Does the Crave Cookies General Release require the franchisee to consult with legal counsel?
Crave_Cookies Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- **3.
Representations and Acknowledgments.** Releasor represents and warrants that: (i) Releasor is the sole owner of all Claims, and that no Releasing Party has assigned or transferred, or purported to assign or transfer, to any person or entity, any Claim; (ii) Releasor has full power and authority to sign this Release; and (iii) this Release has been voluntarily and knowingly signed after Releasor has had the opportunity to consult with counsel of Releasor's choice.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 47–194)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Crave Cookies FDD, the General Release form does not mandate that a franchisee consult with legal counsel. However, it does state that the franchisee acknowledges they have the opportunity to do so. Specifically, the General Release includes a representation from the franchisee that the release is signed voluntarily and knowingly after having the opportunity to consult with their own legal counsel.
This acknowledgement is important because by signing the release, the franchisee confirms they had the chance to seek legal advice before agreeing to the terms. This could protect Crave Cookies from later claims that the franchisee did not understand the release or signed it under duress. The release covers a broad range of potential claims against Crave Cookies, so understanding its implications is crucial.
While not a requirement, a prospective Crave Cookies franchisee should strongly consider taking advantage of the opportunity to consult with an attorney before signing any General Release. An attorney can help the franchisee understand the rights they are waiving and the potential consequences of signing the release. This is a standard practice in franchising, as franchise agreements and related documents can be complex and have long-term legal and financial implications.