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Steno Agency Website Terms of Use

Effective as of October 9th, 2019

 

The website located at https://steno.com (the “Site”) is a copyrighted work belonging to Steno Agency, Inc. (“Steno Agency”, “us”, “our”, and “we”). Certain features of the Site may be subject to additional guidelines, terms, or rules, which will be posted on the Site in connection with such features. All such additional terms, guidelines, and rules are incorporated by reference into these Terms.

THESE TERMS OF USE (THESE “TERMS”) SET FORTH THE LEGALLY BINDING TERMS AND CONDITIONS THAT GOVERN YOUR USE OF THE SITE AND APPLY TO ALL USERS VISITING THE SITE BY ACCESSING OR USING THE SITE IN ANY WAY, INCLUDING THE SERVICES AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE OR ENABLED VIA THE SITE (EACH, A “SERVICE” AND COLLECTIVELY, THE “SERVICES”). BY COMPLETING THE REGISTRATION PROCESS AND/OR BROWSING THE SITE, YOU ARE ACCEPTING THESE TERMS (ON BEHALF OF YOURSELF OR THE ENTITY THAT YOU REPRESENT), AND YOU REPRESENT AND WARRANT THAT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT, AUTHORITY, AND CAPACITY TO ENTER INTO THESE TERMS (ON BEHALF OF YOURSELF OR THE ENTITY THAT YOU REPRESENT). YOU MAY NOT ACCESS OR USE THE SITE OR ACCEPT THE TERMS IF YOU ARE NOT AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH ALL OF THE PROVISIONS OF THESE TERMS, DO NOT ACCESS AND/OR USE THE SITE.

THESE TERMS REQUIRE THE USE OF ARBITRATION (SECTION 10.2) ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS TO RESOLVE DISPUTES, RATHER THAN JURY TRIALS OR CLASS ACTIONS, AND ALSO LIMIT THE REMEDIES AVAILABLE TO YOU IN THE EVENT OF A DISPUTE.

1. Access to the Site

1.1. License

Subject to these Terms, Steno Agency grants you a non-transferable, non-exclusive, revocable, limited license to (a) use and access the Site solely for your own personal, noncommercial use; and (b) access, download and use the content and information made available by Steno Agency on the Site solely for personal and/or academic, noncommercial purposes.

1.2. Certain Restrictions

The rights granted to you in these Terms are subject to the following restrictions: (a) you shall not license, sell, rent, lease, transfer, assign, distribute, host, or otherwise commercially exploit the Site, whether in whole or in part, or any content displayed on the Site; (b) you shall not modify, make derivative works of, disassemble, reverse compile or reverse engineer any part of the Site; (c) you shall not access the Site or any content thereon in order to build a similar or competitive website, product, or service; and (d) except as expressly stated herein, no part of the Site may be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means. Unless otherwise indicated, any future release, update, or other addition to functionality of the Site shall be subject to these Terms. All copyright and other proprietary notices on the Site (or on any content displayed on the Site) must be retained on all copies thereof.

1.3. Modification

Steno Agency reserves the right, at any time, to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Site (in whole or in part) with or without notice to you. You agree that Steno Agency will not be liable to you or to any third party for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation of the Site or any part thereof.

1.4. No Support or Maintenance

You acknowledge and agree that Steno Agency will have no obligation to provide you with any support or maintenance in connection with the Site.

1.5. Ownership

You acknowledge that all the intellectual property rights, including copyrights, patents, trade marks, and trade secrets, in the Site and its content are owned by Steno Agency or Steno Agency’s suppliers. Neither these Terms (nor your access to the Site) transfers to you or any third party any rights, title or interest in or to such intellectual property rights, except for the limited access rights expressly set forth in Section 1.1. Steno Agency and its suppliers reserve all rights not granted in these Terms. There are no implied licenses granted under these Terms.

2. Registration.

2.1. Registering Your Account

In order to access certain features of the Site and/or Services, you may be required to become a Registered User. For purposes of the Terms, a “Registered User” is a user who has registered an account on the Site (“Account”).

