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FranchiseVerdict
CAverage40/100

Mr. Gatti's: Litigation & Risk

Full-Service Restaurants · FDD Items 3, 4 & 5

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Elevated Risk

1 case disclosed in FDD Items 3 and 4. Bankruptcy disclosed in Item 4.

Source: FDD Items 3–5

FDD Items 3 & 4

Litigation Metrics

Cases disclosed
1
Total from FDD Items 3 and 4
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
Disclosed
Franchisor or officer bankruptcy
Verdict score
40 / 100
FranchiseVerdict composite · higher is better
Rating
C
A / B / C / D / F verdict grade

7(a) FOIA data · FY2020–present

SBA Loan Performance

Aggregated from public SBA 7(a) loan disclosures. Charge-off rate is the share of loans that were charged off or settled for less than the full balance.

Total 7(a) loans
23
Government-backed loans issued
Charge-off rate
34.8%
vs 16% franchise average
5-yr charge-off rate
N/A
Defaults
8 loans
Loans charged off or defaulted
Total loan volume
$8.0M
Avg loan size
$346K
Participating lenders
16

FDD Items 5, 6 & 17: What You Give Up

Contract Risk Indicators

Mandatory arbitration
Not required
You retain the right to sue in court
Non-compete
2 yrs
Post-termination restriction on similar businesses
Franchisor can compete
Yes
Franchisor can open competing locations in or near your territory
Right of first refusal
Yes
Franchisor can match any purchase offer when you try to sell
Governing law
Texas
State whose law governs disputes. Relevant if you're not based there

Extracted from FDD Item 3

Litigation Detail

One settled action (2019) by a franchisee against predecessor Gatti's Great Pizza, Inc. and its owners (Phillips, Mann) alleging breach of contract related to purchase of 13 former company-affiliated facilities; settled for $200,000 in rent subsidies without admission of liability. No pending or concluded matters against the franchisor directly, and no litigation against franchisees in the last fiscal year.

Litigation data from FDD Items 3, 4, and 5. SBA data from public 7(a) FOIA records (FY2020–present). Not legal advice. Consult a franchise attorney before signing any franchise agreement.