factual

Can Mr. Sandless require arbitration or litigation to be conducted outside of the franchisee's state?

Mr_Sandless Franchise · 2025 FDD

Answer from 2025 FDD Document

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

This section does not require a renewal provision.

  • (f) A provision requiring that arbitration or litigation be conducted outside this state.

This shall not preclude the franchisee from entering into an agreement, at the time of arbitration, to conduct arbitration at a location outside this state.

  • (g) A provision which permits a franchisor to refuse to permit a transfer of ownership of a franchise, except for good cause.

This subdivision does not prevent a franchisor from exercising a right of first refusal to purchase the franchise.

Good cause shall include, but is not limited to:

  • (i) Failure of the proposed transferee to meet the franchisor's then-current reasonable qualifications or standards.

  • (ii) The fact that the proposed transferee is a competitor of the franchisor or subfranchisor.

  • (iii) The unwillingness of the proposed transferee to agree in writing to comply with all lawful obligations.

  • (iv) The failure of the franchisee or proposed transferee to pay any sums owing to the franchisor or to cure any default in the franchise agreement existing at the time of the proposed transfer.

  • (h) A provision that requires the franchisee to resell to the franchisor items that are not uniquely identified with the franchisor. This subdivision does not prohibit a provision that grants to a franchisor a right of first refusal to purchase the assets of a franchise on the same terms and conditions as a bona fide third party willing and able to purchase those assets, nor does this subdivision prohibit a provision that grants the franchisor the right to acquire the assets of a franchise for the market or appraised value of such assets if the franchisee has breached the lawful provisions of the franchise agreement and has failed to cure the breach in the manner provided in subdivision (c).

  • (i) A provision which permits the franchisor to directly or indirectly convey, assign or otherwise transfer its obligations to fulfill contractual obligations to the franchisee unless provision has been made for providing the required contractual services.

THE FACT THAT THERE IS A NOTICE OF THIS OFFERING ON FILE WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES NOT CONSTITUTE APPROVAL, RECOMMENDATION OR ENDORSEMENT BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.


[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.

PROVISION SECTION IN SUMMARY
FRANCHISE AGREEMENT
a. Length of the 3.1 10 years
franchise term
b. Renewal or extension of the term 3.2 If you have complied with the Franchise Agreement and certain conditions, you may enter into a successor franchise agreement for the franchise for 2 consecutive additional 5-year terms.
c. Requirements for 3.2 You must be in compliance with the Franchise
franchisee to renew or Agreement; must have satisfied all monetary
extend obligations owed to us and our affiliates; must be in
PROVISION SECTION IN FRANCHISE AGREEMENT SUMMARY
t. Integration/merger clause 25.1 Only the terms of the Franchise Agreement are binding (subject to applicable federal and/or state law). Any representations or promises outside of the Franchise Disclosure Document and other agreements may not be enforceable. Nothing in the agreement or in any related agreement is intended to disclaim the representations made in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
u. Dispute resolution by arbitration or mediation 24.2, 24.3 You must bring any dispute or claim to our President first for discussion before you may bring the dispute to a third party. At our option, all claims or disputes relating to the Franchise Agreement must be submitted first to mediation in Delaware County, Pennsylvania under the National Franchise Mediation Program (“NFMP”) in accordance with the NFMP’s mediation rules then in effect.(subject to state law)
v. Choice of forum 24.6 Subject to state law, for any dispute not subject to or not resolved by mediation, the parties agree to litigate only in a court of general jurisdiction in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, or the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
w. Choice of law 24.1 Agreement is governed by the laws of Pennsylvania. (subject to state law)
PROVISION SECTION IN FRANCHISE AGREEMENT SUMMARY information or copyrights; failure to conduct grand opening advertising when required; abandonment of your Business; loss of lease; our requirements for transfer upon death or disability are not complied with; violation of non-competition covenant; failure to meet minimum performance criteria (if you own a Mr. Sandless Business); repeated violations of the Franchise Agreement (whether or not cured)
i. Franchisee's obligations on termination/ non renewal 23 You must pay all monies due; stop using the Proprietary Marks; cancel and/or transfer all registrations and phone numbers under the name "Mr. Sandless" return the Operations Manual and all Confidential Information; maintain your books and records for at least one year; provide us with list of employees and employee files; comply with your non-competition and confidentiality obligations; and sign any documents necessary to effectuate the termination.
j. Assignment of contract by franchisor 21.1 We have the unconditional right to assign the Franchise Agreement and our obligations in whole or in part at our discretion.
k. "Transfer" by franchisee – defined 21.2 If you are a partnership, corporation or limited liability company, the term "assignment" includes the transfer of any interest in the partnership, corporation or limited liability company. "Assignment" also includes the pledge or mortgage of any rights under the Franchise Agreement as security for any obligation.
l. Franchisor approval of transfer by franchisee 21.3 You may not transfer any of your rights or obligations under the Franchise Agreement without having first received our written approval.
m. Conditions for franchisor approval of transfer 21.3 Conditions include: you must have met all of your monetary and non-monetary obligations to us and our affiliates; buyer qualifies; buyer upgrades the Business to conform with our then-current requirements; you provide us with a copy of the signed agreement of sale; the buyer satisfactorily completes all required training; you provide the buyer with required documents related to your Business; you sign release; buyer signs Franchise Agreement and required guaranties; payment to us of the required transfer fee; buyer obtains required permits and licenses; transfer is made in compliance with all applicable laws; purchase price and terms are not overly burdensome on the buyer; we have provided the buyer with our then-current disclosure document
PROVISION SECTION IN FRANCHISE AGREEMENT SUMMARY
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Source: Item 17 — RENEWAL, TERMINATION, TRANSFER AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION (FDD pages 30–34)

What This Means (2025 FDD)

According to Mr. Sandless's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchise agreement generally stipulates that litigation must occur in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, or the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. However, this is subject to state law, which may override this provision. Specifically, the FDD notes that certain states have laws that invalidate provisions requiring franchisees to engage in arbitration or litigation outside of their home state.

For example, the Rhode Island Franchise Investment Act states that any provision in a franchise agreement that restricts jurisdiction or venue to a forum outside of Rhode Island, or requires the application of the laws of another state, is void with respect to a claim otherwise enforceable under the Act. Similarly, Indiana law specifies that jurisdiction and venue must be in Indiana if the franchisee requests it.

Michigan also prohibits certain unfair provisions that are sometimes in franchise documents, and if any of those provisions are in the Mr. Sandless franchise documents, the provisions are void and cannot be enforced against the franchisee. Maryland law also provides that a franchisee is permitted to enter into litigation with Mr. Sandless in the State of Maryland, regardless of the language in the Franchise Agreement.

Therefore, while Mr. Sandless's standard franchise agreement may specify Pennsylvania as the venue for dispute resolution, franchisees should be aware that these provisions may not be enforceable depending on the laws of their specific state. Prospective franchisees should consult with a legal professional to understand their rights and obligations under the franchise agreement and applicable state laws.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.