Terms of Use
Express Lien, Inc. – Disclaimer and Terms & Conditions
Understanding Express Lien, Inc.
Welcome to Express Lien, Inc. d/b/a Zlien (Company) your electronic project management and lien solution source.
Express Lien, Inc. prides itself on providing a unique lien management and filing service to the construction industry. However, Express Lien is not a law firm or attorneys, and cannot provide you legal advice. We do not offer attorney or lawyer services. The services we offer are different from the services offered by an attorney. We only provide self-help services at your specific direction. Although we are a registered legal document assistant in California, county clerks have not evaluated or approved Express Lien, Inc.’s knowledge or experience, or the quality of Express Lien’s services. Express Lien, Inc. is not permitted to engage in the practice of law, including providing any kind of advice, explanation, opinion, or recommendation to a consumer about possible legal rights, remedies, defenses, options, selection of forms, or strategies.
Attorneys can give you competent legal advice to help you determine whether you have a right to lien, whether there are other or more specific ways to enforce your rights for payment, and whether you are selecting the correct document-type to file. Express Lien is not a law firm, and we cannot provide this advice.
If you do not want to consult an attorney for legal advice, you can perform research on the law yourself and draw your own conclusions, at your own risk. Express Lien provides legal information (not legal advice) on its blog (http://www.constructionlienblog.com) and in its “Lien Law Punchlists.” This legal information is oftentimes a compilation of information from other sources.
In addition to these resources, you can use Google or other search engines to find the lien statutes in your state and read them, or you can search the web for other blogs, journals and legal information sites to learn more about the issue you confront. If you would like to locate an attorney in your area or you would like to get free legal advice, you can do so online through a website at http://www.avvo.com. You may also obtain information regarding free or low-cost representation through a local bar association or legal aid foundation and may contact local law enforcement, a district attorney, or a legal aid foundation if you believe you have been a victim of fraud, the unauthorized practice of law, or any other injury.
Express Lien, Inc. is a legal document preparation company. We are licensed as a legal document assistant in Los Angeles County, California, as LDA-352. This license expires in May 2012. Our mailing address is 14525 SW Millikan #7790, Beaverton, Oregon, 97005-2343. Our phone number is 866-720-5436 (LIEN).
When you feel comfortable that you are entitled to send a notice or file a lien, you can rest assured that Express Lien will file it and serve it appropriately. But, please understand that the lien laws vary state to state and are updated, changed and altered frequently, by legislation, jurisprudence, mandate and other executive action.
Please read these Disclaimers and the Terms & Conditions of your use of ExpressLien.Com, Lien Pilot, Lien Wizard, Express Lien, Inc., ConstructionLienBlog.com, and any and all of our other services (together these are the “User Terms”). This entire page, beginning at the top, consists of the User Terms of your use of, without limitation, this website, any affiliated websites, written and design materials found through any of our resources, our forms and documents, our software, html, and other electronic data, our educational, informational and blog resources, and any e-mail, facsimile, verbal, telephonic or other communications.
Use of Express Lien, Inc.’s Services
Please be advised that Zlienit.com, LienPilot.com, MechanicLien.com, ExpressLien.com, Lien Wizard, Lien Pilot and ConstructionLienBlog.com are all operated under Express Lien, Inc., a Washington state corporation. Express Lien, Inc. provides services through these websites, but also through its offices, facsimile transmissions and the personnel you speak to and communicate with about our services. Use of any of our websites, products, forms, data, information, resources, or other services, governed by Express Lien, Inc.’s User Terms, which appear on this page.
By using the services provided by Express Lien, Inc. (the “Company”), you understand, acknowledge and agree that under no circumstances will the Company, its directors, its shareholders, its employees, its officers, its writers, or its other agents or contractors (together the Company’s “agents”), be responsible for (1) interpretation of the lien, or any other, laws; (2) any information contained on or omitted from any of its websites, or which is communicated to you from any of the Company’s agents, (3) any person’s or entity’s reliance on, or expectations about, any such information, regardless of the information’s accuracy, (4) any action, omission, or failure to act occasioned by any person or entity based upon information, advice, or customer service provided by the Company, through any source, or any medium. In short – you understand that you use the Company’s services AT YOUR OWN RISK.
