|
|
AGREEMENT FOR ATTORNEY SUBSCRIBERS
II. NATURE OF ASSOCIATION BETWEEN
ATTORNEY SUBSCRIBER AND ATTORNEYS AMERICA: PROVIDING
ONLY A FORUM
Attorneys America is a Web Site Service, (hereinafter
"Service"), that offers an open market forum
for providers and purchasers of legal services to contact
one another in an effort to form a professional relationship.
Attorneys America does not involve itself in the agreements
and relationships between attorneys and prospective
clients. Attorneys America does not guarantee that the
parties will enter into an agreement, nor does Attorneys
America guarantee the integrity of either party. Attorney
Subscriber alone, and not Attorneys America, is responsible
for assessing the integrity, honesty, and creditworthiness
of all potential clients with whom Attorney Subscriber
contacts through the Service.
Attorneys America is not accountable for the nature
of the subject matter posted on its web site. The statements
posted are the views of the potential clients and Attorney
Subscribers and do not reflect those of Attorneys America.
Further, data submitted by potential clients and Attorney
Subscribers are not verified for accuracy or monitored
prior to their posting on Attorneys America. As such,
Attorney Subscriber must use prudence and common sense
when utilizing the Service.
| |
A. Disclaimer of Attorney-Client Relationship
Attorneys America is not a provider of legal
services and cannot give legal advice to anyone.
Any use of the Service by an Attorney Subscriber
or a potential client, or any communications with
Attorneys America, will not create an attorney-client
relationship between any person or entity and
Attorneys America, as such relationship is expressly
denied herein.
B. Participating Parties are not Screened
Attorneys America does not endorse any Attorney
Subscriber or potential client. Attorneys America
makes no representation concerning an Attorney
Subscriber's qualifications, nor does it sanction
or support statements Attorney Subscriber posts
on the Service. Attorneys America does not screen
potential clients, or otherwise actively direct
prospective clients to selected Attorney Subscribers.
In the event of a dispute between Attorney Subscriber
and any other party, Attorney Subscriber hereby
releases Attorneys America (and all of Attorneys
America's officers, directors, agents, subsidiaries
and employees) from claims, demands and damages
(actual and consequential) of every kind and nature,
known and unknown, suspected and unsuspected,
disclosed and undisclosed, arising out of or in
any way connected with said disputes.
C. For Attorney Subscribers in California
Attorney Subscriber waives California Civil Code
§1542, which states: "A general release
does not extend to claims which the creditor does
not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the
time of executing the release, which if known
by him must have materially affected his settlement
with the debtor."
Other than the duties and obligations set forth
in this agreement, Attorneys America and Attorney
Subscriber have no special relationship, implied
or otherwise, which would bind one party to the
unauthorized actions of the other. Further, no
fiduciary relationship has been formed between
Attorneys America and Attorney Subscriber by this
Agreement.
D. No Agency
Attorney Subscriber and Attorneys America are
independent contractors, and no agency, partnership,
joint venture, employee-employer or franchisor-franchisee
relationship is intended or created by this Agreement.
|
II. ATTORNEY SUBSCRIBER REQUIREMENTS
FOR PARTICIPATION
Any attorney who is currently licensed to practice
law in at least one jurisdiction within the United States
is eligible to participate as an Attorney Subscriber
in the Service. Attorney Subscriber shall not use the
Service if Attorney Subscriber is not in good standing
with the jurisdiction to which the Attorney Subscriber
is or has been admitted to practice law. Attorney Subscriber
must, at all times, carry errors and omissions insurance
in the amount of $100,000 for a single occurrence and
$300,000 aggregate per year. It is understood by the
Attorney Subscriber that Attorneys America does not
make any representations to any party concerning an
attorney's qualifications or eligibility to practice
law. Attorney Subscriber alone is responsible for informing
prospective clients of all known or potential impediments
to Attorney Subscriber's ability to represent a client
in any given jurisdiction.
