How many arbitrators will conduct the arbitration proceedings for Crepe De Licious?
Crepe_De_Licious Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Arbitration will be conducted before a single arbitrator who is familiar with legal disputes of the type at issue and who has at least 10 years' experience as a lawyer or in the franchise business.
The parties will mutually agree on the selection of the arbitrator; however, if the parties have not agreed on the selection of an arbitrator within 30 days after the arbitration demand, either party may request the ADR or successor organization, to appoint a qualified arbitrator.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 57)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Crepe De Licious Franchise Disclosure Document, arbitration will be conducted before a single arbitrator. This arbitrator must be familiar with legal disputes of the type at issue and possess at least 10 years of experience as a lawyer or in the franchise business.
Within 30 days of the arbitration demand, both Crepe De Licious and the franchisee must agree on the selection of the arbitrator. If an agreement cannot be reached within this timeframe, either party may request the ADR (presumably, the American Arbitration Association) or a successor organization to appoint a qualified arbitrator.
This single-arbitrator approach is a fairly common practice in franchise agreements, as it is generally considered more efficient and cost-effective than using a panel of arbitrators. However, franchisees should carefully consider the arbitrator's qualifications and experience to ensure they are impartial and competent to handle the specific issues in dispute.