NOTICE: BY VISITING AND/OR USING THIS WEBSITE AND SUBMITTING ANY INFORMATION THROUGH OR VIA THIS WEBSITE, YOU ARE AGREEING TO HAVE ANY DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF THE MATTERS INCLUDED IN THE ‘ARBITRATION OF DISPUTES’ PROVISION DECIDED BY NEUTRAL ARBITRATION AS PROVIDED BY CALIFORNIA LAW AND YOU ARE GIVING UP ANY RIGHTS YOU MIGHT POSSESS TO HAVE THE DISPUTE LITIGATED IN A COURT OR JURY TRIAL. YOU ARE GIVING UP YOUR JUDICIAL RIGHTS TO DISCOVERY AND APPEAL, UNLESS THOSE RIGHTS ARE SPECIFICALLY INCLUDED IN THE ‘ARBITRATION OF DISPUTES’ PROVISION. IF YOU REFUSE TO SUBMIT TO ARBITRATION AFTER AGREEING TO THIS PROVISION, YOU MAY BE COMPELLED TO ARBITRATE UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE OR OTHER APPLICABLE LAWS.
Going forward, “We” refers to (i) you, as the visitor to this website and (ii) Lifetime Solutions, Inc. and its affiliates (together, “Lifetime Solutions”), together. “I” refers to you, as the visitor to this website.
ARBITRATION OF DISPUTES
WE AGREE THAT ANY AND ALL DISPUTES, CLAIMS, OR CONTROVERSIES (HEREAFTER REFERRED TO AS A “CLAIM”) ARISING UNDER OR RELATING TO MY USE OF (I) THIS WEB SITE OR (II) MY ENTERING OF INFORMATION OR DATA INTO THE FORMS CONTAINED ON THIS WEB SITE (“OUR AGREEMENT”), INCLUDING BY WAY OF EXAMPLE AND NOT AS A LIMITATION: (I) THE RELATIONSHIPS RESULTING FROM OUR AGREEMENT, CALLS, TEXTS OR EMAILS MADE TO ME OR SENT TO ME AND ANY THE WORK AND TRANSACTIONS ARISING AS A RESULT THEREOF INCLUDING ANY FEDERAL OR STATE STATUTORY OR REGULATORY CLAIMS; (II) THE BREACH OR ALLEGED BREACH OF OUR AGREEMENT; OR (III) THE VALIDITY OF OUR AGREEMENT OR THE VALIDITY OR ENFORCEABILITY OF THIS ARBITRATION OF DISPUTES PROVISION (“PROVISION”), SHALL BE SUBJECT TO ARBITRATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS PROVISION.
I AGREE THAT I WILL ASSERT A CLAIM ONLY ON BEHALF OF MY OWN SELF AND THAT I WILL NOT ASSERT A CLAIM ON BEHALF OF, OR AS A MEMBER OF, A CLASS OR GROUP IN EITHER AN ARBITRATION PROCEEDING, A PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL ACTION OR IN ANY OTHER FORUM OR ACTION. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER LANGUAGE IN THIS PROVISION, ONLY A COURT, NOT AN ARBITRATOR, WILL DECIDE CLAIMS ABOUT THE VALIDITY, ENFORCEABILITY, COVERAGE, OR SCOPE OF THIS PROVISION OR ANY PART OF THIS PROVISION. HOWEVER, ANY CLAIM THAT CONCERNS THE VALIDITY OR ENFORCEABILITY OF OUR AGREEMENT AS A WHOLE IS FOR THE ARBITRATOR, NOT A COURT, TO DECIDE. IF A COURT DETERMINES THAT THIS PROVISION IS NOT FULLY ENFORCEABLE, THE COURT’S DETERMINATION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO APPEAL. THIS PROVISION DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY LAWSUIT OR ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING FILED AGAINST LIFETIME SOLUTIONS BY A STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY EVEN WHEN SUCH AGENCY IS SEEKING RELIEF ON BEHALF OF A CLASS OF CONSUMERS. THIS MEANS THAT LIFETIME SOLUTIONS WILL NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO COMPEL ARBITRATION OF ANY CLAIM BROUGHT BY SUCH AN AGENCY.
