To which jurisdiction do Hydrodog franchisees irrevocably submit for actions arising out of the Assignment?

According to Hydrodog's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, for claims or disputes not subject to arbitration, both Hydrodog and the franchisee consent and irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction and venue of the state court of competent jurisdiction located in Hillsborough County, Florida. This means that if a dispute arises that is not resolved through arbitration, the legal proceedings will take place in a Florida state court within Hillsborough County. Both parties waive any objection to this jurisdiction and venue.

This agreement to jurisdiction does not prevent either party from bringing an action or enforcing a judgment obtained in that jurisdiction in any other appropriate jurisdiction. It also does not affect the right of the parties to confirm or enforce any arbitration award in any appropriate jurisdiction. In other words, while the initial legal proceedings will be held in Hillsborough County, Florida, the parties can still pursue actions in other jurisdictions to enforce the court's decisions or arbitration outcomes.

This clause ensures that Hydrodog franchisees understand and agree that any legal actions against Hydrodog not subject to arbitration will be handled in the specified Florida court. This is a common practice in franchising agreements, as it provides the franchisor with a consistent and predictable legal environment. However, franchisees should be aware of the potential costs and inconveniences associated with litigating disputes in a distant jurisdiction.