Does the Hydrodog franchise agreement allow third parties to join arbitration proceedings?

Based on the 2025 Hydrodog Franchise Disclosure Document, disputes and litigation will be conducted and resolved on an individual basis only and not a class-wide, multiple plaintiff, or similar basis. Any such proceeding will not be consolidated with any other proceeding involving any other person, except for disputes involving affiliates of the parties. This means that franchisees are restricted from combining their disputes with others, except in cases involving affiliates of either the franchisee or Hydrodog.

This clause ensures that each franchisee's dispute is handled separately, preventing class action lawsuits or similar consolidated proceedings. This can be beneficial for Hydrodog, as it limits their exposure to large, multi-claimant lawsuits. However, it may disadvantage franchisees who have similar grievances, as they cannot pool resources or present a unified front.

For a prospective Hydrodog franchisee, this means that if you have a dispute with the franchisor, you will need to pursue it independently, which may increase your legal costs. It also means that you cannot rely on the experiences or legal strategies of other franchisees in your case, unless they are affiliates. This is a fairly standard clause in franchise agreements, designed to manage risk and prevent large-scale litigation against the franchisor.