ANY CLAIM MAY, AT THE OPTION OF EITHER LIFETIME SOLUTIONS OR MYSELF, BE ADJUDICATED BY FINAL AND BINDING ARBITRATION BY ONE ARBITRATOR IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CODE OF PROCEDURE OF THE FORUM (“FORUM”) IN EFFECT AT THE TIME THE DEMAND FOR ARBITRATION IS MADE. NOTICE OF THE DEMAND FOR ARBITRATION SHALL BE FILED WITH FORUM BY THE PARTY ASSERTING THE CLAIM, AND THE DEMAND SHALL BE COPIED TO THE OTHER PARTY TO OUR AGREEMENT. FURTHER INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED AND CLAIMS MAY BE FILED AT ANY OFFICE OF FORUM, WWW.ADRFORUM.COM, OR BY MAIL AT 6465 WAYZATA BLVD., SUITE 480 MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55426 ATTN: CASE COORDINATOR. IF FORUM IS UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO ARBITRATE THE CLAIM, THE PARTIES SHALL UTILIZE JAMS, 620 EIGHTH AVENUE, 34TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10018, WWW.JAMSADR.COM, (800) 352-5267. IF JAMS IS UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO ARBITRATE THE CLAIM, THEN THE COURT MAY APPOINT AN ARBITRATOR.
THE DEMAND FOR ARBITRATION SHALL BE MADE BY THE PARTY ASSERTING OR COMPELLING THE ARBITRATION WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME AFTER THE CLAIM IN QUESTION HAS ARISEN, AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THE DEMAND BE MADE AFTER THE DATE WHEN INSTITUTION OF LEGAL OR EQUITABLE PROCEEDINGS BASED ON SUCH CLAIM WOULD BE BARRED BY THE APPLICABLE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. IF A PARTY FILES A LAWSUIT IN COURT ASSERTING CLAIM(S) THAT ARE SUBJECT TO ARBITRATION AND THE OTHER PARTY FILES A MOTION WITH THE COURT TO COMPEL ARBITRATION, WHICH IS GRANTED, IT WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARTY ASSERTING THE CLAIM(S) TO COMMENCE THE ARBITRATION PROCEEDING. THE ARBITRATION SHALL BE HELD AND ARBITRATED IN THE COUNTY AND STATE IN WHICH I RESIDED DURING MY WORK WITH LIFETIME SOLUTIONS.
THE SALE TRANSACTIONS AND THE FINANCE TRANSACTIONS (IF ANY) UNDER OUR AGREEMENT INVOLVE INTERSTATE COMMERCE AND ARE GOVERNED BY THE FEDERAL ARBITRATION ACT (“FAA”). ACCORDINGLY, THIS PROVISION IS GOVERNED BY THE FAA, 9 U.S.C. SECTIONS 1 ET SEQ. THE APPOINTED ARBITRATOR MUST BE A LAWYER WITH AT LEAST TEN YEARS OF LEGAL EXPERIENCE. ONCE APPOINTED, THE ARBITRATOR MUST APPLY THE SAME FEDERAL LAW OR THE LAW OF THE STATE IN WHICH THE SERVICES WERE PRIMARILY RENDERED FOR SUBSTANTIVE LAW AND LAW OF REMEDIES AND LEGAL PRINCIPLES, CONSISTENT WITH THE FAA, THAT WOULD APPLY IN COURT, BUT MAY USE DIFFERENT PROCEDURAL RULES. PARTICIPATION BY ANY PARTY IN THE ARBITRATION MAY TAKE PLACE BY TELEPHONE. IF THE ARBITRATION FORUM’S RULES CONFLICT WITH THIS PROVISION, THIS PROVISION WILL CONTROL.
ANY CLAIM MAY, AT THE OPTION OF THE PARTY RECEIVING THE DEMAND FOR ARBITRATION (THE PARTY NOT ASSERTING THE CLAIM) BE FIRST SUBMITTED TO A NON-BINDING MEDIATION PROCESS GOVERNED BY THE THEN-APPLICABLE RULES OF MEDIATION ESTABLISHED BY THE ARBITRATION FORUM. THE MEDIATION SHALL BE ELECTED WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF RECEIPT OF THE DEMAND FOR ARBITRATION AND COMPLETED WITHIN THIRTY DAYS THEREAFTER. THE MEDIATION ITSELF SHALL NOT LAST MORE THAN FOUR HOURS, AND THE COSTS OF THE MEDIATION, OTHER THAN LEGAL FEES, WHICH ARE TO BE BORNE BY EACH PARTY, SHALL BE PAID ENTIRELY BY THE PARTY ELECTING THE MEDIATION.
