Terms & Conditions of Use
- Safe Harbor Law Firm, PLLC
- Phone: 586-244-8578
- email: info@sfharbor.com
Terms & Conditions of Use
The materials found on this web site (the "Site") have been prepared by Safe Harbor Law Firm, PLLC
("S/F Harbor") for informational purposes only and are not legal advice. Use of the Site does not create
an attorney-client relationship between the internet user ("User" or "you") and S/F Harbor. The materials
found on this Site are not guaranteed to be complete or up to date; Users should not act upon this
information without seeking professional legal counsel. Do not send us confidential information until you
have spoken with one of our attorneys and receive authorization to deliver such materials to us. By using
this Site, the User agrees to accept and abide by the Terms and Conditions of Use set forth in this notice.
If User does not agree to accept and abide by these Terms and Conditions of Use, do not use the Site.
S/F Harbor may revise or modify these Terms and Conditions of Use from time to time and post such
revisions or modifications on this page. Continued use of the Site after any such revision or modification
constitutes User's acceptance of the Terms and Conditions of Use as so revised or modified.
LAWS AND REGULATIONS
User access to the Site is subject to any and all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.
OWNERSHIP/LIMITED LICENSE
S/F Harbor owns all information, content, materials, and other items on the Site (collectively the "S/F
Harbor Materials"). Subject to these Terms and Conditions of Use, S/F Harbor grants User a limited, non-
exclusive, non-transferable, revocable right to view, print and use this Site and the S/F Harbor Materials
provided herein. This Site, including all content, organization, graphics, design compilation and other
matters related to the Site are protected under applicable copyright, trademark, and other intellectual
property laws of the United States. User agrees to comply with all applicable copyright, trademark,
and other intellectual property laws in using this Site. Users of this Site are prohibited from modifying,
copying, distributing, displaying, creating derivative works or using any of the S/F Harbor Materials on
this Site for commercial or public purposes.
NO WARRANTIES/DISCLAIMER
THIS SITE AND THE S/F HARBOR MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS AND
AS SUCH THIS SITE AND THE S/F HARBOR MATERIALS MAY CONTAIN INACCURACIES
AND TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS. S/F HARBOR DOES NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY
OR COMPLETENESS OF THE S/F HARBOR MATERIALS OR ANY STATEMENT DISPLAYED
ON THIS SITE. S/F HARBOR EXPRESSLY HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES,
EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY OF ANY KIND. THIS SITE AND THE S/F HARBOR
MATERIALS MAY BE INCORRECT, OUT OF DATE, INAPPROPRIATE FOR ANY PARTICULAR
TRANSACTION, AND MAY CONTAIN "BUGS", ERRORS, PROBLEMS, DEFECTS, OR OTHER
LIMITATIONS.
S/F HARBOR PRIVACY POLICY
Information about User is subject to the S/F Harbor Privacy Policy.
LINKS
S/F Harbor may provide hyperlinks on this Site links to other web sites. If User links to these sites, User
will leave this Site and User does so at User's own risk. S/F Harbor makes no warranty or representation
regarding any linked web sites or the information appearing on such linked sites. The links do not imply
that S/F Harbor sponsors, endorses, is affiliated or associated with, or is legally authorized to use any
trademark, trade name, logo or copyright symbol displayed in the linked sites. S/F Harbor prohibits
caching, unauthorized hypertext links to this Site, or the framing of any Materials available on this
Site. As such, S/F Harbor reserves the right to disable any unauthorized links or frames and specifically
disclaims any responsibility for the Materials available on any other Web Site linked to this Site. Users
should be aware that linked Sites may contain rules and regulations, privacy policies, confidentiality
policies, and other provisions that differ from the provisions of this Site. S/F Harbor is not responsible for
such policies and expressly disclaims any and all liability related to such policies.
VIOLATIONS OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS
S/F Harbor reserves the right to seek all remedies available at law and in equity for violations of these
Terms and Conditions of Use.
