What state's laws govern adversarial proceedings between Crave Cookies and the franchisee?

According to Crave Cookies' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the laws of Utah govern all adversarial proceedings between the parties. Specifically, this applies without regard to Utah's principles of conflicts of law. This means that if there is a legal dispute between a Crave Cookies franchisee and the franchisor, Utah law will be used to resolve the issue, regardless of where the franchisee is located or where the dispute originated.

This is a standard clause in franchise agreements, as it provides clarity and predictability regarding the legal framework that will govern the relationship. However, the FDD also states that any Utah law protecting franchisees or business opportunity purchasers will not apply unless its jurisdictional requirements are met independently, without reference to this specific section. This could potentially limit the protections available to franchisees under Utah law, depending on the specific circumstances of the dispute.

For a prospective Crave Cookies franchisee, this means that they may need to become familiar with Utah law, even if they are not located in Utah. It would be prudent to consult with an attorney to understand the implications of this governing law provision and how it might affect their rights and obligations under the franchise agreement. Understanding the applicable legal framework is a crucial part of assessing the risks and benefits of investing in a Crave Cookies franchise.