In Minnesota, can Face Foundrie require litigation to be conducted outside of Minnesota?

According to Face Foundrie's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Minnesota Statute Section 80C.21 and Minnesota Rule 2860.4400J explicitly prohibit Face Foundrie from requiring franchisees to conduct litigation outside the state of Minnesota. This protection ensures that Minnesota franchisees are not forced to bear the additional burden and expense of pursuing legal action in a potentially distant and unfamiliar jurisdiction.

This provision is included in the addendum required by the state of Minnesota, reinforcing the state's commitment to protecting the rights of franchisees operating within its borders. Furthermore, the FDD states that nothing within the disclosure document or the franchise agreement can reduce any of the franchisee's rights as provided for in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 80C, or their rights to any procedure, forum, or remedies provided by the laws of the jurisdiction.

In practical terms, this means that if a Face Foundrie franchisee in Minnesota has a legal dispute with the franchisor, they have the right to pursue that dispute in a Minnesota court. Face Foundrie cannot force them to litigate in another state, such as Minnesota where Face Foundrie's principal executive offices are located. This protection helps to level the playing field between the franchisor and franchisee, ensuring that franchisees are not at a disadvantage due to geographical constraints or unfamiliar legal systems.