The Company, its agents, and its writers cannot and do not provide legal assistance, advising or counsel, and as such they shall have no responsibility or liability for (1) any person’s reliance upon information provide by attorneys to the Company’s resources, (2) opinions or assumptions made by legal professionals employed by or consulting with the Company, (3) and any and all understandings, beliefs, reliance, or responses you form or make as a consequence of any information, opinions, or assumptions given to you by agents of the Company.
The Company is not a law firm, and the employees of the Company are not acting as your attorney. The Company does not practice law and does not give legal advice. This site and the Company’s services are not intended to create an attorney-client relationship, and by using the Company, no attorney-client relationship will be created with the Company, its employees, affiliates, members, or with any and all law firms, attorneys and/or other parties who sponsor, advertise and/or are otherwise represented within the Company’s websites or promotions.
You Agree to the Disclaimer of Warranties
The Company does all it can to ensure that its services are accurately rendered, but error exists in all things, which you understand and acknowledge. The Company is not and shall not be responsible for any errors or omissions that occur in the course of performing services. THIS SITE IS PROVIDED TO THE CUSTOMER “AS IS.” To the fullest extent permissible, the Company disclaims all warranties expressed or implied, including but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
To be more specific, but without limiting anything to the following, the Company does not warrant (1) that the information provided on Company websites, during phone calls or in communications are error free, fact checked or up to date, (2) that documents ordered by you will be timely filed, served or mailed, in accordance with law, (3) that documents ordered by you will be error free, (4) that documents ordered by you will include any information other than that which is provided by you, (5) that the correct document will be filed, served or mailed, (6) that you will or may have the right to file a notice, lien, or other document offered by the Company, or (7) that you will be able to remedy errors in a timely fashion.
The limitations listed in this Section partially stem from the Company’s inability to access all the information about a project, your customers and the work that you perform. Thus, it is vital that you be proactive and take all efforts to collect as much data about your customers, their contracts with owners, project data and the dates of your service and the completion of the project. Being informed can save your lien rights!
The Company is merely a document filing service, and makes no warranties or representations regarding your legal right to file a lien. The Company makes no guarantee that the lien will be filed timely in accordance with relevant laws, or that you and/or your company is legally entitled to lien a premises. The Company will deliver the ordered document to the proper party and/or recording office within five (5) business days of any placed orders, or if a rush charge is paid by you within one (1) business day of any placed order. However, these performance dates are subject to your cooperation with the Company, who may require additional information or documentation to place your order. If additional information and documentation is required, the Company will deliver the ordered document to the proper party and/or recording office within the previously stated time periods from the date the additional information or documentation is provided. In all cases, the Company cannot guarantee that the recording office or receiving party will file or receive the document on presentation.
For filings, you agree that the Company is not responsible for any delay in filing as a result of delays and errors of the United States Postal Service, UPS, FedEx and/or any other similar delivery method, nor is the Company responsible for the recording office’s errors, mistakes, backlog, decision on whether r not to file, and/or any other delays by the recording office whatsoever. For other documents that are not filed, you agree the Company is not responsible for any delay in delivering as a result of any delays and errors of the United States Postal Service, UPS, FedEx and/or any other similar delivery method, nor is the Company responsible for any party’s refusal to accept delivery of any documents.
You Agree to Limitations on Liability
The Company, its agents, and its writers shall not be liable to a customer or any other person or entity for any damage that results from the use of, or the inability to use, the Company’s services, for reliance on the information contained in any of the Company’s websites, for any misrepresentations made by you, communications or other resources, or for any consequential, incidental, indirect, punitive, special or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. You agree and acknowledge that your full and sole recovery shall be limited to the cost of the services provided to you by the Company, to the minimal extent possible to rescind the single transaction causing you damage or loss.
