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Privacy Policy

JAMS Privacy Policy

Effective May 3, 2018

Welcome to the JAMS website located at www.JAMSADR.com (the "Site"), serving the JAMS Mediation, Arbitration and ADR Services ("JAMS," "we," "us" or "our") and all Site visitors and users ("Users," "you," or "your"). JAMS is the largest private alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider in the world, and we are committed to respecting your privacy rights and complying with all applicable privacy legislation. We have established this Privacy Policy, publicly available at the bottom of the home page of the Site, to explain our practices regarding the collection and use of information about Site Users no matter where you are located. Most of the personal data collected from you is done so that we can provide you with the ADR services you have engaged us to provide.

The Site is intended to provide information pertaining to JAMS alternative dispute resolution services and to promote communication between our arbitrators, mediators or others who preside over disputes or conduct alternative dispute resolution services ("Neutrals"), associates/employees, and clients. The Site provides access to event information, membership registration, newsletters, links to other internet resources, and more. We use information that we collect from you to efficiently provide the local JAMS Resolution Centers with demographic and other information to help our organization better serve its clients and the community. The Site also makes accessible training courses to train and accredit personnel. In the United States, when you visit the Site or using any of the Site's features or online services (collectively, "Services") you consent to JAMS's collection, use, processing, storage, deletion and disclosure of personally identifiable information relating to you as set forth in this Privacy Policy. In other jurisdictions, including for Users located in the European Union, we comply with applicable law, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the EU-U.S. and Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield Frameworks, and we have self-certified to be in compliance with both Frameworks to ensure adequate protection for transferred personal data. In general, personal data (as defined below) resides on our secure servers in the United States, and if transferred to the US from Europe, has been done so in accordance with the Privacy Shield Frameworks referenced above. This Privacy Policy is effective upon posting. 

Information We Collect and Why; Basis for Collection
JAMS collects the following information from Users. Except as otherwise indicated below, JAMS does not collect personally identifiable information or personal data(as defined below) unless you voluntarily provide it to us. In addition, JAMS limits the personal data it collects to information that is relevant for purposes of processing.

  • Information You Give Us: All Users may visit the public areas of the Site without disclosing any personal information about themselves. However, in order to use certain Services, you may be asked to fill in dropdown menus or otherwise provide certain personal data such as your name, email address, mailing address, phone number and similar information (collectively, "personal data"). In most cases we only collect personal data from you that you choose to provide, or authorize us to collect. When you complete a case submittal form, or want to know whether JAMS is appropriate for your specific needs, you may also be asked to provide your name, position, company name, address, telephone/mobile phone, email address and similar information for each party, as well as your preferences for the hearing format, resolution center and Neutral and other information about your case. Users may request to receive information from JAMS, or to otherwise interact with JAMS, in which case an email or other address may be collected in order to allow us to comply with the request, and for other purposes as may be disclosed to you at the time the request is made or otherwise as set forth in this Privacy Policy. Under GDPR requirements, such collection of personal data has several bases: all or most of this is generally necessary for performing a contract ("contractual basis"), that is, if you engage us to submit a case, we are required to keep you informed about the various steps in your case.  Moreover, JAMS is an organization that carries out tasks in the public interest; it is a widely recognized, privatized judicial system.  Alternative dispute resolution organizations such as JAMS are sanctioned by the laws of many countries, most of which acknowledge the importance of ADR's role providing arbitration and mediation as an important channel in the administration of justice. The case information collected by JAMS, including personal data as necessary, is essential to JAMS's dispute resolution functions, and falls squarely with the "public task" basis for collecting and maintaining such information under the GDPR.

