Is the Mr. Sandless Franchise Agreement subject to state law?

[Item 17: RENEWAL, TERMINATION, TRANSFER AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION]

STATE ADDENDUM REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF INDIANA

1. To be added to Item 3 of the Disclosure Document, is the following statement:

There are presently no arbitration proceedings to which the Franchisor is a party.

• 1. Item 17 of the Disclosure Document is amended to reflect the requirement under Indiana Code 23-2-2.7-1 (9), which states that any post term non-compete covenant must not extend beyond the franchisee's designated territory.
  • 1. Item 17 is amended to state that this is subject to Indiana Code 23-2-2.7-1 (10).
• 1. Under Indiana Code 23-2-2.7-1 (10), jurisdiction and venue must be in Indiana if the franchisee so requests. This amends Article 24 of the Franchise Agreement.
  • 1. Under Indiana Code 23-2-2.7-1 (10), franchisee may not agree to waive any claims or rights.

STATE ADDENDUM REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF MARYLAND

This will serve as the State Addendum for Mr. Sandless Franchise LLC for the State of Maryland for the Mr. Sandless Franchise Disclosure Document and for its Franchise Agreement. The amendments to the Franchise Agreement included in this addendum have been agreed to by the parties.

The provision contained in the termination sections of the Franchise Agreement may not be enforceable under federal bankruptcy law (11 U.S.C.

Section 101 et seq.).

Item 11 of the Franchise Disclosure Document shall be amended to state that a franchisee may obtain an accounting of the advertising fund as required by COMAR 02.02.08.04B(2), by requesting same in a written request to Franchisor.

According to COMAR 02.02.08.16L, Item 17 of the Franchise Disclosure Document shall be amended at the sections dealing with the issuance of general releases to the effect that the general release required as a condition of renewal and/or assignment/transfer are not intended to nor shall they act as a release, estoppel or waiver of any liability under the Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law.

[Item 17: RENEWAL, TERMINATION, TRANSFER AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION]

The following amends Item 17 and is required to be included within the Disclosure Document and shall be deemed to supersede the language in the Disclosure Document itself:

Section 19-28.1-14 of the Rhode Island Franchise Investment Act provides that:

"A provision in a franchise agreement restricting jurisdiction or venue to a forum outside of this state or requiring the application of the laws of another state is void with respect to a claim otherwise enforceable under this Act."

STATE SPECIFIC ADDENDUM FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

In recognition of the restrictions contained in Section 13.1-564 of the Virginia Retail Franchising Act, the Franchise Disclosure Document for Mr. Sandless Franchise LLC for use in the Commonwealth of Virginia shall be amended as follows:

The following statement is added to Item 5:

The Virginia State Corporation Commission's Division of Securities and Retail Franchising requires us to defer payment of the initial franchise fee and other initial payments owed by franchisees to the franchisor until the franchisor has completed its pre- opening obligations under the franchise agreement.

Additional Disclosure: The following statements are added to Item 17.h:

Pursuant to Section 13.1-564 of the Virginia Retail Franchising Act, it is unlawful for a franchisor to cancel a franchise without reasonable cause. If any grounds for default or termination stated in the franchise agreement and development agreement does not constitute "reasonable cause," as that the term may be defined in the Virginia Retail Franchising Act or the laws of Virginia, the provision may not be enforceable.

Pursuant to Section 13.1-564 of the Virginia Retail Franchising Act, it is unlawful for a franchisor to use undue influence to induce a franchisee to surrender any right given to him under the franchise. If any provision of the Franchise Agreement involves the use of undue influence by the franchisor to induce a franchisee to surrender any rights given to him under the franchise, that provision may not be enforceable.

[Item 17: RENEWAL, TERMINATION, TRANSFER AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION]

However, pursuant to Section 14-216(c)(25) of the Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law, a franchisee is permitted to enter into litigation with the Franchisor in the State of Maryland, regardless of the language in the Franchise Agreement.

The franchise agreement is hereby amended to provide that the acknowledgements or representations of the franchisee which disclaim the occurrence and/or acknowledge the non-occurrence of acts that would constitute a violation of the Franchise Law are not intended to nor shall they act as a release, estoppel or waiver of any liability incurred under the Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law.

The first sentence of paragarph "E" beginning with "You acknowledge..", under the section titled "Background" of the Franchise Agreement, is hereby deleted in its entirety.

• 1. Sections 27.1 through 27.5 of the Franchise Agreement are hereby deleted.
• 1. To the extent of any inconsistencies, Item 5 and Section 10.1 of the Franchise Agreement are hereby amended to further state:

"Based upon Franchisor's financial condition, the Maryland Securities Commissioner has required a financial assurance. Therefore, Franchisor will defer collection of the Initial Franchise Fee and other initial fees payable to Franchisor until Franchisor has fulfilled its initial pre-opening obligations."

No statement, questionnaire, or acknowledgment signed or agreed to by a franchisee in connection with the commencement of the franchise relationship shall have the effect of (i) waiving any claims under any applicable state franchise law, including fraud in the inducement, or (ii) disclaiming reliance on any statement made by any franchisor, franchise seller, or other person acting on behalf of the franchisor. This provision supersedes any other term of any document executed in connection with the franchise.

MR. SANDLESS FRANCHISE LLC By: Name: Title: FRANCHISEE:

DISCLOSURE REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF MICHIGAN

THE STATE OF MICHIGAN PROHIBITS CERTAIN UNFAIR PROVISIONS THAT ARE SOMETIMES IN FRANCHISE DOCUMENTS. IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS ARE IN THESE FRANCHISE DOCUMENTS, THE PROVISIONS ARE VOID AND CANNOT BE ENFORCED AGAINST YOU:

• (a) A prohibition on the right of a franchisee to join an association of franchises.

Source: Item 17 — RENEWAL, TERMINATION, TRANSFER AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION (FDD pages 30–34)