JURISDICTION/CHOICE OF LAW
Users of this Site acknowledge and agree that this Site is controlled, operated and administered by S/F
Harbor from its offices within Shelby Twp., Michigan. S/F Harbor makes no representation that Materials
at this Site are appropriate or available for use at any locations outside of Michigan or the United States.
These Terms and Conditions of Use shall be governed by the laws of the State of Michigan (without
regard to conflicts of law principles). All legal proceedings arising here under shall be brought solely in
Macomb, Michigan.
INFORMATION/PRESS RELEASES
This Site contains information and press releases concerning S/F Harbor. While this information was
believed to be accurate to the best of S/F Harbor's knowledge when put on this Site, S/F Harbor expressly
disclaims any duty or obligation to update such information or keep such information current.
GENERAL
These Terms and Conditions of Use constitute the entire Agreement between S/F Harbor and User with
respect to the use of this Site and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements and understandings
with respect to this Site. User agrees to review these Terms and Conditions of Use prior to reviewing any
information from the Site. Any cause of action User may have with regard to the use of this Site must be
instituted within one (1) year after the claim or cause of action arises or be deemed forever waived and
barred. If any court of competent jurisdiction finds any provision of this Agreement to be unenforceable,
such provision shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible, and the remainder of this Agreement
shall be separately enforced.
PRIVACY POLICY
This Privacy Policy sets forth the guidelines Safe Harbor Law Firm, PLLC (“S/F Harbor”) uses for
protecting the information you provide to us during visits to sfharbor.com. By visiting sfharbor.com, you
are accepting the practices described in this Privacy Policy.
INFORMATION COLLECTED
Normal Web site Usage: You can visit sfharbor.com to access information about our law firm without
submitting any personal information. S/F Harbor reserves the right to collect and store during normal
Web site usage the name of your Internet service provider, the Web site that referred you to sfharbor.com,
the pages you request and the date and time of those requests. S/F Harbor reserves the right to use
this information to generate statistics and measure site activity. E-mail Information: If you choose to
correspond further with us through e-mail, we reserve the right to retain the content of your e-mail
messages together with your e-mail addresses and our responses.
COOKIES
There is a technology called “cookies” which can be used to provide you with tailored information from
a Web site. A cookie is an element of data that a Web site can send to your browser, which may then be
stored on your system. sfharbor.com uses cookies so that we can better serve you when you return to our
site. In most instances, you can set your browser to notify you when you receive a cookie, giving you a
chance to decide whether to accept it.
USE OF INFORMATION
We use the personal information we collect for the purposes of administering our business activities,
providing customer service, legal recruitment and making other services available to our clients.
occasionally, we may also use the information we collect to notify you about important changes to our
Web site, new services and special client advisories we think you might find valuable. Customers who do
not wish to receive those mailings (whether e-mail or paper mail) or who believe they are receiving those
mailings by mistake can contact S/F Harbor and request removal from the mailing list.
SHARING INFORMATION WITH OUTSIDE PARTIES
From time to time we may share the information we collect with agents, contractors or affiliates of S/F
Harbor for the purpose of providing services to S/F Harbor.
COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW
S/F Harbor reserves the right to release personal information when it believes it is appropriate to comply
with the law; to enforce or apply the Terms and Conditions of Use or other agreements; or to protect the
rights, property, or safety of S/F Harbor, our users or others.
THIRD PARTY SITES
Please be aware that other web sites that may be accessed through our site may collect personally
identifiable information about you. The information practices of those third-party Web sites are not
covered by this Privacy Policy.
CHANGES IN THE PRIVACY POLICY
S/F Harbor reserves the right to modify this Privacy Policy.
QUESTIONS or COMMENTS:
If you have any questions or comments about our this website or our Privacy Policy please contact us:
e-mail: info@sfharbor.com
phone: 586-244-8578
mail: 511 Olde Towne Rd., No 80234
Rochester, MI 48308
Service and Billing
S/F HARBOR, PLLC SERVICE AND BILLING INFORMATION
S/F Harbor Law Firm, PLLC ("S/F Harbor") is pleased to have you as a client of our firm. Throughout
our relationship, you should have a clear understanding of the legal services we will provide. Any
questions that you have will be dealt with promptly.
THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP
The person or entity we represent is the person or entity identified in our engagement letter sent with this
Memorandum and does not include any affiliates of that person or entity (i.e., if you are a corporation
or partnership, any parents, subsidiaries, employees, officers, directors, shareholders, or partners of
the corporation or partnership, or commonly owned corporations or partnerships; or, if you are a trade
association, any members of the trade association). In proceeding with this relationship, you agree that
our relationship is with you and not your affiliates, and that, as a result, it will not be necessary for us to
obtain the consent of you or your affiliates in order for us to represent another client in a matter adverse
to your affiliates. Furthermore, to the extent that our representation of others adverse to any of your
affiliates may be deemed to require your consent, you give that consent.
The attorney-client relationship will end at our completion of the services you have retained us to
perform. If you later retain us to perform additional services, our attorney-client relationship will be
reactivated.
WHO WILL PROVIDE THE LEGAL SERVICES
At the beginning of our relationship, where appropriate, we will establish a team of firm members to
serve you. This Client Service Team will be led by one attorney who will serve as your Client Service
Manager and primary contact at the firm. This attorney should be someone in whom you have confidence
and with whom you enjoy working.
Client Service Teams include attorneys and legal assistants in different practice areas who, under the
supervision of the Client Service Manager, may perform work on behalf of the client. Delegation of
assignments may be to take advantage of special expertise, cost-efficiency, or time deadlines. When
applicable, we will advise you of the names of the attorneys and legal assistants who serve on your Client
Service Team.
You are free to request a change in the Client Service Manager or Client Service Team members at any
time. If a change in the Client Service Manager is desired, please contact any other Partner of the firm.
For questions concerning team members, please contact your Client Service Manager.
COMMUNICATION AND RESPONSIVENESS
We strive to return all telephone calls on the day received or by the following morning, if received late in
the day, you will have 24-hour access to the attorneys' direct dial telephone numbers and voice mail system on
which confidential, detailed messages can be left. Where appropriate, you will be provided with the
home telephone numbers and the cell telephone numbers of the attorneys working with you. The names
of secretaries and staff supporting your Client Service Team can also be provided.
Communication by email is now common, although it may be subject to unauthorized interception (as are
cell phone communications). We will consider ourselves authorized to communicate with you by email
or cell phone, where available, unless you instruct us otherwise.
EXPRESSIONS OF PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT
Any statements on our part concerning the outcome of your legal matters are expressions of our
professional judgment, but are not guarantees. Our opinions are necessarily limited by our knowledge of
the facts and are based on the state of the law at the time they are given.
HOW FEES WILL BE SET
Attorneys may be compensated under a variety of fee arrangements, including purely hourly or per diem
arrangements. At S/F Harbor, in determining the amount to be charged for the legal services we provide,
we generally consider the following, unless described otherwise in the engagement letter sent with this
Memorandum:
The time and effort required, the novelty and complexity of the issues presented, and the skill required to
perform the legal services promptly;
The fees customarily charged in the community for similar services and the value of the services to you;
The amount of money or value or property involved and the results obtained;
The time constraints imposed by you as our client and other circumstances, such as an emergency closing,
the need for injunctive relief from court, or substantial disruption of other office business;
The nature and longevity of our professional relationship with you;
The experience, reputation, and expertise of the lawyers performing the services;
The extent to which office procedures and systems have produced a high-quality product efficiently.
Among these factors, the time and effort required are typically weighted most heavily. We keep records
of the time we devote to your work, including conferences (both in person and over the telephone),
negotiations, factual and legal research and analysis, document preparation and revision, travel on your
behalf, and other related matters. We record our time in fractions of an hour.
The hourly rates of our lawyers and legal assistants have an important bearing on the fees we charge. The
firm establishes a range of hourly rates for each attorney and legal assistant. These rates may be adjusted
from time to time to reflect current levels of legal experience, changes in our costs, and other factors.
