App connect issue with Bootstrap Modal Form using jQuery Validate

I have an issue with a form submission where the form is located in a modal. The form is using jQuery Validate plugin. My issue is if the form is submitted with errors the modal closes.
this appears to be an App Connect issue because if I remove the ‘dmx-app’ reference from the body tag it resolves the issue. I of course need App Connect for the Animation effects used on the page.

Is there an adjustment I can make so App Connect doesn’t effect the function of the Modal Form using jQuery Validate?

Thanks in advance!