2.2. Registration Data

In registering an account on the Site, you agree to (a) provide true, accurate, current and complete information about yourself as prompted by the registration form (the “Registration Data”); and (b) maintain and promptly update the Registration Data to keep it true, accurate, current and complete. You represent that you are (l) at least eighteen (18) years old; (m) of legal age to form a binding contract; and (n) not a person barred from using the Site and/or Services under the laws of the United States, your place of residence or any other applicable jurisdiction. You are responsible for all activities that occur under your Account. You agree that you shall monitor your Account to restrict use by minors, and you will accept full responsibility for any unauthorized use of the Services by minors. You may not share your Account or password with anyone, and you agree to (y) notify Steno Agency immediately of any unauthorized use of your password or any other breach of security; and (z) exit from your Account at the end of each session. If you provide any information that is untrue, inaccurate, not current or incomplete, or Steno Agency has reasonable grounds to suspect that any information you provide is untrue, inaccurate, not current or incomplete, Steno Agency has the right to suspend or terminate your Account and refuse any and all current or future use of the Site (or any portion thereof). You agree not to create an Account using a false identity or information, or on behalf of someone other than yourself. Steno Agency reserves the right to remove or reclaim any usernames at any time and for any reason, including but not limited to, claims by a third party that a username violates the third party’s rights. You agree not to create an Account or use the Services if you have been previously removed by Steno Agency, or if you have been previously banned from the Services.

3. Feedback.

If you provide Steno Agency with any feedback or suggestions regarding the Site or Services (“Feedback”), you hereby grant Steno Agency a royalty-free, worldwide, transferable, sublicensable, irrevocable, perpetual license to use or incorporate into the Site or any products or services of Steno Agency or otherwise exploit in any manner Steno Agency sees fit any such Feedback. Steno Agency will treat any Feedback you provide to Steno Agency as non-confidential and non-proprietary. You agree that you will not submit to Steno Agency any information or ideas that you consider to be confidential or proprietary.

4. Payment Terms.

4.1. Payment to Service Providers

Court reporters, videographers, interpreters and any other third party offering a Service through Steno Agency (each, a “Service Provider”) to a participating law firm (each, a “Law Firm”) may either (i) agree to an estimate of the Total Fees proposed by the Steno Agency; or (ii) propose the Total Fees estimate to Steno Agency for any such Service. Steno Agency will not be responsible for any fees in excess of the Total Fees agreed through the Site. Steno Agency will invoice and collect the Total Fees from the Law Firm upon Service Provider’s completion of the Service, and will initiate payment of the Total Fees to the Service Provider thereafter.

4.2. Fees for Law Firms

Steno Agency will calculate the total fees payable to Steno Agency for the applicable Service requested (the “Total Fees”) based upon a rate sheet pre-negotiated with each Service Provider. Any such quotations for Total Fees provided to Law Firms are not binding. Upon receipt of your request and acceptance of such request by Service Provider, Steno Agency may initiate a pre-authorization and/or a nominal amount to your Payment Method, and twenty-four (24) hours prior to the commencement of the Service, Steno Agency will initiate a “HOLD” for the Total Fees for the Service to your Payment Method. Once Service Provider commences performance of the Law Firm’s requested Service or if Law Firm fails to appear for scheduled Service, Law Firm will be responsible for the Total Fees.

4.3. Third Party Payment Method

Steno Agency uses Stripe, Inc. (“Stripe”) and Bill.com, LLC (“Bill.com”) as its third party service providers for payment services (e.g., card acceptance, merchant settlement, and related services). By offering or purchasing any Service, you agree to be bound by Stripe’s Privacy Policy: https://stripe.com/us/privacy and Bill.com’s Privacy Notice: https://www.bill.com/privacy/, and hereby consent and authorize Steno Agency, Stripe and Bill.com to share any information and payment instructions you provide with Third Party Service Provider(s) to the minimum extent required to complete your transactions. By offering or purchasing any Service, you also agree to be bound by Stripe’s Service Agreement: https://stripe.com/us/legal and Bill.com’s Terms of Service: https://app.bill.com/TermsOfService.

4.4. Payment Information

All information that you provide to us or Stripe must be accurate, current, and complete. By requesting any Service, you authorize Steno Agency to charge your payment card (“Payment Method”) in accordance with this Section 4. YOU REPRESENT AND WARRANT THAT YOU HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO USE ANY PAYMENT METHOD USED TO PAY ANY FEES. You agree to pay all charges incurred by you or any users of your Account and Payment Method, including any cancellation fee.