We are often requested to estimate the amount of fees and costs likely to be incurred in connection with
a particular matter. When requested, we will furnish such an estimate based upon our professional
judgment, but always with a clear understanding that it is not a maximum or fixed-fee quotation. The
ultimate cost frequently is more or less than the amount estimated.
For certain well-defined services (for example, a simple business incorporation), we will quote a fixed
fee. It is our policy not to accept representation on a fixed fee basis except in such defined service areas
or pursuant to a special arrangement tailored to the needs of a particular client. In those situations, the
fixed fee arrangement will be expressed in a letter, setting forth both the amount of the fee and the scope
of the services to be provided.
S/F Harbor encourages discussion with our clients about legal fees and billing arrangements.
Unnecessary misunderstandings can result from a lack of clear communication on these sensitive matters.
We would expect to have candid discussions regarding fees and billing arrangements with you at the
beginning of our relationship.
OTHER CHARGES
Typically, we will charge our clients not only for legal services, but also for other ancillary services
which we provide. Examples of ancillary charges include: computerized research services and the use
of our photocopy machines. While our charges for these services are measured by use, they do not,
in all instances, reflect our actual out-of-pocket costs. For photocopying, for example, the true cost of
providing the service is difficult to establish. While we strive to maintain these charges at rates which
are lower than those maintained by others in our markets, in some instances, the amounts charged exceed
the actual costs to the firm. We would be pleased to discuss the specific schedule of charges for these
additional services with you and to answer any questions that you may have. If you would prefer, in
some situations we can arrange for these ancillary services to be provided by third parties with direct
billing to you.
DISBURSEMENTS
In addition to our fees and other charges, we will bill you, without any mark-up, for any out-of-pocket
expenses which we incur on your behalf. Examples of costs in this category may include filing fees,
court costs, mileage and third-party carrier or overnight delivery service. We may ask that you pay any
sizable third-party costs or expenses directly.
BILLING ARRANGEMENTS AND TERMS OF PAYMENTS
We will bill you, normally each month, for fees, other charges, and disbursements. You are expected
to make payment upon receipt of our invoice. Unpaid fees and disbursements accrue interest at the
maximum rate permitted under the laws of the State of Michigan, but not exceeding one percent (1%) per
month from the beginning of the month in which they became overdue.
If your account becomes past due, you are expected to bring the account or the retainer deposit current. If
the delinquency continues and you do not arrange satisfactory payment terms, we may withdraw from the
representation and pursue collection of your account. You then agree to become responsible for paying
the costs of collecting the debt, including court costs, filing fees, and reasonable attorney fees (regardless
of whether S/F Harbor in-house counsel is used).
Invoices are typically sent monthly unless there is a project to be billed in a different fashion. At times,
when there is low activity, an invoice may be sent less frequently than monthly. Generally, one person
acts as the billing attorney for each client in order to coordinate the billing process. Billing can be done
on a composite basis or broken down by subject matter. If you want particular invoices sent to specific
individuals for approval in your company, that can be done.
Under normal circumstances, we submit regular monthly invoices to clients listing in a narrative fashion
the particular work performed by date and the exact amounts of other charges and disbursements for all
client matters.
RETAINERS
New clients of the firm are commonly asked to pay the firm a retainer. If you pay us a retainer, you
grant us a security interest in those funds. Typically, the retainer is equal to the fees and costs likely to
be incurred during a two-month period. Unless otherwise agreed, the retainer typically will be credited
toward your unpaid invoices, if any, on a monthly basis at the time the invoice is generated. If you
dispute any amount charged against the retainer, you may notify us promptly and we will return the
disputed amount to a trust account pending resolution of the dispute.
At the conclusion of our representation or at such time as the retainer is unnecessary or is appropriately
reduced, the remaining balance or an appropriate part of it will be returned to you. If the retainer proves
insufficient to cover current expenses and fees on at least a two-month basis, an additional retainer may
be necessary.