You agree that the Company and its agents or assigns SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ATTORNEY’S FEES, LEGAL COSTS, LOST PROFITS, LOST COLLECTIONS, LOST OR ELAPSED RIGHTS, OR ANY OTHER LOST BENEFIT OR ADVANTAGE THAT IN ANY WAY IS DUE TO, RESULTING FROM, OR ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMPANY’S SERVICES, INFORMATION, CONTENT, OR PERFORMANCE, REGARDLESS OF ANY NEGLIGENCE, WHETHER MINOR OR GROSS, on the part of the Company, its agents or assigns.
You have a duty to and agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its agents and assigns, from and against any and all liabilities of every nature, which arise from the Company’s performance of services on your behalf, including but not limited to (a) injury or death of any person; (b) damages to property; (c) defect in title or financing; (d) violation of any laws; (e) failure to pay recordation or other fees or taxes to any governing agency: (f) failure to pay contractors, employees, suppliers, or other parties to which it owes liability for anything related to Company’s services; (g) damages to other parties, contractors, subcontractors, or supplies; or (h) delay, financing, rental, or clouded title damages, all of which is including, without limitation, consequential, incidental and special damages, costs, claims, penalties, fines, forfeitures, causes of action, or suits and the costs and expenses incident thereto, including costs of defense, negotiation, preparation, settlement and reasonable attorneys’ fees, which you, your client or any other party, may incur, suffer, or be responsible for, which is caused by, arise out of, or are related to the performance of the Company’s services, in any manner.
Your obligations to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company survives any allegations or judgment which implicates that the Company or another party is partially, collectively, comparatively, or contributory negligent or responsible for any portion of the damages, up to and including the full extent of the your responsibility for liability explained herein.
The Company’s right to indemnification is an additional right and does not limit or exclude other remedies such that Company shall have any and all rights granted by this Agreement or law. Your duty to defend the Contractor and duty to indemnify and hold harmless the Company are separate and independent obligations, but cumulative, and the duty to defend arises immediately upon the Company being placed in a defensive position under any circumstance caused to any extent by you. Company shall be entitled to select its own legal counsel but you shall remain liable for the full cost of those fees and legal costs, which the Company is entitled to under this Section.
Information Provided to the Company
The Company is not responsible or liable for any misrepresentations made by you or your company. You agree that the Company will prepare the ordered product based only on the information you submit to the Company, and you understand that the accuracy, completeness and/or reliability of this information is not guaranteed, checked, monitored or otherwise reviewed by the Company. At no time does the Company review submitted information for legal sufficiency, and the Company does not draw legal conclusions, provide legal advice or apply the law to the facts of your particular situation. The Company is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.
Each document template used requires certain information about you, your customer, your project and the debt. Any delay in providing requested information to the Company will delay the processing of your order.
You Agree That The Company is Your Agent
For the purposes of signing and filing your ordered product only, you appoint the Company and its employees and agents as your agent and/or your company’s agent, and specifically indemnify the Company, as provided in these User Terms, in connection to the appointment.
Advertisers, Referrals, and Partnering Persons and Entities
The Company works with others in the lien law arena. Some of these professionals, persons and entities may advertise or partner with the Company to provide services to you. The Company shall not be responsible for (1) any and all information, advising, and opinions of these parties, (2) these parties’ failure to contact or communicate with you, and (3) these parties’ performance of duties on your behalf. You accept the risk of loss, damage or non-performance by any of these persons. While the Company tries its best to work with top-notch parties, it cannot control the actions of these professionals, persons or entities – so please proceed at your own caution.
Escrow.Com and Other Contractors
The Company works with others service providers and contractors, who provide valuable services to you. Escrow.Com works under a partnership with the Company to provide escrow access for clients trying to resolve lien disputes. Other contractors may be added to the Company’s services to provide additional services to you. The Company shall not be responsible for (1) any and all information, advising, and opinions of these parties, (2) these parties’ failure to contact or communicate with you, and (3) these parties’ performance of duties on your behalf. You are limited to any and all terms and conditions of those contractors’ services. Escrow.Com houses its terms and conditions at https://www.escrow.com/resources/to_use.asp.