  • Purpose of Collection of Other Personal Data; Privacy Shield: We collect certain personal data constituting human resources data or "HR Data" both in the United States and wherever we have employees or associates abroad, which in Europe is limited to our affiliated company in the United Kingdom, JAMS International, and non-HR Data, generally consisting of personal data about those involved in JAMS cases/proceedings in the United States and abroad, whether such persons are parties to the case, Neutrals involved with the case, or witnesses, for storage and processing on servers in the United States. The collection of personal data for HR purposes from employees ("associates") in the United Kingdom is necessary on various bases or grounds, such as in fulfillment of the employment contract between employee and employer, to fulfill legal obligations such tax and social welfare requirements regarding employees collect such information regarding employees, and is a legitimate interest of JAMS, the data controller.

    With respect to HR-related personal data about associates and independent Neutrals located in the United Kingdom, access to such data will be provided to such associates either directly or through JAMS International. Should any such employees not be satisfied with internal review procedures or applicable grievance procedures by law or contract regarding any complaint about data protection rights, their recourse would be to the national data protection authority in the jurisdiction where such employees work, primarily the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) in the United Kingdom. We will cooperate with any such authority. Most personal data that originates in the United Kingdom, including HR-related personal data, will be maintained at JAMS's secure data centers in the United States, via a transfer between data controllers within a controlled group of entities, from the UK to JAMS' data centers in accordance with the Privacy Shield Framework between the EU and the United States, and the intercompany data protection compliance and control protocols.

  • Non-HR Data: Non-HR personal data that is collected and processed includes personal data about attorneys, parties and witnesses involved in JAMS cases (arbitration and mediation proceedings) and the Neutrals (arbitrators and mediators) presiding over such proceedings.  This personal data is collected only to the extent necessary given JAMS' legitimate interests as a data controller because such parties to JAMS proceedings and Neutrals participate in ADR legal proceedings under the auspices of JAMS.  In many cases, as with the Neutrals, there is also a contractual basis for collecting such data, and with parties in JAMS proceedings there is also a legal and public task basis for such collection. This is also true in the event you opt to engage in a Service offered on the Site, such as using Teachable, a cloud-based training and accreditation app or module, in which event your providing necessary personal data to use the Service would have a contractual basis.  Such information may be collected in the European Union (EU) or Switzerland and transferred to the United States in compliance with JAMS' certification under the Privacy Shield Frameworks.

  • Cookies: "Cookies" are small bits of electronic information that a website sends to a User's browser for storage on your hard drive, which make your interaction with the Site more efficient by remembering you, so for example you may not have to reenter a User ID on a subsequent Site visit. Like most websites, we employ the use of "cookies" in certain areas of our Site and with certain Services to allow us to provide information that is targeted to your interests and optimizes your online experience, such as providing information of potential interest to you based on your use of the Services. Most cookies are "session cookies," meaning that they are automatically deleted at the end of your session.  Moreover, you always have the right to decline our cookies by setting your web browser to reject cookies, although this may adversely affect the usability of the Site. In the event that you have accessed the Site from the European Union, consistent with GDPR requirements, you will be presented with a pop-up screen requiring consent to store the cookies described on such screen on your device (other than those that are essential to provide a Service) in order to continue to use the Site and its Services.

  • Tracked Information: Our servers automatically track certain information about you as you use our Site, some of which may contain personal data. This information may include the URL that you just came from, which URL you go to next, what browser you are using, which webpages and Services you use, how long you spend on particular webpages, and your IP address. Our Site logs track and collect aggregate and sometimes anonymized Site usage data, such as the number of hits and visits to our Site ("Usage Data"). This information is used for internal purposes by technical support staff to provide better services to the public and may also be provided to third parties, but the statistics are aggregate and contain no individual personal data. We do not ask for, collect or knowingly receive sensitive personal data (except to the extent it exists as part of HR data). To the extent that the aggregate and anonymized Usage Data is obtained from European residents and is not fully de-identified, either we will rely on the legitimate interests of JAMS in collecting such data to provide a better Site experience, or we will ask for your express consent.

