What is the time frame within which mediation must be conducted and completed after notice for Hck Hot Chicken?
Hck_Hot_Chicken Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Mediation shall be conducted in the JAMS office closest to our principal place of business (currently Sarasota, FL) and shall be conducted and completed within 45 days following the date either party first gives notice of mediation.
If the parties fail to fully resolve such dispute through mediation within such 45-day period, either party may initiate arbitration.
The fees and expenses of the mediator shall be shared equally by the parties.
The mediator shall be disqualified as a witness, expert or counsel for any party with respect to any suit and any related matter.
The entire mediation process shall be confidential and the conduct, statements, promises, offers, views and opinions of the mediator and the parties shall not be discoverable or admissible in any legal proceeding for any purpose except as required by Applicable Law, including required disclosure in Franchisor's franchise disclosure document, and provided, however, that evidence which is otherwise discoverable or admissible shall not be excluded from discovery or admission as a result of its use in the mediation.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 55–245)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Hck Hot Chicken's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a dispute arises that requires mediation, the process must be conducted and completed within 45 days from the date either party gives notice of mediation. The mediation will take place at the JAMS office closest to Hck Hot Chicken's principal place of business, which is currently in Sarasota, FL, unless both parties agree to alternative rules and a mediator within 15 days of the initial notice.
If the parties involved cannot fully resolve the dispute through mediation within the 45-day timeframe, either party has the option to initiate arbitration. This step ensures that unresolved issues can be further addressed through a more formal process. The fees and expenses associated with the mediator are to be shared equally between the parties involved, making the financial burden of the mediation process equitable.
It is also stipulated that the mediator is disqualified from serving as a witness, expert, or counsel for either party in any related suit. Furthermore, the entire mediation process is to remain confidential, with conduct, statements, promises, offers, views, and opinions shared during mediation not being admissible in any legal proceeding, except as required by law or for disclosures in Hck Hot Chicken's franchise disclosure document. This confidentiality clause aims to foster open and honest communication during the mediation process, without fear of future legal repercussions.