Attorney Subscriber agrees that Attorneys America has
the right, in its sole discretion, to deny the Attorney
Subscriber access to the Service if the Attorney Subscriber
has a record of professional discipline, has suffered
adverse civil or criminal judgments of any kind, is
the subject of complaints by other Attorneys America
Subscribers, and/or if Attorneys America has any reason
to believe that Attorney Subscriber will not fulfill
his or her professional obligations to his or her clients.
III. ATTORNEY SUBSCRIBER FEE
Attorney Subscriber will be charged a membership fee
for use of the service based on an annual or monthly
subscription.
IV. GUIDELINES FOR PAGE CONTENT
Attorneys America reserves the right to remove from
their web site any entries of an Attorney Subscriber,
in Attorneys America's sole discretion, which violate
the below stated page content guidelines, or are otherwise
in violation of the law. However, Attorneys America
does not monitor the content of Attorney Subscriber
entries, but will investigate complaints of violations
of these guidelines.
| A. |
Attorney Subscriber
shall not use Attorneys America Web Site for the
following activities: |
| |
1. |
Posting material that
is offensive to the community, including statements
of bigotry, prejudice, racism, hatred, or profanity; |
| |
2. |
Posting material containing
nudity of any kind; |
| |
3. |
Engaging in acts that
injure or harm others; |
| |
4. |
Posting instructional
information about illegal activities, or endorsing
physical harm or injury against any group or individual; |
| |
5. |
Posting material that
exploits minors; |
| |
6. |
Violating the rights
of another, including but not limited to the intellectual
property rights of another. Using the Service for
acts of copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret
or other intellectual property infringement, including
but not limited to offering pirated computer programs
or links to such programs, information used to circumvent
manufacturer-installed copy-protect devices, including
serial or registration numbers for software programs,
or any type of cracker utilities (this also includes
files which are solely intended for game emulation); |
| |
7. |
Violating the Standards
of the Internet; |
| |
8. |
Using the service for
any illegal activities, displaying harassing, abusive,
threatening, harmful, vulgar, obscene, or tortious
material or invading other's privacy; |
| |
9. |
Encouraging or promoting
any illegal activity; |
| |
10. |
Defaming any person or
group; |
| |
11. |
Interfering with or disrupting
the Service or servers or networks connected to
the Service by transmitting "junk mail",
"spam", "chain letters" or unsolicited
mass distribution of email; and |
| |
12. |
Compromising the security
of the Service or attempting to gain access to hose
portions of the Service that are private to Attorneys
America, other Users or subscribing attorneys; |
| |
|
|
| B. |
Rules of Professional
Conduct: Attorney Subscriber alone is responsible
for the content of his or her statements on or through
the Service. Attorney Subscriber retains the sole
duty to know and comply with the rules and legal
standards, including but not limited to professional
rules governing advertising and solicitation, pertinent
to those communications in all pertinent jurisdictions.
Attorney Subscriber admits that Attorneys America
has no duty to review communications made on or
through the Service and that Attorneys America cannot
advise Attorney Subscriber on the legality or advisability
of any communication. |
V. ATTORNEY SUBSCRIBER MUST NOTIFY
ATTORNEYS AMERICA OF ALL ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS
Central to this Agreement and material to the relationship
between Attorney Subscriber and Attorneys America is
the obligation of Attorney Subscriber to notify Attorneys
America of each instance where Attorney Subscriber is
retained by a client as a result of the advertising
services provided by Attorneys America. Attorney Subscriber
must notify Attorneys America within 10 days after the
commencement of a formal attorney-client relationship.
Email can be sent to info@attorneysamerica.com.
Attorneys America may, periodically, send to Attorney
Subscriber the names of potential clients who requested
the Attorney Subscriber's contact information. Attorney
Subscriber must notify Attorneys America within 10 days
of the inquiry, whether the potential client contacted
the Attorney Subscriber and whether the parties entered
into an attorney-client relationship. Attorney Subscriber
agrees not to contact the potential client if no contact
has been made or no relationship formed.