    How We Use and/or Disclose the Information
    We may use personal data that you provide to us deliver effective case management, or to maintain, customize and add new resources and Services that may benefit you, and to allow communication and interaction between you and JAMS, and between JAMS, parties to proceedings, Neutrals and JAMS associates/employees. In addition, we will share the personal data we collect from you under the following circumstances:

  • Protection of rights. We will share personal data if we have a good faith belief that (i) access, use, preservation or disclosure of such information is reasonably necessary to satisfy any applicable law, regulation, legal process, such as a court order or subpoena, or a request by law enforcement or governmental authorities, (ii) such action is appropriate to enforce the Terms of Service for the Site, including any investigation of potential violations thereof, (iii) such action is necessary to detect, prevent, or otherwise address fraud, security or technical issues associated with the Services, or (iv) such action is appropriate to protect the rights, property or safety of JAMS, its employees, Neutrals, users of the Services or others.

  • Asset/equity transfers. If we become involved in a merger, acquisition or other transaction involving the sale of some or all of JAMS's assets or equity, information on Users, Neutrals and associates/employees, including personal data collected from you through your use of the Site and its Services, could be included in the transferred assets. Users of the Site will be notified via a prominent notice on the Site prior to a change of ownership or control that would involve a transfer of User information held by us, subject to applicable law including any statutory periods restricting disclosure.

  • Service Providers. In the event that we engage service providers as data processors on our behalf, then subject to appropriate confidentiality and security measures, including compliance with this Privacy Policy, we may share your personal data with them.  Any such third-party data processors are and/or will be subject to contractual agreements to ensure that they only process personal data provided by JAMS in a manner consistent with JAMS's obligations under the Privacy Shield Principles and GDPR requirements as more fully described and made accessible to you below. JAMS remains liable under such Principles if its agent processes your personal data in a manner inconsistent with the Principles, unless we can prove that we are not responsible for the event giving rise to any damage.

  • Marketing purposes. We will occasionally use your personal data for our own marketing purposes, subject to applicable law, and subject to your clearly indicated right to opt-out of receiving any such communications from us. If you are a resident of the European Union, we will require your express consent in order to be able to send your marketing-related communications, such as newsletters. We may send you emails, newsletters, articles of potential interest, announcements involving our Neutrals or new Services, and notice about bar association and legal events that may be of interest to our Users.

  • Usage Data. We may share Usage Data and other aggregated, anonymized information that shows patterns, trends, preferences, and other collective characteristics of our Users, with third parties. Disclosure of this information helps us and our marketing partners evaluate and tailor our communications, advertisements, Services and general business practices to the needs of our Users.

  • Public Authorities. We may disclose your personal data in response to lawful requests by public authorities, including to meet national security or enforcement requirements.
     

    Control, Rectification and Erasure of Your Information; Data Portability

     

    European Union/UK Residents:

    With respect to human resources-related personal data about employees/associates of JAMS's affiliated company, JAMS International, located in the United Kingdom, access to such information will be provided to such associates/employees either directly or through JAMS International. Should any such employees not be satisfied with internal review procedures or applicable grievance procedures by law or contract regarding any complaint about data protection rights, their recourse is to the national data protection authority in the jurisdiction where such employees work. We will cooperate with any such authority.

    You have the right to have your inaccurate personal data rectified, or personal data completed if it is incomplete, and even to have your personal data erased.  You can request rectification verbally or in writing, and we will respond within 30 days if your request is appropriate.  While we are checking out your request, you have the right to ask that we restrict the processing of your personal data.  After review, we may respond that we believe the personal data is accurate, and we will not be amending it. If we believe that your rectification request is manifestly unfounded or excessive, or repetitive, we may condition our response on your payment of a reasonable fee to deal with your request, or refuse to deal with it, explaining our decision. In either case, you can then make a complaint to the applicable data protection authority, which because our only JAMS-owned establishment in Europe is in London, should be the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), as explained in more detail below.

