Which organization administers the arbitration proceedings for Degree Wellness disputes?
Degree_Wellness Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
13. ARBITRATION.
- a. Agreement to Arbitrate. Except insofar as we elect to enforce this Agreement or to seek temporary or permanent injunctive relief as provided above, all controversies, disputes or claims arising between us, our affiliates, and our and their respective owners, officers, directors, agents, and employees (in their representative capacity) and you (and your Principal Owners and guarantors) arising out of or related to: (1) this Agreement, any provision thereof, or any related agreement (except for any lease or sublease with us or any of our affiliates); (2) the relationship of the parties hereto; (3) the validity of this Agreement or any related agreement, or any provision thereof; or (4) any specification, standard or operating procedure relating to the establishment or operation of the Franchise, shall be submitted for arbitration to be administered by the office of the American Arbitration Association.
- b. Place and Procedure. Such arbitration proceedings shall be conducted in Duvall County, Florida, and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be conducted in accordance with then current commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association, and the arbitration hearing
shall be conducted before a single arbitrator, not a panel.
- c.
Costs of Arbitration.
You and we acknowledge and agree that neither party shall be permitted to bring or maintain any actions, claims or counter-claims against the other party in any arbitration proceeding unless the party asserting such action, claim or counterclaim timely pays all costs and fees charged to it by the American Arbitration Association and one-half of all charges and fees of the designated arbitrator for the proceeding, as and when billed.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 66–257)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Degree Wellness's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, any disputes that are not resolved through internal mediation will be submitted for arbitration. The arbitration will be administered by the American Arbitration Association. This means that if a franchisee has a disagreement with Degree Wellness that cannot be resolved informally, the American Arbitration Association will oversee the arbitration process.
The arbitration proceedings will take place in Duvall County, Florida, and will follow the American Arbitration Association's commercial arbitration rules. A single arbitrator, rather than a panel, will preside over the hearing. This location is specified regardless of where the franchisee's Degree Wellness studio is located, which could create additional travel costs for the franchisee.
Both Degree Wellness and the franchisee are responsible for paying their respective costs and fees charged by the American Arbitration Association, as well as half of the arbitrator's fees. The arbitrator has the authority to award various forms of relief, including monetary damages, specific performance, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, and costs. The arbitrator's decision is binding, and a judgment can be entered in any court with competent jurisdiction. Franchisees should be aware of these conditions and potential costs associated with arbitration.