Attorney Subscriber also understands and agrees that
Attorneys America may implement and periodically utilize,
various administrative devices for the purpose of verifying
compliance with this notice provision and may contact
Attorney Subscriber and/or the potential client in its
inquiry. To facilitate such inquiries and/or in the
case of a dispute, Attorneys America may request, and
Attorney Subscriber hereby agrees to provide for inspection,
any useful records from Attorney Subscriber's practice
or any other documentation so long as it does not constitute
a breach of the attorney-client relationship.
VI. NO TRANSFER OF INTEREST
Attorney Subscriber agrees not to resell, or assign
his/her service account. Attorney Subscriber agrees
not to grant access to Attorney Subscriber's service
account to any other party, for any reason, and to take
all reasonable precautions to prevent third-party access
to the Service through Attorney Subscriber's service
account.
Attorney Subscriber agrees not to assign, refer
or otherwise convey potential clients obtained through
the Service to any other attorney or legal service provider,
within or outside of the Attorney Subscriber's firm,
unless Attorney Subscriber remains the attorney of record
on the case.
VII. ATTORNEY SUBSCRIBER'S OBLIGATION
TO REGISTER
The information listed below about Attorney Subscriber
shall be referred to as "Registration Data."
If any data submitted by Attorney Subscriber is untrue,
inaccurate, not current or incomplete, Attorneys America
has the right to terminate Attorney Subscriber's account
and refuse any and all current or future use of the
Service.
Attorney Subscriber agrees to:
| |
1. |
Provide true, accurate,
current and complete information about Attorney
Subscriber as prompted by the Registration Form,
|
| |
2. |
Maintain and update this
information to keep it true, accurate, current and
complete, and |
| |
3. |
3. Ensure that all eligibility
criteria (discussed in the Requirements Section,
above) are being met by Attorney Subscriber at all
times. |
VIII. ATTORNEY SUBSCIBER'S ACCOUNT,
PASSWORD AND SECURITY
Attorney Subscriber will receive a password and account
upon completing the registration process. Attorney Subscriber
is responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of
the password and account, and is fully responsible for
all actions that occur under Attorney Subscriber's password
or account. Attorney Subscriber agrees to promptly notify
the Service of any unauthorized use of Attorney Subscriber's
password or account, or any other breach of security.
X. CONFIDENTIALITY
Attorney Subscriber agrees to keep all client data
obtained through this Service strictly confidential
regardless of whether an attorney-client relationship
is eventually formed between the parties. Attorney Subscriber
further agrees that data obtained through this service,
as it pertains to clients or other subscribing attorneys,
will be used exclusively for the purposes of determining
whether to enter into an attorney-client relationship
and will not be used in any manner that may violate
Attorney Subscriber's ethical obligations, the laws
and regulations of any jurisdiction, or any term of
this Agreement.
In particular, Attorney Subscriber will be responsible
for conformity with the conflict of interest rules in
his or her jurisdiction. Before soliciting information
from any User, Attorney Subscriber will first obtain
sufficient information to run a conflicts check or otherwise
to satisfy him or her self that he or she is ethically
permitted to contact and give legal advice to the User.
Attorneys America has no responsibility for Attorney
Subscriber's proper discharge of his or her professional
duties in that or any other regard.
XI. ADDITIONAL ATTORNEYS AMERICA RIGHTS
Also, Attorneys America reserves the following rights:
| |
1. |
To release current or
past Attorney Subscriber information in the event
Attorneys America believes that their accounts are
in violation of the terms of service or page content
guidelines, used to commit unlawful acts, if the
information is subpoenaed, and/or if Attorneys America
deems it necessary and/or appropriate; |
| |
2. |
To deny service to Attorney
Subscribers who breach these guidelines or this
Agreement; |
| |
3. |
3. To terminate or deny
service to any party for any reason or no reason. |
XII. OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES OF ATTORNEY
SUBSCRIBER
Attorney Subscriber is solely responsible for all data
tendered to third-parties through the Service, including,
but not limited to, the Attorney Subscriber's advertisements,
Attorney Subscriber's profile and contact information,
fee proposals submitted to potential customers clients,
and all other communication with prospective clients.