    We suggest that you send any request to info@jamsadr.info, and call it "GDPR Rectification Request" in the header. This is not a legal requirement, but it increases the likelihood of a timely response if we can catalog your request. If your request is complex or part of multiple requests from you, we have the right to extend our response time by an additional two months provided we keep you informed.  If we are uncertain or suspicious about the identity of the person making the rectification request, we can ask you for additional ID.

    The right to "erasure" of your personal data is sometimes called the right to be forgotten.  However, you only have the right to erasure if our basis for holding your personal data is consent, because your giving consent implies your right to reverse your consent.  However, as we are a private judicial organization providing ADR services, most of the personal data we hold is NOT based on your consent, but rather has another basis such as a legal or contractual basis, legitimate interest and/or performance of a public task.  For example, if we hold personal data about you as a party to a case administered by JAMS, we will be obligated to hold all such information for a time period often specified by statute (or contract), and we are under no obligation in such circumstance to remove your personal data (or existence) from the case record.  In relation to a request for erasure, we will not charge any fee.

    We mentioned above that you have the right to request us to restrict the processing of your data, and we will not charge a fee for this provided that the request is not excessive or unreasonable.  You have this right in the following circumstances: (i) you contest the accuracy of the personal data; (ii) the personal data has been unlawfully processed, but instead of erasure, you want processing restricted; (iii) we no longer need the personal data, but you would like us to keep it in order to establish, exercise or defend a legal claim; or (iv) you object to our processing of personal data, but we have not yet responded to your request. At that point we will store but not process the data, and we will not lift the restriction until we have rendered a decision on the accuracy of the data or whether our grounds for resuming processing override your legitimate grounds for restriction.  We will inform you of our decision before lifting the restriction.

    Data Portability: if we process your personal data by automated means based on your consent, or performance of a contract, and not another legal basis, then you have the right to request that we provide you a copy of your personal data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable form, such as a CSV file.  We will do this free of charge.  If it is technically feasible, you can request that we transmit the personal data directly to another organization, rather than to you.  We will respond to your request within 30 days, unless the request is complex or you send us multiple requests, in which case we have the right upon notice to you to extend our response by another two months.

    Under the Privacy Shield Principles, regarding personal data transferred from the EU/UK or Switzerland, you will have the right to (i) obtain our confirmation as to whether or not we are processing your personal data; (ii) have communicated to you such personal data so that you can verify its accuracy and the lawfulness of the data processing; and (iii) have your personal data corrected, amended or deleted where it is inaccurate or processed in violation of such Principles, particularly if it is processed based on your consent (please review preceding paragraphs regarding GDPR rights for EU residents which may be more extensive than the Privacy Shield Principles).  We have the right to charge a fee that is not excessive to comply with your request, except as otherwise indicated in the preceding paragraphs. You do not have to justify your request for personal data, but we have the right to engage in a dialogue with you to better understand what you are seeking.  We also have the right to obtain sufficient information about your identity to ensure that the request is not fraudulent. If we determine that access should be restricted, we will provide you with an explanation as to why we made that determination, and give you a contact point for any further inquiries. For example, if we are unable to separate confidential commercial information from your personal data, we have the right to deny or limit access to avoid revealing such confidential commercial information or redact the confidential commercial information. Moreover, we have the right to set reasonable limits on the number of times within a given period you have the right to make access requests, so as to limit repetitious or vexatious requests.

    Data Protection Authority for EU Residents.  Given that JAMS's principal affiliated Regional Center in Europe is headquartered in the United Kingdom, we hereby designate the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) as the Lead supervisory authority for any cross-border processing activity, or that involves citizens of more than one EU country, under the GDPR. 

