Your use of this Internet web site (the “Site”) is subject to the following Terms of Use. Please read them carefully, as they may have changed since your last visit.  Your use of this Site indicates your acceptance of these Terms of Use. IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THESE TERMS OF USE, THEN DO NOT USE THIS SITE.

This Site and all information it contains, and may in the future contain, including but not limited to articles, blogs, press releases, guides, memoranda, illustrations, logos, photographs, service marks, trademarks and trade names (collectively, the “Content”), are the property of Michael P. Scanlon, Esq., doing business as a sole proprietor using the trade name “MPS Legal” (the “Firm”), except as noted. All rights are reserved. Content may not be copied, reproduced, republished or used for commercial purposes without the Firm’s prior written consent.

The Content on this Site, including without limitations any blog or other commentary, is subject to change without notice and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice and should not be relied upon as such. The exact meaning of particular laws and regulations often is uncertain and their application typically varies based on particular circumstances and other factors associated with specific factual situations and the person(s) and firm(s) (collectively, “Persons”) involved. A Person with legal questions or otherwise in need of legal assistance should obtain professional legal services from a qualified attorney who can render services appropriate for the Person’s particular situation. No Person should take action, or refrain from taking action, based on the Content on this Site.

Although the Firm seeks to ensure the Content on this Site is accurate and up to date, the Content may become outdated and/or contain errors and neither the Firm nor Michael P. Scanlon has any obligation to update or correct any Content. The Content on this Site is provided “as is” and without warranty of any kind.

Confidentiality. The Firm takes steps to safeguard the confidentiality of information about its clients and their legal matters. Persons contacting the Firm through this Site or by e-mail should not send confidential, privileged or other sensitive information by these electronic means. Instead, the Firm recommends calling Mr. Scanlon to discuss details and/or sending an e-mail containing information only about the general nature of the inquiry. Mr. Scanlon seeks to respond (by e-mail or telephone) to e-mails and voicemail messages that appear related to legitimate inquiries about legal services as soon as he reasonably can.

The internet and e-mail may not be secure means of sending confidential, privileged or other sensitive information. A Person (including an existing client) that sends such information in this manner will do so at their own risk. Alternative communication methods that are believed to be more secure, including telephone (410) 624-5744, fax (410) 624-5256, reliable courier service (with package tracking), and DropBox or similar services, are or may be available so please contact Mr. Scanlon to discuss using one of these methods for sending such information.

Please see “Privacy Policy” below for additional information relating to confidentiality.

Attorney-Client Relationship. Neither the Content on this Site nor any communication with the Firm via this Site, e-mail or other means creates an attorney-client relationship.  You will not have a client relationship with the Firm, including the privilege and confidentiality protections associated with such a relationship, until you sign and return to the Firm an engagement letter the Firm has prepared for you.

Attorney Advertising. This Site constitutes, or may constitute, attorney advertising under the rules governing attorney conduct in the states in which Michael P. Scanlon is licensed to practice law (currently, Maryland and Massachusetts) and in other jurisdictions.This Site is not an offer to provide services in any jurisdiction in which it does not comply with any law or rule of such jurisdiction.

Before retaining the Firm to provide you with legal services, you should have one or more discussions with Mr. Scanlon to determine if the Firm is capable of meeting your particular needs. You should not base a decision to retain the Firm solely on this Site’s Content and/or other advertising. Also, please note that Mr. Scanlon’s and the Firm’s past work on matters does not predict or guarantee a similar outcome in current or future matters.

Cookies. The Firm uses “cookies” on this Site. A cookie is a small data file that the Site sends to your computer’s hard drive when you visit the Site.  A cookie file can contain information such as a user ID that the Site then uses to track the pages you have visited, but the only personal information a cookie may contain is information you yourself provide.  A cookie cannot read data off of your hard drive or read cookie files created by other sites.  The Firm may use cookies to analyze Site visitor traffic patterns in order to improve visitor experiences. The Firm does not correlate this information with data about individual users and does not sell this information to third parties. The Firm may disclose cookie information to third parties in connection with their provision of services to the Firm. All major Internet browsers allow you to block or delete cookies from your computer.  To learn more about your ability to manage cookies, please consult your browser’s privacy features. Note that blocking cookies may affect your ability to use all or some features of this Site.

Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how the Firm collects, uses and discloses information about you when you use the Site or when you otherwise interact with us as described below. You are not required to provide any personal information when visiting the Site. However, you may do so by signing up for the Firm’s FS Spotlight report. Also, the Site gathers certain information about Site traffic for administrative and analytical purposes.  This information may include your IP address, browser type, referring and exit pages, operating system, and dates/times of page views. You may also provide the Firm with personal information if you contact the Firm by e-mail, telephone or letter.  In addition, the Firm may receive your business contact information from you or another source in the course of its business.

The Content on this Site is directed at individuals over the age of 18 and is not directed at children under the age of 13. The Firm does not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under the age of 13. If you are under the age of 13, do not provide personally identifiable information of any kind.

The Firm may combine your personal information with that of all or a particular group of users of the Site to prepare collective and anonymous profiles of Site users and their interests or behaviors.  Where you have provided your personal information to receive newsletters, blogs or other marketing communications, the Firm will store that information until the earlier of the time you notify the Firm you no longer wish to receive these communications, or the time we determine the information is no longer accurate.

The Firm may disclose personal information you provide if you expressly authorize this, as required by law or when the Firm believes disclosure is needed in connection with a judicial proceeding or to comply with a court order, law or regulation applicable to the Firm or the Site, or as the Firm determines to be necessary to protect its property or assert its legal rights or to protect the property or safety of any other person.

For the processing of your data, the Firm will ensure a data protection level equivalent to the one in the European Economic Area, and will implement appropriate safeguards within the meaning of Art. 46 GDPR, such as standard data protection clauses, if the recipient is not located in a country considered to be ensuring an adequate level of protection within the meaning of Art. 45 GDPR.

The Firm wants to make sure personal information you have provided is accurate and up to date. You have the right to request access to and correction or deletion of your personal data, restrict processing concerning you, and object to processing, as well as the right to data portability.

The Firm will provide you with access to your personal information on request so you may view, update or correct your information. To protect your privacy and security, the Firm will verify your identity before granting you access or enabling you to make corrections. You have the right to complain to a competent supervisory authority if you feel the Firm is not complying with its data protection obligations. To access or correct your personal information, notify the Firm at mscanlon@mpslgl.com.

State of California. If you are a California resident, California law gives you specific rights regarding your personal information, including the right to request that the Firm disclose certain information to you about the collection and use of your personal information over the past 12 months and the right to request that the Firm delete any of your personal information the Firm has collected from you, subject to certain exceptions. To make such a request, contact the Firm at mscanlon@mpslgl.com and indicate in your message that you are making a CCPA request. Please note that the Firm is only required to respond to two such requests per customer each year.

You also have the right not to be discriminated against if you exercise any of your rights under California privacy law. The Firm may have collected the following categories of personal information of California residents who visited the Site in the past 12 months:

• Identifiers such as a name, title, biographical information (from other sources in the course of the Firm’s business), social media identifiers, physical address, Internet Protocol address, email address, or other similar identifiers.
• Internet or other electronic network activity information.

This information is collected and used for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy. The Firm does not sell the personal information of visitors to the Site and has not done so in the past 12 months. The Firm may have disclosed any of the above categories of personal information pursuant to an individual’s consent or under a written contract with a service provider for a business purpose in the past 12 months.

Firm’s Commitment to Data Security. To prevent unauthorized access, improper use or disclosure, unauthorized modification or unlawful destruction or accidental loss, and to ensure the correct use of information, the Firm employs physical, technical and administrative procedures to safeguard the Site and personal information collected online.  Firm personnel and any third parties employed to process your personal information are obliged to respect its confidentiality. However, transmission of information through the internet is not secure. Although the Firm seeks to protect your information as described above, it cannot guarantee the security of any information you transmit via the Site or to the Firm, and you transmit such information at your own risk.

Changes to Privacy Policy. The Firm regularly reviews its Privacy Policy to ensure it provides an appropriate level of protection for your personal information and may make changes to the Privacy Policy to keep it current and otherwise appropriate. The Firm will post the date of the most recent revisions on this page. Check this page to make sure you are current and up to date on the Firm’s Privacy Policy.

How to Contact the Firm. If you have any questions about the Firm’s Privacy Policy, send an email to mscanlon@mpslgl.com. You can also contact the Firm at its postal address: Michael P. Scanlon, Esq., MPS Legal, 516 N. Charles Street, Suite 413, Baltimore, MD 21201. Messages to the Firm’s data protection officer can also be directed to these addresses.

Effective date:

December 7, 2020