Attorneys America does not verify, endorse or otherwise
vouch for the contents of any Attorney Subscriber statement.
Attorney Subscribers can be held legally liable for
the contents of all information transmitted or made
available to third-parties, and may be held legally
accountable if such information is inaccurate, defamatory,
deceptive, misleading, or violates the law or any rules
governing attorney conduct.
Attorney Subscriber alone is responsible for conformity
with attorney advertising rules, legal ethics rules
and any other regulations governing the practice of
law in the state(s) in which the Attorney Subscriber
practices. Attorneys America will not be held liable
for any violation or breach committed by Attorney Subscriber.
Attorney Subscriber assumes responsibility for all
data obtained from use of the Service. The data submitted
to the Service, is submitted by Attorney Subscribers
and potential clients, and Attorneys America does not
guarantee the validity or accuracy of any such information.
XIII. LOSS OF DATA
Attorneys America is not liable for any loss of data
resulting from an accidental or deliberate deletion,
network or system outages, file corruption or any other
reasons.
XIV. MODIFICATIONS TO AGREEMENT
Attorneys America may modify this Agreement at any
time. Attorney Subscriber will be given notice of any
change and will be responsible for promptly reading
and complying with the new terms and conditions. Continued
use of the Service will indicate acceptance of the new
terms and conditions.
XV. MODIFICATIONS TO SERVICE
Attorneys America reserves the right to change or discontinue,
temporarily or permanently, the Service with or without
notice to Attorney Subscriber. Attorney Subscriber agrees
that Attorneys America shall not be liable to Attorney
Subscriber or any third-party for any changes to or
discontinuance of the Service. Upon the decision by
Attorneys America to end this agreement with Attorney
Subscriber, Attorneys America will refund the unused
portion of Attorney Subscriber's fees already paid,
in the amount of a pro-rata share in relation to the
remainder of Attorney Subscriber's term. Attorney Subscriber
acknowledges and agrees that any termination of Service
under this agreement may be effected without prior notice.
Further, Attorney Subscriber acknowledges and agrees
that Attorneys America may immediately delete data and
files in Attorney Subscriber's account and bar any further
access to such files or the Service.
XVI. ATTORNEYS AMERICA'S PROPRIETARY
RIGHTS
Attorney Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that the
content, including but not limited to text, software,
music, sound, photographs, graphics, video, page layout,
and design or other material contained in the Service,
or information presented through the Service, is protected
by copyrights, trademarks, service marks, patents, or
other proprietary rights and laws. Attorney Subscriber
acknowledges and agrees that Attorney Subscriber is
permitted to use this material and information only
as expressly authorized by Attorneys America, and may
not copy, reproduce, transmit, distribute, or create
derivative works of such content or information without
express authorization. Attorney Subscriber acknowledges
and agrees that Attorneys America can display images
and text throughout the Service.
XVII. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
ATTORNEY SUBSCRIBER AGREES THAT ATTORNEYS AMERICA
SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, RESULTING FROM THE
FOLLOWING:
- USE, OR THE INABILITY TO USE, THE SERVICE;
- FOR THE COST OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
AND SERVICES;
- ANY GOODS OR SERVICES PURCHASED OR OBTAINED FROM
ATTORNEYS AMERICA;
- MESSAGES RECEIVED OR TRANSACTIONS ENTERED INTO
THROUGH OR FROM THE SERVICE;
- UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR ALTERATION OF ATTORNEY
SUBSCRIBER'S TRANSMISSIONS OR DATA, INCLUDING BUT
NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, USE,
DATA, EVEN IF ATTORNEYS AMERICA HAS BEEN ADVISED OF
THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES;
- FOR ANY DAMAGES ARISING FROM INTERRUPTION, SUSPENSION
OR TERMINATION OF SERVICE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL CONSEQUENTIAL
OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, WHETHER SUCH INTERRUPTION, SUSPENSION
OR TERMINATION WAS JUSTIFIED OR NOT, NEGLIGENT OR
INTENTIONAL, INADVERTENT OR NOT.
