How long do parties have to resolve a dispute through direct negotiations before initiating mediation with Kitchen Solvers?
Kitchen_Solvers Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- b. Direct Negotiations. Upon receipt of a Dispute Notice, the parties will endeavor, in good faith, to resolve the dispute outlined in the Dispute Notice. If the parties have been unable to resolve any such dispute(s) outlined in a Dispute Notice within twenty (20) days after the issuance of the Dispute Notice, either party may initiate a mediation procedure in accordance with the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"), pursuant to its Commercial Mediation Procedures, and unless otherwise agreed by the parties will take place in the city and state in which our then-current headquarters are located, currently, La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Source: Item 22 — Contracts (FDD page 49)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Kitchen Solvers's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a dispute arises, both parties must first attempt to resolve it through direct negotiations. Following the issuance of a Dispute Notice, both parties have twenty (20) days to resolve the issues outlined in the notice.
If direct negotiations fail to produce a resolution within the 20-day period, either party can then initiate a mediation procedure. This mediation will be conducted according to the American Arbitration Association's (AAA) Commercial Mediation Procedures. Unless both parties agree otherwise, the mediation will take place in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where Kitchen Solvers's headquarters are currently located.
This initial negotiation period is designed to encourage parties to resolve disputes efficiently and avoid the more formal and costly processes of mediation or litigation. Franchise agreements commonly include such steps to foster communication and problem-solving before resorting to legal action.