4.5. Cancellation Period

In the event a Law Firm desires to cancel a request for a Court Reporter or Videographer, such cancellation shall be at no charge to the Law Firm if cancelled before 4pm the business day prior to the commencement of the Service (such period, the “Reporter/Videographer Cancellation Period”). In the event a Law firm desires to cancel a request for an Interpreter, it is Law Firm's responsibility to confirm the cancellation policy for that interpreter with Steno in advance. For most languages, there will be no cancellation fee if the request to cancel an interpreter is received by Steno 48 hours or more in advance of the Service; however, for some languages the interpreter must be cancelled 30 days prior to the Service to avoid a late charge (the "Interpreter Cancellation Period"). If a Law Firm does not cancel a confirmed request within the Reporter/Videographer Cancellation Period and or the Interpreter Cancellation Period, Steno reserves the right to charge a cancellation fee.

5. Indemnification.

You agree to indemnify and hold Steno Agency (and its officers, employees, and agents) harmless, including costs and attorneys’ fees, from any claim or demand made by any third party due to or arising out of (a) your use of the Site; (b) your violation of these Terms; or (c) your violation of applicable laws or regulations. Steno Agency reserves the right, at your expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter for which you are required to indemnify us, and you agree to cooperate with our defense of these claims. You agree not to settle any matter without the prior written consent of Steno Agency. Steno Agency will use reasonable efforts to notify you of any such claim, action or proceeding upon becoming aware of it.

6. Third-Party Links

6.1. Third-Party Links

The Site may contain links to third-party websites and services, applications and/or display advertisements for third parties (collectively, “Third-Party Links”). Such Third-Party Links are not under the control of Steno Agency, and Steno Agency is not responsible for any Third-Party Links. Steno Agency provides access to these Third-Party Links only as a convenience to you, and does not review, approve, monitor, endorse, warrant, or make any representations with respect to Third-Party Links. You use all Third-Party Links at your own risk, and should apply a suitable level of caution and discretion in doing so. When you click on any of the Third-Party Links, the applicable third party’s terms and policies apply, including the third party’s privacy and data gathering practices. You should make whatever investigation you feel necessary or appropriate before proceeding with any transaction in connection with such Third-Party Links.

6.2. Release

You hereby release and forever discharge Steno Agency (and our officers, employees, agents, successors, and assigns) from, and hereby waive and relinquish, each and every past, present and future dispute, claim, controversy, demand, right, obligation, liability, action and cause of action of every kind and nature (including personal injuries, death, and property damage), that has arisen or arises directly or indirectly out of, or that relates directly or indirectly to, the Site (including any interactions with, or act or omission of, any Third-Party Links). IF YOU ARE A CALIFORNIA RESIDENT, YOU HEREBY WAIVE CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE SECTION 1542 IN CONNECTION WITH THE FOREGOING, WHICH STATES: “A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.”

7. Disclaimers

THE SITE, AND ANY CONTENT THEREON, IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS-IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS, AND STENO AGENCY (AND OUR SUPPLIERS) EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ALL WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, QUIET ENJOYMENT, ACCURACY, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE (AND OUR SUPPLIERS) MAKE NO WARRANTY THAT THE SITE OR SERVICES WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, WILL BE AVAILABLE ON AN UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE BASIS, OR WILL BE ACCURATE, RELIABLE, FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL CODE, COMPLETE, LEGAL, OR SAFE.

SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

8. Limitation on Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL STENO AGENCY (OR OUR SUPPLIERS) BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST DATA, COSTS OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE PRODUCTS, OR ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF, OR INABILITY TO USE, THE SITE, EVEN IF STENO AGENCY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. ACCESS TO, AND USE OF, THE SITE IS AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION AND RISK, AND YOU WILL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR DEVICE OR COMPUTER SYSTEM, OR LOSS OF DATA RESULTING THEREFROM.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY CONTAINED HEREIN, OUR LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY DAMAGES ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT (FOR ANY CAUSE WHATSOEVER AND REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF THE ACTION), WILL AT ALL TIMES BE LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM OF ONE HUNDRED US DOLLARS (U.S. $100). THE EXISTENCE OF MORE THAN ONE CLAIM WILL NOT ENLARGE THIS LIMIT. YOU AGREE THAT OUR SUPPLIERS WILL HAVE NO LIABILITY OF ANY KIND ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.

SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

9. Term and Termination.

Subject to this Section, these Terms will remain in full force and effect while you use the Site. We may suspend or terminate your rights to use the Site at any time for any reason at our sole discretion, including for any use of the Site in violation of these Terms. Upon termination of your rights under these Terms, your right to access and use the Site will terminate immediately. Steno Agency will not have any liability whatsoever to you for any termination of your rights under these Terms. Even after your rights under these Terms are terminated, the following provisions of these Terms will remain in effect: Sections 3 through 10.

10. General

10.1. Changes

These Terms are subject to occasional revision, and if we make any substantial changes, we may notify you by sending you an e-mail to the last e-mail address you provided to us (if any), and/or by prominently posting notice of the changes on our Site. You are responsible for providing us with your most current e-mail address. In the event that the last e-mail address that you have provided us is not valid, or for any reason is not capable of delivering to you the notice described above, our dispatch of the e-mail containing such notice will nonetheless constitute effective notice of the changes described in the notice. Any changes to these Terms will be effective upon the earlier of thirty (30) calendar days following our dispatch of an e-mail notice to you (if applicable) or thirty (30) calendar days following our posting of notice of the changes on our Site. These changes will be effective immediately for new users of our Site. Continued use of our Site following notice of such changes shall indicate your acknowledgement of such changes and agreement to be bound by the terms and conditions of such changes.

10.2. Dispute Resolution. PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY. IT AFFECTS YOUR RIGHTS.

 

  1. Any and all controversies, disputes, demands, counts, claims, or causes of action (including the interpretation and scope of this clause, and the arbitrability of the controversy, dispute, demand, count, claim, or cause of action) between you and Steno Agency and our employees, agents, successors, or assigns, regarding or relating to the Site or these Terms shall exclusively be settled through binding and confidential arbitration.
  2. Arbitration shall be subject to the Federal Arbitration Act and not any state arbitration law. The arbitration shall be conducted before one commercial arbitrator with substantial experience in resolving commercial contract disputes from the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) or JAMS. As modified by these Terms, and unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties in writing, the arbitration will be governed by the AAA’s or JAMS’s rules for commercial arbitration and, if the arbitrator deems them applicable, the procedures for consumer-related disputes.
  3. YOU ARE THUS GIVING UP YOUR RIGHT TO GO TO COURT TO ASSERT OR DEFEND YOUR RIGHTS EXCEPT FOR MATTERS THAT MAY BE TAKEN TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT. YOUR RIGHTS WILL BE DETERMINED BY A NEUTRAL ARBITRATOR AND NOT A JUDGE OR JURY. YOU ARE ENTITLED TO A FAIR HEARING, BUT THE ARBITRATION PROCEDURES ARE SIMPLER AND MORE LIMITED THAN RULES APPLICABLE IN COURT. ARBITRATOR DECISIONS ARE AS ENFORCEABLE AS ANY COURT ORDER AND ARE SUBJECT TO VERY LIMITED REVIEW BY A COURT.
  4. You and we must abide by the following rules: (1) ANY CLAIMS BROUGHT BY YOU OR US MUST BE BROUGHT IN THE PARTIES’ INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING; (2) THE ARBITRATOR MAY NOT CONSOLIDATE MORE THAN ONE PERSON’S CLAIMS, MAY NOT OTHERWISE PRESIDE OVER ANY FORM OF A REPRESENTATIVE OR CLASS PROCEEDING, AND MAY NOT AWARD CLASS-WIDE RELIEF, (3) in the event that you are able to demonstrate that the costs of arbitration will be prohibitive as compared to costs of litigation, we will pay as much of your filing and hearing fees in connection with the arbitration as the arbitrator deems necessary to prevent the arbitration from being cost-prohibitive as compared to the cost of litigation, (4) we also reserve the right in our sole and exclusive discretion to assume responsibility for all of the costs of the arbitration; (5) the arbitrator shall honor claims of privilege and privacy recognized at law; (6) the arbitrator’s award shall be final and may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction; (7) the arbitrator may award any individual relief or individual remedies that are permitted by applicable law; and (8) each side pays its own attorneys’ fees and expenses unless there is a statutory provision that requires the prevailing party to be paid its fees’ and litigation expenses, and then in such instance, the fees and costs awarded shall be determined by the applicable law.
  5. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either you or we may bring an individual action in small claims court. Further, claims of infringement or misappropriation of the other party’s patent, copyright, trademark, or trade secret shall not be subject to this arbitration agreement. Such claims shall be exclusively brought in the state or federal courts located in Los Angeles, California. Additionally, notwithstanding this agreement to arbitrate, either party may seek emergency equitable relief before the state or federal courts located in Los Angeles, California in order to maintain the status quo pending arbitration, and hereby agree to submit to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the courts located within Los Angeles, California for such purpose. A request for interim measures shall not be deemed a waiver of the right to arbitrate.
  6. With the exception of subparts (1) and (2) in Section 10.2(d) above (prohibiting arbitration on a class or collective basis), if any part of this arbitration provision is deemed to be invalid, unenforceable or illegal, or otherwise conflicts with the Agreement, then the balance of this arbitration provision shall remain in effect and shall be construed in accordance with its terms as if the invalid, unenforceable, illegal or conflicting provision were not contained herein. If, however, either subparts (1) and (2) in Section 10.2(d) (prohibiting arbitration on a class or collective basis) is found to be invalid, unenforceable or illegal, then the entirety of this arbitration provision shall be null and void, and neither you nor we shall be entitled to arbitration. If for any reason a claim proceeds in court rather than in arbitration, the dispute shall be exclusively brought in state or federal court in Los Angeles, California.
  7. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, if we seek to terminate the Dispute Resolution section as included in these Terms, any such termination shall not be effective until 30 days after the version of these Terms not containing the agreement to arbitrate is posted to the Site, and shall not be effective as to any claim of which you provided Steno Agency with written notice prior to the date of termination.
  8. For more information on AAA, its Rules and Procedures, and how to file an arbitration claim, you may call AAA at 800-778-7879 or visit the AAA website at http://www.adr.org. For more information on JAMS, it’s Rules and Procedures, and how to file an arbitration claim, you may call JAMS at 800-352-5267 or visit the JAMS website at http://www.jamsadr.com.
  9. Any and all controversies, disputes, demands, counts, claims, or causes of action between you and Steno Agency and our employees, agents, successors, or assigns, regarding or relating to these Terms or the Site shall exclusively be governed by the internal laws of the State of California, without regard to its choice of law rules and without regard to conflicts of laws principles except that the arbitration provision shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act. The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods shall not apply to these Terms.