XVIII. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES
ATTORNEY SUBSCRIBER EXPRESSLY AGREES THAT USE OF THE
SERVICE IS AT ATTORNEY SUBSCRIBER'S SOLE RISK. THE SERVICE
IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE"
BASIS. ATTORNEYS AMERICA EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES
OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING,
BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
ATTORNEYS AMERICA MAKES NO WARRANTY THE SERVICE WILL
MEET ATTORNEY SUBSCRIBER'S REQUIREMENTS. ATTORNEYS AMERICA
MAKES NO WARRANTY THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED,
TIMELY, SECURE, OR ERROR FREE.
FURTHER, ATTORNEYS AMERICA DOES NOT MAKE ANY WARRANTY
AS TO THE RESULTS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE USE
OF THE SERVICE, OR AS TO THE ACCURACY OR TRUSTWORTHINESS
OF ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED THROUGH THE SERVICE, OR
THAT DEFECTS IN THE SOFTWARE WILL BE CORRECTED. ATTORNEYS
AMERICA MAKES NO WARRANTY REGARDING ANY GOODS OR SERVICES
PURCHASED, OR INFORMATION OBTAINED THROUGH THE SERVICE,
OR ANY TRANSACTIONS ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE SERVICE.
NO ADVICE OR INFORMATION, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, OBTAINED
BY ATTORNEY SUBSCRIBER FROM ATTORNEYS AMERICA SHALL
CREATE ANY WARRANTY NOT EXPRESSLY STATED HEREIN.
XIX. ARBITRATION
Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating
to this Agreement or Attorneys America Services shall
be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with
the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration
Association. Any such controversy or claim shall be
arbitrated on an individual basis, and shall not be
consolidated in any arbitration with any claim or controversy
of any other party. The arbitration shall be conducted
in Los Angeles, California, and judgment on the arbitration
award may be entered by any court having jurisdiction
thereof. Either Attorney Subscriber or Attorneys America
may seek any interim or preliminary relief from a court
of competent jurisdiction in Los Angeles County, California,
necessary to protect the rights or property of Attorney
Subscriber or Attorneys America pending the completion
of arbitration.
XX. CALIFORNIA LAW
This Agreement and the relationship between Attorney
Subscriber and Attorneys America shall be governed by
the laws of the State of California, without regard
to its conflict of law provisions.
XXI. HEADINGS
The headings in this Agreement are for convenience
only and have no legal or contractual effect.
XXII. AUTHORITY OF SIGNATORIES
All parties covenant that they possess the necessary
capacity and authority to enter into this Agreement.
XXIII. SEVERABILITY
If any term, provision, covenant or condition of this
Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction
to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the rest of this
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and
shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
XXIV. EFFECTIVE DATE OF AGREEMENT
This Agreement shall take effect immediately upon execution
by the last signatory and or usage of the service
XXV. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
This Agreement, incorporates by reference any notice
by Attorneys America contained in any of the Service's
Web Site pages, including but not limited to Attorneys
America Privacy Policy, Attorneys America Fee Agreement
and Attorneys America Registration Form, and constitutes
the entire understanding between Attorney Subscriber
and Attorneys America regarding the Attorney Subscriber
relationship to the Service.
The failure of Attorneys America to exercise or enforce
any right or provision of this Agreement shall not constitute
a waiver of such right or provision. Attorney Subscriber
agrees that regardless of any statute or law to the
contrary, any claim or cause of action arising out of
or related to use of the Service or this Agreement must
be served on Attorneys America within one (1) year after
such claim or cause of action arose or be forever barred.
|
|