What information must be included in the written request for mediation for Jersey Mikes?

According to Jersey Mikes's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if the parties involved in a dispute cannot agree on a mediator, either party can start mediation by sending a request to the American Arbitration Association (AAA) regional office nearest to Monmouth County, New Jersey, while also providing a copy to the other party involved. The written request must specifically describe the nature of the dispute and the relief being sought. This means a potential Jersey Mikes franchisee needs to clearly articulate the issues at hand and what they hope to achieve through mediation.

This requirement ensures that the mediation process begins with a clear understanding of the issues. By outlining the dispute and the desired resolution, all parties involved, including Jersey Mikes, can approach the mediation with a focused and informed perspective. This can help streamline the mediation process and increase the likelihood of reaching a mutually agreeable resolution.

It's important to note that both parties are obligated to participate in the mediation process. The mediation will be conducted by a single mediator who has no past or present affiliations or conflicts of interest with either party. This impartiality is intended to ensure a fair and unbiased process. The mediator is also disqualified from serving as a witness, expert, consultant, or attorney in any future proceedings related to the dispute. This helps maintain the integrity of the mediation process and encourages open communication between the parties.

If the AAA administers the mediation because the parties cannot agree on a mediator, the AAA will provide a list of potential mediators. The parties then have ten days to agree on a mediator from the list. If no agreement is reached within that timeframe, the AAA will appoint the mediator. The fees and expenses of the AAA (or other administrator) and the mediator's fee will be shared equally among the parties, while each party bears its own attorneys' fees and other costs incurred in connection with the mediation, regardless of the outcome.