 

10.3. Export

The Site may be subject to U.S. export control laws and may be subject to export or import regulations in other countries. You agree not to export, reexport, or transfer, directly or indirectly, any U.S. technical data acquired from Steno Agency, or any products utilizing such data, in violation of the United States export laws or regulations.

10.4. Electronic Communications

The communications between you and Steno Agency use electronic means, whether you use the Site or send us emails, or whether Steno Agency posts notices on the Site or communicates with you via email. For contractual purposes, you (a) consent to receive communications from Steno Agency in an electronic form; and (b) agree that all terms and conditions, agreements, notices, disclosures, and other communications that Steno Agency provides to you electronically satisfy any legal requirement that such communications would satisfy if it were be in a hardcopy writing. The foregoing does not affect your non-waivable rights.

10.5. Entire Terms

These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and us regarding the use of the Site. Our failure to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not operate as a waiver of such right or provision. The section titles in these Terms are for convenience only and have no legal or contractual effect. The word “including” means “including without limitation”. If any provision of these Terms is, for any reason, held to be invalid or unenforceable, the other provisions of these Terms will be unimpaired and the invalid or unenforceable provision will be deemed modified so that it is valid and enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law. Your relationship to Steno Agency is that of an independent contractor, and neither party is an agent or partner of the other. These Terms, and your rights and obligations herein, may not be assigned, subcontracted, delegated, or otherwise transferred by you without Steno Agency’s prior written consent, and any attempted assignment, subcontract, delegation, or transfer in violation of the foregoing will be null and void. Steno Agency may freely assign these Terms. The terms and conditions set forth in these Terms shall be binding upon assignees.

10.6. Copyright/Trademark Information

Copyright © 2019, Steno Agency, Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks, logos and service marks (“Marks”) displayed on the Site are our property or the property of other third parties. You are not permitted to use these Marks without our prior written consent or the consent of such third party which may own the Marks.

10.7. Contact Information

Steno Agency, Inc.
315 W 9th St.
Suite 807
Los Angeles, California 90015

(888) 707-8366
concierge@steno.com