Under what condition should the Franchisee Acknowledgment in Exhibit F of the Crisp & Green Franchise Agreement NOT be signed?

According to Crisp & Green's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, Exhibit F to the Franchise Agreement, titled "Franchisee Acknowledgment," should not be signed under specific conditions related to state franchise laws. If the offer or sale of the Crisp & Green franchise is subject to state franchise registration/disclosure laws in California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, or Wisconsin, then the document should not be signed.

Furthermore, the Franchisee Acknowledgment should not be signed if the Crisp & Green franchise is to be operated in, or if the franchisee is a resident of, Maryland. This is explicitly stated in the FDD to ensure compliance with Maryland's specific franchise regulations.

The purpose of the Franchisee Acknowledgment is to confirm that no unauthorized or untrue statements were made during the franchise sales process and that the franchisee understands the limitations on claims related to the franchise. However, in states with franchise registration/disclosure laws or in Maryland, the protections afforded by those laws take precedence, and signing the acknowledgment could potentially waive rights granted under those laws. Therefore, Crisp & Green franchisees in those states are instructed not to sign the acknowledgment to preserve their legal rights and protections.

This instruction is crucial for prospective Crisp & Green franchisees because signing the acknowledgment in the specified states could inadvertently waive certain legal rights or protections provided by state franchise laws. Franchisees should carefully review the FDD and consult with legal counsel to understand their rights and obligations, especially if they are operating in or residing in one of the listed states.