Thank you for your interest in this website. By using this website, you are entering into a valid and enforceable agreement with the publisher of this website, Douglas C. Melcher (the “Publisher”). The terms of the agreement between you and the Publisher are stated below and referred to here as the “Terms of Use.”

1. The information provided by this website is intended only for legal professionals in the District of Columbia (United States of America).
2. The information provided by this website shall not be used as a substitute for independent legal research conducted in accordance with the standards of the legal profession.
3. The information provided by this website does not constitute legal advice. Nothing about this website establishes an attorney-client relationship and any attorney-client relationship purportedly arising from any use of this website is expressly disavowed. If you need legal advice or legal representation, you should consult with a competent attorney.
4. Nothing contained on this website constitutes or is intended to constitute an advertisement for legal or other services or a solicitation for clients outside of the District of Columbia.
5. THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THIS WEBSITE IS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE AND THEREFORE IS PROVIDED “AS IS.” THE PUBLISHER DOES NOT MAKE ANY WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THOSE OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WITH RESPECT TO ANY ASPECT OF THIS WEBSITE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THIS WEBSITE.
6. THIS WEBSITE CONTAINS LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES THAT THE PUBLISHER FEELS MAY BE OF INTEREST TO VISITORS. THE PUBLISHER DOES NOT CONTROL SUCH OTHER WEBSITES AND THEREFORE DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY WARRANTY THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THOSE WEBSITES IS CORRECT, COMPLETE, OR UP-TO-DATE. THE PUBLISHER DOES NOT RECOMMEND OR ENDORSE ANY OTHER WEBSITE OR THE PRODUCTS OR SERVICES PROVIDED OR OFFERED BY ANY OTHER WEBSITE.
7. THE PUBLISHER DOES NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT CONTAIN COMPUTER VIRUSES, “TROJAN HORSES,” OR OTHER DESTRUCTIVE ELEMENTS. THE PUBLISHER IS NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR HARM ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMPUTER VIRUSES, “TROJAN HORSES,” OR OTHER DESTRUCTIVE ELEMENTS. ANY PERSON WHO USES THIS WEBSITE DOES SO AT HIS OR HER OWN RISK.
8. THE PUBLISHER IS NOT LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOST REVENUES, LOST PROFITS, LOSS OF BUSINESS, OR LOSS OF DATA, IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THIS WEBSITE OR FOR ANY CLAIM, LOSS, OR INJURY BASED ON ERRORS, OMISSIONS, INACCURACIES, COMPUTER OR NETWORK OUTAGES, OR OTHER DEFECTS IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THIS WEBSITE.
9. Notwithstanding that the Publisher owns the information provided by this website and that such information is protected by the copyright laws of the United States of America and international copyright laws, you and anyone else who agrees to these Terms of Use may (for personal use only) view, download, and print individual articles published on this website. All other uses of the information provided by this website are prohibited unless authorized in writing by the Publisher.
10. You shall indemnify and hold harmless the Publisher from and against all losses, expenses, damages and costs, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees and expenses, arising from your use of this website.
11. These Terms of Use apply to all uses of this website, including but not limited to uses involving this website’s e-mail newsletter or RSS feed.
12. The Publisher may amend these Terms of Use at any time and without notice.
13. This agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia.
14. Any claim or controversy relating in any way to this website, or arising out of or relating in any way to these Terms of Use, shall be resolved in the courts of the District of Columbia. If you or your agents initiate an action against the Publisher in any other jurisdiction, you shall pay all of the attorney’s fees, expenses, and costs (including for travel, meals, and lodging) incurred by the Publisher as a result of defending such legal action regardless of its outcome and, without limiting the foregoing, the Publisher shall be entitled to compensation for his own legal time incurred as a result of such defense.
15. If any provision of this agreement is found to be void, unlawful, or unenforceable for any reason, that portion shall be deemed severable from these Terms of Use and shall not otherwise affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.

If you do not agree to these Terms of Use, you are not authorized to use this website and must immediately cease using this website. By using this website, you are agreeing to these Terms of Use.

[Last Updated: September 9, 2011]