Where must any claim against Zoomin Groomin, including employees and affiliates, be brought in relation to the franchise agreement in North Dakota?

According to Zoomin Groomin's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the standard provisions regarding choice of law, jurisdiction and venue, jury waiver, and waiver of punitive damages are deleted for franchisees in North Dakota. In their place, the FDD states that any claim against Zoomin Groomin, including its present and former employees, agents, and affiliates, which relates to or arises out of the Franchise Agreement or any dealings between the parties, must be brought solely in arbitration before the American Arbitration Association.

This means that if a Zoomin Groomin franchisee in North Dakota has a dispute with Zoomin Groomin, they cannot sue the company in court. Instead, they must submit their claim to binding arbitration. Arbitration is a process where a neutral third party hears both sides of the dispute and makes a decision. This decision is typically binding, meaning that both parties must abide by it.

This requirement to arbitrate in North Dakota can have significant implications for franchisees. Arbitration may be faster and less expensive than going to court, but it can also limit a franchisee's legal rights. For example, the rules of evidence may be more relaxed in arbitration, and it may be more difficult to appeal an arbitration decision than a court decision. Prospective franchisees in North Dakota should carefully consider these implications before signing the Franchise Agreement.