You accept the risk of loss, damage or non-performance by any of these persons. While the Company tries its best to work with top-notch parties, it cannot control the actions of these professionals, persons or entities – so please proceed at your own caution.
Assignments of Liens
The Company also offers the purchase of and assignment of your lien rights. In some cases, you may determine that your lien rights are enforceable (or marginally so) but that you do not want to (a) expend the cost to pursue enforcement and/or (b) run the risk of non-payment or non-collection. In some of these instances, after proper review by a Company agent, the Company may elect to purchase, buy and assume assumption of your lien rights, lien documents, and security.
In the event that the Company elects to transact with you for the purchase of your lien and/or lien rights, you are obligated to execute the Company’s standard Assignment of Rights Agreement and comply with the terms and conditions thereon. You also agree to (1) provide the Company with any and all documents which it requests, (2) cooperate with the Company’s action to enforce these rights, and (3) refrain from excluding vital information which might have an effect on the claim. Please refer to your Assignment of Rights Agreement for the full extent of the terms of your transfer.
Deadline Calculation and “Lien Pilot” Software
The Company also offers as part of its “Lien Pilot” a software system whereby users input requested information about their construction project, and the system generates legal education material relevant to the project along with (i) potentially relevant forms; and (ii) potentially relevant deadlines for filing and delivering notices, liens, lawsuits, cancellations and similar instruments.
The Lien Pilot software does not engage in the practice of law. The summary of legal steps, the legal educational materials, and the calculated deadlines are rendered by the Lien Pilot software for managerial and educational purposes only. The results of the Lien Pilot’s software calculations are not to be relief upon in lieu of legal advice. You must independently verify the deadline calculations and legal educational materials provided with your legal counsel.
Further, the legal deadlines and requirements applicable to your project are complex, and change frequently by law, jurisprudence, mandate and otherwise. While the database may be useful for educational and managerial purposes, there are limitations to the ability of a database, unavoidable errors and typographical mistakes, and other problems.
The Lien Pilot is also a BETA program. As defined by Wikipedia, “Beta” is a nickname for software which has passed the alpha testing stage of development and has been released to users for software testing before its official release.”
The database and software is provided “AS IS” and are intended for use only by business executives, receivable managers, credit, legal and other business professionals familiar with the general administration and usage of lien law statutes and laws.
Currently, the Lien Pilot software and database only has data for certain private projects, certain state projects and all federal Miller Act Projects. It does not support state projects, except in the states of CA, IL, NJ, NY, LA, OR, VA and WA. It supports Miller Act Projects across the country, but for private projects, it only supports the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MS, MO, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OK, OR, PN, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, DC.
Terms & Conditions of Sale
The Company (“Seller”) hereby agrees to sell, and You (“Buyer”) hereby agree to purchase, services of the description and quantity described on the checkout window (“Checkout”) and incorporated herein by this reference (“Services”) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Buyer agrees to pay the Purchase Price of the Services as posted on this website. The total amount of the Purchase Price shall be payable in full by Buyer according to the payment due date stated at Checkout. Any portion of the Purchase Price unpaid past thirty (30) days shall be considered overdue. All amounts past due are subject to a late charge of the lesser of one and one-half percent (1 1/2%) per month (being eighteen percent (18%) per annum) or the highest lawful rate. In addition, Seller shall have the right to pursue any remedies available at law or as provided herein and shall be entitled to reimbursement from Buyer for Seller’s costs of collection, including attorney fees, legal fees and costs and disbursements.
Orders of Services may be canceled within 48 hours, whereupon 80% of the Purchase Price will be refunded. If the order was “rushed,” the $95.00 rush fee will not be refunded, but 80% of the order’s underlying charge will be refunded. Any monthly charges are refunded on a pro-rata basis for services not used.
In the event your debt is paid by the debtor after ordering the Services from the Company, but before the Services order is processed, the Company will refund 100% of the Purchase Price.