THE PARTIES SHALL SHARE EQUALLY IN ANY APPLICABLE FILING FEES AND COSTS OF THE ARBITRATION, UNLESS I CAN REASONABLY ESTABLISH TO LIFETIME SOLUTIONS THAT I AM FINANCIALLY BURDENED BY PAYING THE INITIAL CASE OR FILING FEES OF THE ARBITRATION, IN WHICH CASE, LIFETIME SOLUTIONS SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INITIAL CASE OR FILING FEES. THE FINDINGS OF THE ARBITRATOR SHALL BE FINAL AND BINDING ON ALL PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT, AND MAY INCLUDE AN AWARD OR REIMBURSEMENT OF FILING FEES THAT HAVE BEEN PAID BY ONE PARTY OR THE OTHER. OTHER THAN AS REQUIRED BY LAW OR AS DETERMINED BY THE ARBITRATOR IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW, EACH PARTY SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS OWN LEGAL FEES.
ANY ARBITRATION PROCEEDING BROUGHT UNDER THIS PROVISION, AND ANY AWARD, FINDING, OR VERDICT OF OR FROM SUCH PROCEEDING SHALL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND SHALL NOT BE MADE PUBLIC. WE SHALL ALLOW AND PARTICIPATE IN DISCOVERY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE FOR A LIMITED PERIOD OF NINETY (90) DAYS AFTER THE FILING OF THE ANSWER OR OTHER RESPONSIVE PLEADING. UNRESOLVED DISCOVERY DISPUTES MAY BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF, AND MAY BE DISPOSED BY, THE ARBITRATOR. EITHER LIFETIME SOLUTIONS OR I MAY BRING AN ACTION IN ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION, IF NECESSARY, TO COMPEL ARBITRATION UNDER THIS PROVISION, TO OBTAIN PRELIMINARY RELIEF IN SUPPORT OF A CLAIM TO BE ADJUDICATED BY ARBITRATION, OR TO ENFORCE AN ARBITRATION AWARD. A JUDGMENT UPON ANY AWARD RENDERED BY THE ARBITRATOR MAY BE ENTERED IN ANY COURT HAVING JURISDICTION. IF ANY TERM OR CLAUSE OF THIS PROVISION IS FOUND TO BE UNENFORCEABLE OR IN VIOLATION OF APPLICABLE STATE LAW, WE SHALL TREAT THIS PROVISION AS IF THAT TERM OR CLAUSE DID NOT EXIST, AND THE REMAINDER OF THIS PROVISION SHALL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT, OTHER THAN AS DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY IN REGARD TO THE WAIVER OF CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTIONS BEING APPEALABLE.
NO ARBITRATION PROCEEDING BROUGHT UNDER THIS PROVISION SHALL INCLUDE BY CONSOLIDATION, JOINDER OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY WHO IS NOT A PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT UNLESS (I) THE INCLUSION OF SUCH PERSON OR ENTITY IS NECESSARY IF COMPLETE RELIEF IS TO BE AFFORDED AMONG THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY PARTIES TO THE ARBITRATION, AND/OR SUCH OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY IS SUBSTANTIALLY INVOLVED IN A QUESTION OF LAW OR FACT THAT IS COMMON TO THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY PARTIES TO THE ARBITRATION AND THAT WILL ARISE IN SUCH PROCEEDING; AND (II) THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY SOUGHT TO BE INCLUDED AND THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN OBTAINED FOR SUCH INCLUSION.
WE ARE HEREBY AGREEING TO CHOOSE ARBITRATION, RATHER THAN LITIGATION OR SOME OTHER MEANS OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION TO ADDRESS OUR GRIEVANCES OR ALLEGED GRIEVANCES WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THIS RESOLUTION PROCESS MAY BE MORE COST-EFFECTIVE AND EXPEDIENT FOR THE PARTIES THAN LITIGATION. BY ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE ARBITRATION PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, BOTH PARTIES ARE GIVING UP THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO HAVE ANY DISPUTE DECIDED IN A COURT OF LAW BEFORE A JURY, AND INSTEAD ARE ACCEPTING THE USE OF ARBITRATION, EXCEPT THAT IF THERE IS A SMALL CLAIMS COURT (OR AN EQUIVALENT TYPE OF COURT) LOCATED WITHIN THE COUNTY AND STATE IN WHICH I RESIDE, THEN I MAY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES OF THAT SMALL CLAIMS COURT, CHOOSE TO BRING (AND MUST THEN KEEP) MY OWN CLAIM IN THAT SMALL CLAIMS COURT.
