FDD Items 3 & 4 · 2024 filing
VetCor litigation history
What VetCor disclosed about lawsuits, arbitrations and bankruptcy in the 2024 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
- 2
- Item 3, as counted in the filing
- Largest settlement, franchisor's own cases
- $253K
- As stated in Item 3
- Bankruptcy (Item 4)
- None
- Franchisor, parent, predecessor or officer
- Filing year
- 2024
- Disclosures cover the prior ten years
Extracted from the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document
Item 3: litigation
Two cases involving VetCor Franchising, LLC: (1) PENDING: Lontex14, LLC and Blaine Decker v. VetCor Franchising, LLC et al. (M.D. Fla. No. 8:23-cv-00104, filed January 16, 2023) - franchisee suit alleging fraud, negligent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, FDUTPA violations, breach of contract, breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing, seeking rescission and damages; franchisor filed counterclaim for breach of franchise agreement and personal guaranty violations. (2) SETTLED: VetCor Franchising, LLC v. Neumann Emergency Services, LLC et al. (Fla. 13th Jud. Cir. No. 23-CA-013855, filed July 18, 2023) - franchisor suit against franchisee and owners for breach of franchise agreements, non-competition covenant violations, failure to pay royalties, and former/current employees for aiding and abetting; settled December 18, 2023 for $252,986.56 with waiver of post-termination covenants.
Item 3 (litigation) · 2 matters disclosed · 1 pending listed
Litigation cases
The franchisor
Pending (1)
Lontex14, LLC and Blaine Decker v. VetCor Franchising, LLC, Paul Huszar, Mike Long and Scott Walden
pendingBrought by a franchisee · filed 2023-01-16 · M.D. Fla. · 8:23-cv-00104
“… No. 8:23-cv-00104 (M.D. Fla. Filed January 16, 2023).”Page 12 of the 2024 FDD, Item 3
Concluded (1)
VetCor Franchising, LLC v. Neumann Emergency Services, LLC, Jason W. Neumann, Jennifer Odom, Don Noble, Scott Walden, Clint MacMiller, Stephanie Klik, Mike Walker and John McCloud
settledBrought against a franchisee · filed 2023-07-18 · Fla. 13th Jud. Cir. · 23-CA-013855
“… No. 23-CA-013855 (Fla. 13th Jud.”Page 12 of the 2024 FDD, Item 3
Outcome: “As full and final settlement, Neumann Emergency Services, LLC agreed to pay us $252,986.56 and we agreed to drop claims relating to Neumann Emergency Services, LLC”
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
- Pending franchisee fraud/misrepresentation/rescission suit
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?