Conduct on Site
Your use of the site is subject to all applicable laws and regulations, and you are solely responsible for the substance of your communications through the site. By posting information in or otherwise using any communications service, chat room, message board, newsgroup, software library, or other interactive service that may be available to you on or through this site, you agree that you will not upload, share, post, or otherwise distribute or facilitate distribution of any content — including text, communications, software, images, sounds, data, or other information — that:
a. is unlawful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, libelous, deceptive, fraudulent, invasive of anothers privacy, tortious, contains explicit or graphic descriptions or accounts of sexual acts (including but not limited to sexual language of a violent or threatening nature directed at another individual or group of individuals), or otherwise violates our rules or policies;
b. victimizes, harasses, degrades, or intimidates an individual or group of individuals on the basis of religion, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age, or disability;
c. infringes on any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, right of publicity, or other proprietary right of any party;
d. constitutes unauthorized or unsolicited advertising, junk or bulk email (also known as “spamming”), chain letters, any other form of unauthorized solicitation, or any form of lottery or gambling;
e. contains software viruses or any other computer code, files, or programs that are designed or intended to disrupt, damage, or limit the functioning of any software, hardware, or telecommunications equipment or to damage or obtain unauthorized access to any data or other information of any third party; or
f. impersonates any person or entity, including any of our employees or representatives.
We neither endorse nor assume any liability for the contents of any material uploaded or submitted by third party users of the site. We generally do not pre-screen, monitor, or edit the content posted by users of communications services, chat rooms, message boards, newsgroups, software libraries, or other interactive services that may be available on or through this site. However, we and our agents have the right at their sole discretion to remove any content that, in our judgment, does not comply with these Terms of Use and any other rules of user conduct for our site, or is otherwise harmful, objectionable, or inaccurate. We are not responsible for any failure or delay in removing such content. You hereby consent to such removal and waive any claim against us arising out of such removal of content. See “Use of Your Materials” below for a description of the procedures to be followed in the event that any party believes that content posted on this site infringes on any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, right of publicity, or other proprietary right of any party.
In addition, you may not use your account to breach security of another account or attempt to gain unauthorized access to another network or server. Not all areas of the site may be available to you or other authorized users of the site. You shall not interfere with anyone elses use and enjoyment of the site or other similar services. Users who violate systems or network security may incur criminal or civil liability.
You agree that we may at any time, and at our sole discretion, terminate your membership, account, or other affiliation with our site without prior notice to you for violating any of the above provisions. In addition, you acknowledge that we will cooperate fully with investigations of violations of systems or network security at other sites, including cooperating with law enforcement authorities in investigating suspected criminal violations.
Intellectual Property Information
Copyright (c) First Date of Use of the Website Express Lien, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
For purposes of these User Terms, “content” is defined as any information, data, communications, software, photos, video, graphics, music, sounds, and other material and services that can be viewed by users on our site. This includes message boards, chat, and other original content.
By accepting these User Terms, you acknowledge and agree that all content presented to you on this site is protected by copyrights, trademarks, service marks, patents or other proprietary rights and laws, and is the sole property of the Company and/or its Affiliates. You are only permitted to use the content as expressly authorized by us or the specific content provider. Except for a single copy made for personal use only, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, republish, upload, post, transmit, or distribute any documents or information from this site in any form or by any means without prior written permission from us or the specific content provider, and you are solely responsible for obtaining permission before reusing any copyrighted material that is available on this site. Any unauthorized use of the materials appearing on this site may violate copyright, trademark and other applicable laws and could result in criminal or civil penalties.
Neither we or our Affiliates warrant or represent that your use of materials displayed on, or obtained through, this site will not infringe the rights of third parties. See “Users Materials” below for a description of the procedures to be followed in the event that any party believes that content posted on this site infringes on any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, right of publicity, or other proprietary right of any party.
The following are registered trademarks, trademarks or service marks of Express Lien, Inc. or its Affiliates: Express Lien, Lien Smarter…Get Paid, Lien Wizard, Lien Pilot, Construction Lien Blog. All custom graphics, icons, logos and service names are registered trademarks, trademarks or service marks of Express Lien, Inc. or its Affiliates. All other trademarks or service marks are property of their respective owners. Nothing in these User Terms grants you any right to use any trademark, service mark, copyright, logo, and/or the name of Express Lien, Inc. or its Affiliates.
