FDD Items 3 & 4 · 2026 filing
Baskin-Robbins litigation history
What Baskin-Robbins disclosed about lawsuits, arbitrations and bankruptcy in the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. Item 3 lists the material legal actions a franchisor must report; Item 4 covers bankruptcy. This is the franchisor's own disclosure, not a court record, and not legal advice.
Items 3 (litigation) & 4 (bankruptcy) at a glance
What the filing discloses
- Cases disclosed
- 7
- Item 3, as counted in the filing
- Largest settlement, franchisor's own cases
- None stated
- Bankruptcy (Item 4)
- None
- Franchisor, parent, predecessor or officer
- Filing year
- 2026
- Disclosures cover the prior ten years
Extracted from the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document
Item 3: litigation
One pending franchisee dispute (Shree Krishna Donuts) and several concluded matters including a former-franchisee civil rights suit (Shetty, settled by insurer), a multi-state AG no-poaching settlement, a NY AG data-security settlement ($650,000), a terminated-franchisee dispute (Ram Donuts, settled for $110,000), plus two affiliated-program (ARG, JJF) regulatory settlements not alleging misconduct by Baskin-Robbins itself.
Item 3 (litigation) · 7 matters disclosed · 1 pending listed
Litigation cases
The franchisor
Pending (1)
Dunkin Donuts Franchising, LLC and Baskin Robbins Franchising LLC v. Shree Krishna Donuts, Inc. and Dilruba Choudhury
pendingBrought by the franchisor · filed 2026-01-16 · U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey · 2:26-cv-00548-MCA-AME
“… (Case No. 2:26-cv-00548-MCA-AME), U.S.”Page 26 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome: “This matter is in the preliminary stages of litigation, and we and DD intend to vigorously defend against the”
Concluded (1)
Ram Donuts Inc. v. Dunkin’ Donuts Franchising LLC, et al.
concludedfiled 2022-09-15 · United States District Court for the District of Arizona (removed from Pima County, Arizona state court; consolidated with the IP Holder Case) · 22-CV-00433-TUC-LCK and 22-CV-0455-TUC-JCH
“… (United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Case Nos. 22-CV-00433-TUC-LCK and 22-CV-0455-TUC-JCH).”Page 28 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome: “On August 29, 2023, the parties entered into a Settlement Agreement and Release whereby the Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins entities agreed to pay Ram Donuts $110,000 in exchange for mutual”
Parent, affiliates, master franchisor and subfranchisor
Concluded (5)
The People of the State of California v. Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc.
concludedGovernment or regulatory action · Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. · filed 2019-03-19 · California Superior Court, Los Angeles County · 19STCV09397
“… (California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, Case No. 19STCV09397, filed March 19, 2019).”Page 29 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome: “Under the settlement agreement, ARG paid no money but agreed (a) to remove the disputed provision from its franchise agreements”
The People of the State of California v. Dunkin’ Brands, Inc.
concludedGovernment or regulatory action · Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. · filed 2019-03-19 · California Superior Court, Los Angeles County · 19STCV09597
“… (Case No. 19STCV09597), California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, filed on March 19, 2019.”Page 27 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome: “the action was closed after the court approved the parties’ stipulation of judgment.”
The People of the State of New York v. Dunkin’ Brands, Inc.
concludedGovernment or regulatory action · Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. · filed 2019-09-26 · New York Supreme Court · 451787/2019
“… (Index No., 451787/2019), New York Supreme Court, filed on September 26, 2019.”Page 28 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome: “On September 22, 2020, the parties entered into a settlement under which Dunkin’ Brands agreed to communicate with certain DD Perks customers who lived in New York, to”
Priti Shetty v. Dunkin’ Donuts Franchised Restaurants LLC, et al.
concludedBrought by a franchisee · Dunkin’ Donuts Franchised Restaurants LLC · filed 2015-02-17 · U. S. District Court for the District of New Jersey · 3:15-cv-02664
“… (Case No. 3:15-cv-02664), U. S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, filed on”Page 27 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome: “The case was settled on February 23, 2017, with the entire settlement amount paid by Dunkin’s insurance carrier and with no”
In the Matter of Jimmy John’s Franchisor SPV LLC
concludedGovernment or regulatory action · Jimmy John’s Franchisor SPV LLC · Securities Commissioner of Maryland · 2025-0122
“… (Securities Commissioner of Maryland, Case No. 2025-0122).”Page 29 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome: “Commissioner and JJF entered into a Consent Order on June 9, 2025. Under the terms of the Consent Order, JJF agreed to pay a $30,000 civil monetary”
Item 3 lists the litigation the franchisor must disclose; a matter against a parent, an affiliate or a named officer is not a matter against the franchisor, and pending claims are allegations, not findings.
Disclosure signals that moved the score
How this shows up in the verdict
- 18 active/recent litigation cases including franchisor-initiated breach of contract claims against franchisees signal operational/relationship tensions
The verdict grade is FranchiseVerdict's editorial assessment across SBA loan performance, unit growth, revenue and disclosure signals. It is not investment advice.
Before you weigh a lawsuit
How to read Item 3
A franchisor must disclose pending actions and any material civil action involving the franchise relationship, plus convictions or civil judgments for fraud, unfair or deceptive practices, or franchise-law violations, going back ten years. A case the franchisor brought against a franchisee counts too. Item 3 does not include every dispute: settled claims below the materiality line and matters resolved in private arbitration can be absent.
Questions worth asking current and former franchisees, using the contact list in Item 20:
- Were you, or anyone you know in the system, party to a dispute with the franchisor?
- Was it resolved by settlement, arbitration or a court, and on what terms?
- Has the number of disputes gone up or down since you signed?