Deposits received to cover specific items will be disbursed as provided in our agreement with you,
and you will be notified from time to time of the amounts disbursed. Any amount remaining after
disbursement will be returned to you.
By court rule, most retainers will be placed in a pooled account, and interest earned on the pooled account
is payable to a charitable foundation established in accordance with the court rule. This is called an
IOLTA account. Funds in an IOLTA account may have limited FDIC insurance. That means deposits in
excess of the insurance are not insured. Also, any funds we are holding for your benefit in this account
will be aggregated with any funds you hold at the bank towards the FDIC insurance limit. In some
instances, your retainer may be placed in a separate trust account for your benefit.
Any funds we deposit for your benefit, or pursuant to an escrow agreement between you and another
party where S/F Harbor acts as escrow agent, will be placed in a trust account at an FDIC-insured
financial institution. This financial institution may be a client of S/F Harbor, and S/F Harbor may or may
not hold other accounts at that institution. Funds in a trust account that is not an IOLTA account may
accrue interest and the interest will be credited for your benefit. Funds in a trust account that is not an
IOLTA account may have limited FDIC insurance. That means deposits in excess of the insurance are
not insured. Also, any funds we are holding for your benefit in this account will be aggregated with any
funds you hold at the bank towards the FDIC insurance limit. By retaining our services, you agree that
we may deposit your funds in this trust account.
TERMINATION
You may terminate our representation at any time by notifying us. Your termination of our services
will not affect your responsibility for payment of legal services rendered, additional charges and
disbursements incurred before termination and in connection with an orderly transition of the matter.
We may also withdraw from providing services to you. The ethics rules for the jurisdictions in which
we practice list several types of conduct or circumstances that require or allow us to withdraw from
representing a client. We try to identify in advance and discuss with our clients any situation which may
lead to our withdrawal, and if withdrawal ever becomes necessary, we will give the client written notice
of our withdrawal.
CLIENT FILES
Once our engagement in this matter ends, we will return the file materials provided by you upon your
request. You agree that we may retain, at your expense, copies of the file materials and electronically
stored information ("ESI"). You also agree that any materials or ESI left with us after the engagement
ends may be retained or destroyed, at our discretion. We reserve the right to make, at your expense, and
retain copies of all documents and ESI generated or received by us in the course of our representation.
When you request documents or ESI from us, copies that we generate will also be retrieved, produced and
made at your expense, and provided to you in electronic or paper format, at our discretion.
Our own files and ESI pertaining to the matter will be retained by the firm (as opposed to being sent to
you) or destroyed. These firm files and ESI include, for example, firm administrative records, time and
expense reports, personnel and staffing materials, credit and accounting records, and internal lawyers'
work product (such as drafts, notes, internal memoranda, legal research, and factual research, including
investigative reports prepared by or for the internal use of lawyers). For various reasons, including the
minimization of unnecessary storage expenses, we reserve the right to destroy or otherwise dispose of
any documents, ESI or other materials retained by us within a reasonable time after the termination of the
engagement.
PRIVACY POLICY
We follow the high professional standards of confidentiality imposed on lawyers.
Types of Nonpublic Personal Information We Collect:
We collect nonpublic personal information about you that is provided to us by you or obtained by us with
your authorization.
Parties to Whom We Disclose Information:
For current and former clients, we do not disclose any nonpublic personal information obtained in the
course of our practice, except as required or permitted by law. In a generic sense, any information a
client provides us is likely to be considered nonpublic personal information and receives confidential
treatment. Permitted disclosures include, for instance, providing information to our employees, and in
limited situations, to unrelated third parties who need to know that information to assist us in providing
services. In all such situations, we stress the confidential nature of information being shared.P
Protecting the Confidentiality and Security of Current and Former Clients Information
We retain records relating to services that we provide so that we are better able to assist you with your
needs and, in some cases, to comply with guidelines of our profession. In order to safeguard your
nonpublic personal information, we maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply
with the rules of professional conduct applicable to us.