    All Other Users (Outside EU):

    You have the right to access your personal data.  You may choose to opt out of certain disclosure if you do not want your information disclosed to a third party or be used for a purpose materially different than the purpose for which it was originally collected or subsequently authorized by you (unless the disclosure is merely to an agent performing tasks for us under our instructions or control).  You may request that we update, correct, amend or delete any of the personal data or other information we have collected from you, or you may opt out of receiving JAMS emails and other communications such as newsletters, by sending an email to us at info@jamsadr.info. We may choose not to fulfill any request that we determine is illegal or incorrect, where we need to maintain the personal data because of our contractual or legal obligations (e.g., personal data in case files),  where the burden or expense of providing access would be disproportionate to the risks to the individual's privacy, or where the rights of persons other than the individual would be violated, but our intention is to comply with opt-out requests, and other requests that seek to correct, update or delete your personal data, as fully as possible in accordance with applicable law and the Privacy Shield Principles. You will also be given notice should we use your personal data for a purpose other than that for which it was originally collected or processed.  We do not ask for, collect or knowingly receive sensitive personal data, i.e., personal data specifying medical or health conditions, racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, or information relating to sex life (unless this is part of case information that we administer).  Organizations that seek or disclose such sensitive personal data must receive your affirmative express consent (opt in) before disclosing it to a third party or using it for a purpose other than that for which it was originally collected or subsequently authorized.

    Because JAMS provides alternative dispute resolution mechanisms that operate in accordance with judicial procedures, we may also deny or limit access to personal data in the following contexts: (i) interference with law enforcement or with private causes of action, including the prevention, investigation or detection of offenses or the right to a fair trial, arbitration or mediation; (ii) disclosure where the legitimate rights or important interests of others would be violated; (iii) breaching a legal or other professional privilege or obligation; (iv) prejudicing employee security investigations or grievance proceedings or in connection with employee succession planning and corporate reorganizations; or (v) prejudicing the confidentiality necessary in monitoring, inspection or regulatory functions connected with sound management, or in future or ongoing negotiations involving JAMS.


    Third-Party Websites
    While using the Site and certain Services, you may have access to or link to third-party websites, or your use of the Services may involve transfer to a third-party website, e.g., you may be referred to a payment processor website to provide credit card information or to a case management site to facilitate such services .  Linked third-party websites are independent of JAMS, and have their own terms of use/service and privacy policies, which govern your use of such websites.  Any link does not imply JAMS's endorsement of the third-party website.

    Security
    Any personal data that you provide to us is stored on servers located in secure third-party data centers with restricted access, and which are protected by protocols, procedures and best practices designed to ensure the security of such information. In addition, we restrict access to personal data to JAMS employees, independent contractors and agents who need to know this information in order to develop, operate and maintain the Services, and are subject to confidentiality obligations. However, no server, computer or communications network or system, or data transmission over the Internet, can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. As a result, while we strive to protect User information, we cannot guarantee the security of any information you transmit to us or through the use of the Site or any of the Services. In the event that we believe that there has been a security breach involving your personal data, we would endeavor to notify you promptly in accordance with applicable law. In the event such notification is appropriate under the circumstances, we would first try to notify you at the latest email address we have for you on record, subject to legal requirements. 

    Children's Privacy
    The Site is a general audience website not intended for any person under 18 years old.  We do not knowingly collect personal data from any person under the age of 13. 
      
    Notification of Changes
    This Privacy Policy may change from time to time and we will post all the most current, updated Policy here.  We suggest you review it periodically to ensure that you are in agreement with the latest updates.
      
    Privacy Shield
    JAMS complies with the EU - U.S. Privacy Shield Framework and the Swiss - U.S. Privacy Shield Framework as set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding the collection, use and retention of personal data transferred from the European Union and Switzerland to the United States, respectively.  JAMS has certified to the Department of Commerce that it adheres to the Privacy Shield Principles of both Frameworks, and any reference to "Privacy Shield Principles" shall include such Principles under both the EU and Swiss Frameworks. If there is any conflict between the terms in this Privacy Policy and the Privacy Shield Principles, the Privacy Shield Principles shall govern.    For further information about the requirements for compliance with the Privacy Shield, and further detail about the Privacy Shield Principles, please visit https://www.privacyshield.gov.  For purposes of our participation in the Privacy Shield, JAMS confirms that we are subject to the jurisdiction of the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and to its investigatory and enforcement powers, 

