Policy Regarding Privacy and Terms and Use

POLICY REGARDING PRIVACY AND TERMS OF USE

This Policy Regarding Privacy and Terms of Use (this “Policy”) describes the types of information collected by Ridgeline Law Office, Inc., a California professional law and benefit corporation (“Ridgeline Law”). This Policy also describes how Ridgeline Law may use such information and the steps Ridgeline Law might take to protect or to share such information. In addition, this Policy sets forth the terms of use governing use by third parties of Ridgeline Law’s website. This Policy is effective as of December 31, 2019.

1.  Collecting Information. Ridgeline Law collects only personally identifiable information (“PII”) that clients and other users of Ridgeline Law’s website elect to provide to Ridgeline Law. Such PII might include names, phone numbers, email addresses, mailing addresses, and other information submitted by clients and users as they attempt to contact Ridgeline Law, to join a mailing list, register for an event, request a publication, ask to be contacted, or apply for a position with Ridgeline Law through the website, by email, telephonically, or by facsimile. The cookies used on the public areas of this website may collect PII, and a computer’s browser may automatically provide to Ridgeline Law certain information, such as the date and time of a user’s visit, a user’s computer’s browser type, operating system, and IP address, and any referring and exiting uniform resource locator, or URL.

2.  Confidentiality. Ridgeline Law cannot guarantee the confidentiality of information provided by users of the website. Ridgeline Law disclaims any responsibility to maintain the security of such information. 

3.  Security. Ridgeline Law cannot guarantee the security of information provided by users of the website to Ridgeline Law by email because email is an unsecure means of transmitting information. Confidential information should not be provided to Ridgeline Law by email, and Ridgeline Law disclaims any responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of such information. 

4.  Tracking Usage. Ridgeline Law might monitor the number of users of its website, the number of times users visit the website, the amount of time that users spend on particular pages of the website and other analytical data. Ridgeline Law might use information provided by users in the aggregate form for internal business purposes, such as generating statistics and developing marketing plans. Ridgeline Law might also collect, store, or accumulate certain non-PII concerning use of the website, such as information regarding which areas of Ridgeline Law’s website are most visited.  

5.  Sharing Information. Ridgeline Law might share information with third parties, including affiliates and service providers, such as accountants, other lawyers, consultants, internet service providers, website hosts, storage facilities, data analysis firms, software service companies, conference and meeting organizers, and firms that assist in Ridgeline Law’s hiring practices. For example, Ridgeline Law might share names, contact information, and other information with third parties, including software vendors and their representatives and agents, in connection with scheduling, matter management, billing, and collections. Third parties might be provided with such information to perform their functions for Ridgeline Law or services requested by users who provide the information. For example, users might use the Calendly scheduling service and provide PII to facilitate their requests. Such third parties might be located in countries or jurisdictions that may not be subject to data protections laws similar to those prevailing in which PII is provided to or received by Ridgeline Law. Ridgeline Law might also share information, without consent from users of Ridgeline Law’s website, whether permitted or required, in Ridgeline Law’s sole discretion, by law, regulation, rule, subpoena, order, or government request, and to collect amounts due to Ridgeline Law by its clients. Except as provided in this Policy, Ridgeline Law does not sell, license, or transfer PII to third parties, and third parties receiving any PII are expected to treat PII in a manner consistent with this Policy. 

6.  No Attorney-Client Relationship. No attorney-client relationship is created between Ridgeline Law and users of Ridgeline Law’s website by the submission of information, exchange of email, telephone calls, or meetings, without clearing potential conflicts, the express written agreement between the parties, and, if applicable, Ridgeline Law’s receipt of an advance deposit. 

7.  Social Media. Ridgeline Law maintains profiles with certain social media platforms, including LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook as of the Effective Date of this Policy, and Ridgeline Law might in the future establish profiles and accounts on other social media platforms. To the extent that users of Ridgeline Law’s website elect to contact or follow Ridgeline Law on such social media platforms, all interactions and the collection, protection, use, and dissemination of information, including PII, will be governed by the terms of use and privacy policies of such platforms. Ridgeline Law is not responsible for the privacy practices of other websites, and Ridgeline Law encourages you to read the privacy policies of other websites linked to from Ridgeline Law’s website or otherwise visit. 

8.  Data Sharing and Transfer. Ridgeline Law might in the future operate in multiple jurisdictions, including California and other states and countries outside the United States of America. Any information received by Ridgeline Law might be transferred across computer networks among offices and personnel in jurisdictions that might not be subject to data protection laws similar to those prevailing in the jurisdiction in which such information is provided to or received by Ridgeline Law. This Policy will apply in each such situation. 

9.  Children’s Privacy. Ridgeline Law is committed to complying with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”). Ridgeline Law and its services are not directed to children under the age of 16. Ridgeline Law does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 16. If Ridgeline Law receives PII that Ridgeline Law discovers was provided by a child under the age of 16, Ridgeline Law will promptly destroy such information. Schools and parents should supervise their children’s online activities and consider the use of other means to provide a child-friendly online environment. Additional information is available on the Direct Marking Association’s home page at http://www.the-dma.org. If users would like to learn more about COPPA, they might visit the Federal Trade Commission home page at http://www.ftc.gov. 

10.  Prohibited Conduct. Users of Ridgeline Law’s website agree not to collect information about users of the website and agree not to contact other users of the website. Users of Ridgeline Law’s website also agree not to hack, infect, molest, distort, steal, or distribution any information provided on the website. 

11.  Agreement and Consent. By using Ridgeline Law’s website and/or providing information to Ridgeline Law, users are deemed to have agreed and consented to the terms of this Policy. 

12.  Amendments. Ridgeline Law reserves the right to modify this Policy from time to time. If modified, the current version will be posted on Ridgeline Law’s website and will cite the applicable Effective Date. A revised policy might also apply retroactively to all data Ridgeline Law has collected through the website.

13.  Assignment. Information collected by Ridgeline Law might be transferred to third parties in the event of a merger of Ridgeline Law with another business. Such information might also be transferred to or shared with third parties in the event of the acquisition of Ridgeline Law’s business by another business or Ridgeline Law’s acquisition of another business, as either an asset or stock acquisition.

14.  Governing Law. This Policy is governed by California law.  

15.  Arbitration. Any dispute arising in connection with this Policy or conduct anticipated by or governed by this Policy shall be resolved in confidential, private, binding arbitration in San Francisco, California. 

16.  Limitation of Liability. RIDGELINE LAW WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF RIDGELINE LAW’S WEBSITE (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, LOSS OF BUSINESS, REVENUE, PROFITS, GOODWILL, USE, DATA, OR OTHER ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE), HOWEVER THEY ARISE, WHETHER IN BREACH OF CONTRACT, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR IN TORT, INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, EVEN IF THAT PARTY HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.  LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES WILL BE LIMITED AND EXCLUDED UNDER THIS SECTION 16 EVEN IF ANY EXCLUSIVE REMEDY PROVIDED FOR FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE.

17.  Disclaimer of Warranties. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH IN THIS POLICY, ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARE DISCLAIMED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND OF FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE, USE, OR APPLICATION, AND ALL OTHER OBLIGATIONS OR LIABILITIES.

18.  Contact Information. Questions or comments about this policy should be directed to info@ridgelinelawoffice.com.