These Terms & Conditions May Change Without Notice!
You also agree that the Company and any of its agents, contractors, or assigns, may change, alter, or amend these User Terms without notice to you! You understand that because of changes in law, procedure, company offerings and ramifications of liability – changes to these User Terms may be necessary. The Company may change anything in these User Terms with or without notice to you; your continual use of the Company’s services is adequate and appropriate consideration for your acceptance of any changed, altered, or amended User Terms. Any change shall be retroactive to the first date of your use of the Company’s services. You should continue to check our website at http://www.expresslien.com/our-story/terms-of-use/ There you will be able to find the most current and applicable Terms.
Disputes with Express Lien and Remedies
All disputes that arise from your use of the Company’s services, in any way, shall be resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with the applicable rules of the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”) and the Consumer Dispute rules and procedure. In any action before an arbitrator, in conjunction with this section of the User Terms, the Company shall be entitled to its reasonable attorneys fees and costs, including any and all pre-filing costs associated with resolving the dispute, if it prevails partially or completely in the dispute.
Conducting the Arbitration
In the event, that any dispute is submitted to Arbitration, you and the Company shall split the costs of Arbitration, including the costs for the initiation of such Arbitration proceeding. The non-filing party shall furnish its one-half of the filing costs to the filing party or to the AAA, to be credited to the filing party, within ten (10) days after the non-filing party receives official notification of the proceedings from the AAA, or otherwise the filing party may recover liquidated damages of $200.00 per day until the amount is paid. Venue for any Arbitration proceeding hereunder shall be in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the neutral or arbitrator shall be a reputable attorney. You agree that any and all of your owners, principals, employees, and agents agree to the jurisdiction of the Arbitration, when the claims made against them arise out of your use of the Company’s services. The Company agrees to moderate discovery procedures, including production of documentation, inspection of property, interrogatories not to exceed twenty-five, and requests for admissions not to exceed twenty-five. You, your owners, principals, employees, and agents agree to submit responses to any and all informal subpoena requests, which do not require the signature or execution before a court of law. Any and all arbitration proceedings shall be heard within one calendar day, not to exceed eight hours and the arbitrator’s award shall be returnable within no more than ten (10) days from the date of the hearing. Any award of the arbitrator shall be determined a final judgment once confirmed by in the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana. You and the Company shall have the right to a single appeal to the Court of Appeals with jurisdiction over the arbitration award, to challenge an award for improper determinations of matters of law only. You or the Company shall have no further appellate rights. The ruling of the applicable Court of Appeals shall be the final resolution of all matters between the parties hereto.
Security and Password
You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and account and for any and all statements made and acts or omissions that occur through the use of your password and account. Therefore, you must take steps to ensure that others do not gain access to your password and account. Our personnel will never ask you for your password. You may not transfer or share your account with anyone, and we reserve the right to immediately terminate your account if you do transfer or share your account.
Notices
All notices to a party shall be in writing and shall be made either via email or conventional mail. Notices to us must be sent to the attention of Customer Service at scott@expresslien.com, if by email, or at Express Lien, Inc. 14525 SW Millikan #7790 Beaverton, Oregon 97005-2343 if by conventional mail. Notices to you may be sent to the address supplied by you as part of your Registration Data. In addition, we may broadcast notices or messages through the site to inform you of changes to the site or other matters of importance, and such broadcasts shall constitute notice to you at the time of sending.
All Terms Apply and Entire Agreement
While the User Terms are separated by heading, they are intended to be read as a whole and not in parts. Accordingly, each section of the User Terms applies to and is effective with the other. These User Terms constitute the entire agreement and understanding between you and the Company.
Also see our Privacy Policy at: http://www.zlienit.com/our-story/privacy-policy/
These User Terms last updated on September 9, 2010.