* * * * *
Please call your S/F Harbor attorney if you have any questions, because your privacy, our professional
ethics, and the ability to provide you with quality services are very important to us.
ENGAGEMENT OF THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS
From time to time at your request, we may act on your behalf to engage the services of third parties to provide professional advice, goods or services to you or for your benefit, in connection with our legal engagement. Examples of such third parties include (without limitation) title insurance companies, appraisers, surveyors, environmental experts, process servers, financial consultants, information technology experts, court reporters, and law firms in other jurisdictions or in specialized practice areas. You will be responsible for the payment of all costs, fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any such engagement. If such costs are relatively small we may include them on our direct bills to you; in most cases, we will instruct third parties to bill you directly for their services and products, or will forward to you all third -party bills that we receive, for direct payment by you.
In connection with such an engagement or otherwise, we may from time to time, again at your request, recommend particular third- party service providers to you as the need arises. In making any such recommendation, or in engaging for the services of any such third- party, we do not make any warranty, representation or guaranty to you of any kind concerning the third- party provider or its services, including (without limitation) warranties as to the quality of service, professional acumen, or financial circumstances of the third- party service provider. You will at all times retain the right to terminate the services of any such third-party service provider, at your election and at your expense.
AUDIT LETTER RESPONSES
At times, you may request that we provide your auditors certain information in connection with such auditors' examination of your financial statements. Of course, we will charge for our services in doing so. In addition, for your benefit and in order to protect the attorney-client privilege, our responses will only be made in accordance with the ABA Statement of Policy Regarding Lawyers' Responses to Auditors' Requests for Information (December 1975), including all of the limitations contained therein. You hereby agree not to request information in addition to that provided for in the ABA Statement of Policy and consent to our providing responses only in accordance with the ABA Statement of Policy.
OPINIONS TO OTHERS
As a general matter, any third party opinions will be based on your representations and warranties that the facts on which the opinion is based are true, complete, and accurate, and that such representations and warranties do not omit any facts necessary to make such representations and warranties not misleading. You acknowledge and agree that we undertake no duty to investigate such representations and warranties, or verify any matters that you represent and warrant to us as true, complete, and accurate.
SECURITIES LAW ADVICE
Unless specifically requested and agreed by us in writing, we will not provide any advice with respect to the securities laws of the United States or any other jurisdiction or any related rules or regulations and we will not provide any advice as to whether any information, statement, opinion, or other writing is required to be filed with, incorporated into, submitted to, or furnished to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities regulators. You will not, without our prior written consent, include documents or information we provide to you in any filings with federal or state securities regulators, including the SEC.
FEDERAL TAX ADVISE
Unless specifically requested and agreed by us in writing, we will not provide any advice that is intended or written to be used, and without such specific request and agreement by us, it cannot be used, for the purpose of (a) avoiding federal tax penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer; or (b) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any tax-related matters addressed by us.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Other than a complaint to a disciplinary authority, you agree that any controversy, dispute, or question arising out of, in connection with, or relating to the engagement agreement (including, but not limited to, interpretation, performance, nonperformance, or breach), the attorney-client relationship, fees or any services of S/F Harbor shall be determined exclusively in a state or federal court located in the State of Michigan under the laws of Michigan. You expressly consent to the jurisdiction of courts in Michigan. S/F Harbor is willing to consider whether to use alternative dispute resolution procedures (including but not limited to binding arbitration), if you are also willing to do so. Such alternative dispute resolution will be used only if all parties to the dispute agree on its use and the procedures to be followed.
KEEPING YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION CURRENT
You must keep us informed as to your current mailing address, physical address (if different), and phone numbers (also email address if that is used). You will keep this information accurate and up to date, because of our need to be able to contact you with respect to the subject of the representation and aspects of our relationship with you—as described above. We will rely upon the last contact information you provide to us. You agree that we can do so with respect to any need we may have to communicate with you (during the existence of the attorney-client relationship or after conclusion of that relationship) relating in any way to our representation of you, including in connection with commencing any arbitration as described above.
November 2013