IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION
Greetings and Introductions…
Welcome! You are about to take part in a unique form of Internet experience, so please permit me to explain the “Rules of Engagement.”
For many years, radio and television broadcasters have provided entertainment by hiring talk-show hosts who are physicians, lawyers, psychologists, accountants, etc., to answer questions from callers “on-the-air.” These conversations are protected from governmental censure by the 1st Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, as an “exercise in freedom of expression.” If they were not so protected, governmental restrictions placed on the licensed professionals would prohibit their conversations with callers, and the hosting of broadcasts.
The same situation applies to justanswer.com.
Your communications in the justanswer.com forum are in full public view of anyone and everyone on the Internet who wants to “tune in,” and the entire conversation is available in an archive for anyone who wants to review it. The host (aka “expert”) is taking your question, in exactly the same manner as would a broadcast host, and the comments offered are simply an exercise of his/her 1st Amendment rights.
When a caller to a broadcast talk show phones in, the “call screener” provides the caller with terms and conditions that the caller must agree to and acknowledge prior to going “on the air.” If the caller does not agree, then the call screener terminates the phone call. The reason for this is that unless the caller agrees to the terms and conditions, then the host and the entire broadcast network will lose its 1st Amendment protection, because the caller may reasonably believe that he/she is engaging the host, “in his or her professional capacity” as a _______ [doctor, lawyer, psychologist, CPA, etc.].
So, now that you understand why you and I have certain “rules” that we must follow, please permit me to tell you what the rules are:
We're just having fun...
You must understand and agree that our communications are not intended to create any attorney-client relationship between us. This means that you are not seeking to engage me in my professional capacity as a lawyer, and I won't "take your case." Instead, what we're doing is just “chatting” in an Internet forum as acquaintances, without any expectations other than to have an informal conversation -- nothing more nor less.
You can't rely on my comments...
Please understand that no matter what we discuss here, or how reasonable my comments may seem to you, you must not rely on anything that I say, without first obtaining a traditional/in-office legal consultation from an attorney who is licensed to practice law where your legal issue is taking place. There is simply no way for me or anyone else to provide you with competent advice in an online forum, because I can't see all of your documents and we can't completely discuss all of the facts.
So, if you have a serious legal problem, then contact a lawyer immediately.
You can't pay me for services rendered...
Since I'm not your attorney, you can't pay me for anything I've done on your behalf! If you do, a court might later interpret our transaction to mean that you reasonably believed that you were engaged in a consultation with me in my professional capacity as a lawyer, and that I gave you legal advice in exchange for your payment -- once again, in violation of those darn rules! So, I won't accept your money if you offer it for "services rendered."
However, at the end of our chat, if you decide that you would like to make a gift, in respect and admiration for my desire to help others -- then, you are free to click ACCEPT and I will be grateful for your charity.
ANYTHING THAT YOU SAY CAN AND WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU...
Just about everyone who's ever watched a TV or a movie knows that law enforcement officers in the USA must read a person their "rights" when they're arrested for a crime. But, not everyone knows that they can give up their rights (waiver) if they discuss their legal problems in public.
So...FAIR WARNING: everything that you type in this forum is in full view of anyone (and everyone) on the Internet who wants to read it. By posting in this forum, you are forever giving up your right to confidentiality and the attorney-client privilege for whatever you post, and if your legal adversary, or a member of law enforcement discovers what you've written, then your statement can (and probably will) be used against you in court.
Thanks for spending the time to read all this. I hope it was useful. Now, here's the legal version of all of the above:
Terms and Conditions: By your continuing in this conversation with me, or by your clicking “Accept”, you are expressly agreeing to all of the following: (1) our communication is for entertainment purposes only; (2) you are not consulting me in my professional capacity as an attorney; (3) you do not seek to establish an attorney-client relationship with me, nor do I with you; (4) you will not rely on anything I say and you will obtain appropriate legal counsel via a traditional/office consultation with an attorney licensed to practice in the jurisdiction where your legal issue arises (and you may not use our communication to avoid taxpayer penalties imposed by the U.S. Dept. of Treasury); (5) by communicating with me in this public forum you are irrevocably waiving any right to privacy, confidentiality and attorney-client privilege concerning the matters discussed. You further separately declare that any payment made by you is not consideration for this contract, nor offered for any services rendered by me on your behalf, but rather is made in genuine admiration and respect for my desire to help others. If you do not agree with these terms and conditions, then you must advise me immediately.
Okay, if we're in agreement about all of this, then please click the button below to close this window and return to our conversation.
Copyright © 2008 Socrateaser