specify.
- 19.3 Franchisee will defend at Franchisee's own cost and indemnify and hold harmless CITY WIDE, its general partners (if ever any) and their shareholders, directors, officers, employees and agents, from and against any and all loss, costs, expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable accountants', attorneys' and expert witness fees, costs of investigation and proof of facts, court costs and other litigation expenses and travel and living expenses), damages and liabilities, however caused, resulting directly or indirectly from or pertaining to the use, condition, or construction, equipping, decorating, maintenance or operation of the Franchised Business, including the sale of any service sold from the Franchised Business and violation of Privacy Laws. Such loss, claims, costs, expenses, damages and liabilities will include, without limitation, those arising from latent or other defects in the Franchised Business, whether or not discoverable by CITY WIDE, and those arising from the death or injury to any person or arising from damage to the property of Franchisee or CITY WIDE, their respective agents or employees, or any third person, firm or corporation, whether or not such losses, claims, costs, expenses, damages, or liabilities were actually or allegedly caused wholly or in part through the negligence of CITY WIDE or any of its agents or employees or resulted from any strict liability imposed on CITY WIDE or any of its agents or employees. All such indemnification will survive termination of this Agreement.
- 19.4 CITY WIDE will not, by virtue of any approvals, advice or services provided to Franchisee, assume responsibility or liability to Franchisee or any third parties to which CITY WIDE would not otherwise be subject.
SECTION 20. Franchisor's Right to Purchase Business/Right of First Refusal
- 20.1 Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, CITY WIDE will have an option, but not an obligation, to purchase from Franchisee all or any assets of the Franchised Business, including, without limitation all supplies, equipment, advertising materials, and other indicia bearing CITY WIDE's Marks, at fair market value. CITY WIDE may exercise this option ("Option to Purchase") by giving Franchisee written notice within sixty (60) calendar days after such termination. If the parties cannot agree on fair market value within a reasonable time, an independent appraiser acceptable to Franchisee will be designated by CITY WIDE, whose determination will be binding. If CITY WIDE elects to exercise any Option to Purchase as provided, it will have the right to set off all amounts due from Franchisee under this Agreement, and the cost of the appraisal, if any, against any payment. CITY WIDE shall have up to twelve (12) months to pay the entirety of the agreed upon purchase price, upon its exercise of its Option to Purchase the business contained herein. CITY WIDE must pay at fifty percent (50%) of the purchase price at the time of exercising its Option to Purchase to defer payment of the remainder over a six (6) month period.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 65)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to City Wide's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are generally required to defend and indemnify City Wide from losses, costs, expenses, damages, and liabilities resulting from the operation of the franchised business. Specifically, the franchisee must defend and hold City Wide harmless from any losses pertaining to the use, condition, maintenance, or operation of the franchised business. This includes any service sold from the franchised business and violations of privacy laws. This obligation extends to losses arising from defects in the franchised business, injuries, or damage to property, even if caused by City Wide's negligence.
This indemnification clause means that a City Wide franchisee could be financially responsible for covering City Wide's legal costs and any damages awarded in lawsuits or claims related to the franchisee's business operations. This responsibility exists regardless of whether the issues were directly caused by the franchisee or even if City Wide was partly at fault. This requirement survives the termination of the franchise agreement, meaning the franchisee's responsibility for these issues continues even after the agreement ends.
In the context of IT services, the franchisee is obligated to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless City Wide from expenses, damages, taxes, claims, suits, losses, actions, judgments, liabilities, and costs, including attorney's fees, arising from claims related to City Wide's provision of IT Services or cyber events. However, City Wide will indemnify and hold the franchisee harmless from expenses, damages, claims, suits, losses, actions, judgments, liabilities, and costs, including attorney's fees, arising out of any claim as a result of any negligence or willful misconduct by City Wide.
Furthermore, if City Wide temporarily operates the franchised business due to the franchisee's inability, the franchisee will indemnify and hold City Wide harmless from all claims arising from the acts and omissions of City Wide and its representative during that period. If City Wide takes over the business due to the franchisee's default, the franchisee will indemnify City Wide and its representatives regarding any acts or omissions related to the interests of the franchisee or third parties. These extensive indemnification requirements are a significant responsibility for City Wide franchisees and should be carefully considered.