Does the waiver of jury trial for Noodles & Company continue even after the Noodles & Company agreement expires or terminates?
Noodles_Company Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
of your Owners) waive any right to proceed against us or our Affiliate, if applicable, officers, directors, employees, agents, successors, and assigns by way of class action, or by way of a multi-plaintiff, consolidated, or collective action. In any legal action between the parties, the court shall not be precluded from making its own independent determination of the issues in question,
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 99–350)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Noodles & Company Franchise Disclosure Document, the waiver of jury trial remains in effect even after the franchise agreement expires or is terminated. This means that if a franchisee has a legal dispute with Noodles & Company, they agree to have the case decided by a judge rather than a jury, regardless of whether the franchise agreement is still active. This provision is designed to continue beyond the term of the agreement.
This condition is significant for prospective Noodles & Company franchisees because it limits their legal options in case of a dispute. Jury trials can be more unpredictable and potentially more costly for the franchisor. By waiving the right to a jury trial, franchisees agree to a potentially more streamlined and predictable legal process, which may favor Noodles & Company.
Franchisees should carefully consider the implications of waiving their right to a jury trial, as it can affect their ability to present their case in the way they see fit. While bench trials (trials by judge) can be more efficient, they may also be perceived as less sympathetic to the franchisee's perspective. It is a common practice in franchise agreements to include such waivers, but franchisees should be fully aware of the potential impact before signing the agreement.