    Complaints and Dispute Resolution
    If you have any complaint or concern regarding your personal data (personal data) under this Privacy Policy, or arising under the Privacy Policy please contact us at info@jamsadr.com.  We suggest that you put in the subject line of any email or communication "Privacy Policy" or "Privacy Complaint."  We will respond within 45 days.  If this does not resolve your concern, you have three (3) escalating options.  (1) If you have an unresolved privacy or data use dispute or concern that we have not addressed satisfactorily, please contact our U.S.-based third party dispute resolution provider (free of charge) at https://feedback-form.truste.com/watchdog/request.  (2) If you are unable to resolve your issue under clause (1) above, you can raise the issue with the local Data Protection Authority in the UK/EU regarding customer data, and you must choose this route concerning your Human Resources personal data that is the subject of your complaint (that is, personal data transferred from the UK/EU to the United States relating to your employment status), which will then be taken up by the relevant EU Data Protection Authority with the US Department of Commerce to resolve the issue, and the Department of Commerce will use best efforts to resolve the issue within timeframes set forth in the Letter from the International Trade Administration of such Department, at no cost to you. As the likely source of Human Resources Data for JAMS from outside the United States would be the United Kingdom, you can contact the Information Commissioner's Office in the United Kingdom, which is the local Data Protection Authority, at https://ico.org.uk/concerns or call its helpline in the UK at 0303 123 1113.  (3) If you still believe that your complaint or dispute has not been resolved, you can invoke binding arbitration as a last resort (if permitted with respect to your complaint), by providing notice to us in the manner indicated in Annex I to the EU - U.S. Privacy Shield Principles, available online, and following the procedures set forth in such Annex.  The location of the arbitration will be in the United States. You may choose video or telephone participation, which will be provided at no cost to you. In-person participation will not be required.  To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, you will not be entitled to recover attorneys' or arbitration fees, even if you would otherwise be entitled to them. In addition, EU citizens have the right to initiate a private cause of action.  Finally, with respect to any personal data transferred from Switzerland to the U.S., the Swiss Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner's authority shall substitute for the EU Data Protection Authority, and JAMS agrees to cooperate with such Swiss Commissioner in this context. JAMS commits to follow up in its verification that the attestations and assertions made in this Privacy Policy are true, and to remedy any problems that may arise if we fail to comply with the Privacy Shield Principles.

    Mediation
    You also agree that, in the event any dispute or claim arising out of or relating to your use of the Site or the Services or this Privacy Policy that does not relate to your personal data (personal data), or that is not covered by the previous paragraph, you and JAMS will attempt in good faith to negotiate a written resolution of the matter directly between the parties. You agree that if the matter remains unresolved for forty-five (45) days after notification (via certified mail or personal delivery) that a dispute exists, all parties shall join in mediation services in Los Angeles, California with a mutually agreed mediator in an attempt to resolve the dispute. Should you file any arbitration claims, or any administrative or legal actions without first having attempted to resolve the matter by mediation, then you agree that to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, you will not be entitled to recover attorneys' fees, even if you would otherwise be entitled to them. 
      
    Verification
    JAMS self-assesses its compliance to the Privacy Shield Framework.  JAMSs' Privacy Policy regarding personal data  received from the EU is accurate, comprehensive and conforms to the Privacy Shield Principles. 

    Questions? Contact Us
    If you have any questions about our privacy practices or this Privacy Policy, please contact us by email at info@jamsadr.info  or you can contact us by mail at:

    JAMS
    18881 Von Karman Ave.
    Suite #350
    Irvine, CA 92612
    Attn: Sheri Eisner, General Counsel
      
    Terms of Service
    Please also read the Terms of Service governing use of the Site and the Services.