Welcome to the Florida Justice Association® (“FJA” or “Association”) website ‐ your number one online resource! The Association realizes that in today’s world keeping one’s personal information private is of utmost importance, and we want to make sure that you know how we will handle any information you may submit on this website, www.myfja.org (myfja.org). This Privacy Statement and Security Policy (Policy) applies solely to information collected by this website. By accepting this Policy you expressly consent to our use and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with this Policy.
FJA may make modifications to this Policy without notice. Such modifications are effective immediately upon being published on myfja.org. We encourage visitors to review our policies periodically. This Policy will be governed by the laws of the State of Florida.
Florida Justice Association® (FJA®) events and programs are conducted as in-person or virtual programs, including but not limited to live streaming of a seminar or webinar, in which FJA determines the form and format of the delivery of a given FJA event/program. FJA events and programs shall be at FJA’s sole discretion and subject to change or cancellation. All terms herein shall apply to both in-person and virtual events/programs as applicable. For all virtual events, FJA utilizes third-party providers to deliver virtual conference links and access to content.
Registrants who are unable to attend an in-person or virtual event/program will have access to seminar recordings and materials in their online CLE classroom once video production has concluded post-event, which means registrants won’t miss anything–including being eligible to earn needed CLE credit hours.
REGISTRANT SUBSTITUTIONS
Should a registrant not be able to attend an FJA event or program, substitutions are acceptable so long as the individual substituting for the original registrant is a current FJA member eligible for the same programming. Contact the FJA CLE Department so that appropriate updates can be made to your registration and arrangements made to accommodate the substitute.
EVENT CANCELLATION BY REGISTRANT
Cancellation and refund requests should be submitted in writing via email to CLE@MyFJA.org. Refunds are not available should a change in your schedule prevent you from attending the seminar after applicable refund deadlines.
If a registrant submits a written request to cancel their registration up to thirty (30) days prior to an event/program start date (in-person or virtual event/program), the registrant would be entitled to receive a full refund of registration fees. Cancellation requests received up to fifteen (15) days before an event/program start date may be entitled to receive a full refund of the total registration fees paid less a processing fee, which amount is determined at FJA’s discretion and subject to change.
Registrants requesting to cancel less than fifteen (15) days before the event/program start date, including no-shows, will not be entitled to any monies as the amount paid is non-refundable. Substitutions as defined above could be utilized, otherwise program recordings and materials will be placed in the registrant’s online CLE classroom. All refunds will be processed in the same manner as original payment.
EVENT CANCELLATION BY FJA
FJA makes every effort to hold its events and programs; however, FJA reserves the right to cancel any event/program for any reason. In the unlikely event of cancellation, registrants will be notified in writing via email as well as a notice placed on FJA’s website. FJA may also elect to communicate the event/program cancellation utilizing one or more of its social media outlets. Registrants will receive a full refund of the registration fee in the same manner as original payment. Registrants may request fees paid be transferred to another FJA event/program or product in lieu of receiving a refund.
EVENT EXPENSES
Expenses are the responsibility of the member. Any liability or assumed liability by FJA is expressly waived. In the event of a canceled FJA event or program, our liability is limited to the amount paid for registration. FJA will not be liable for any claims, losses, costs, expenses, delays or loss of enjoyment, of any nature or kind whatsoever resulting from events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to airfare, hotel, per-diem, car rental, mileage or other travel costs, lost/incurred employee wages, salary, lost revenue, strikes, labor disputes, lockouts, threats or acts of terrorism, acts of war or declared war, instructor no-shows, delays or cancellation due to weather conditions, damage to persons or property arising out of or connected to an FJA function, pandemics or acts of God, etc..
FJA reserves the right to amend these policies and procedures without advance notice. Any revised policies and procedures will be posted on the FJA website.
As a registrant and attendee of an FJA in-person/virtual event or purchaser of a recorded FJA presentation, each registrant understands that confidential, privileged or proprietary information may be shared by a speaker, including but not limited to information concerning FJA’s legislative and political and/or other association advocacy policies or actions.
It is understood that FJA seminar/webinar registration presentations, as well as recordings and related materials of the same, are intended for the FJA member registrant for educational purposes and is not transferable. Each individual registrant agrees to not disclose or disseminate FJA seminar presentations or information without express written permission by FJA. Additionally registrants and attendees agree they will not record – not via audio, video or by other means – any portion of an FJA meeting, seminar, or event without permission of FJA.
The FJA follows the CDC’s COVID-19 guidelines. It is strongly recommended that individuals attending our in-person events should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are at high risk for severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions. People may choose to mask at any time. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should not attend the in-person event without first receiving a negative test. If you are immunocompromised, learn more about how to protect yourself.
The Florida Justice Association® (FJA®) is committed to the safety and well-being of all participants and attendees of its events, programs, and conferences. Participants are defined as, but not limited to, attendees, speakers/presenters, exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers, service providers, FJA staff or other invited guests. This policy applies to all FJA events, including events held in conjunction with FJA events in public or private facilities, and including those sponsored by third party companies or law firms.
FJA will not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment, including but not limited to sexual harassment. FJA reserves the right to take any action deemed necessary and appropriate related to any incident reported where behavior has been deemed inappropriate or unacceptable, including but not limited to immediate removal of the offending individual from an FJA event or meeting without refund or monies paid for the event as well as the right to prohibit attendance for the remainder of the event and/or future events.
The following list of inappropriate or unacceptable behaviors is not meant to serve as an exhaustive list, but the following are examples of behavior deemed unacceptable:
- Discrimination, Harassment, Intimidation, Threats or Stalking;
- Physical or Verbal Abuse;
- Inappropriate Verbal Comments Related to Gender, Age, Marital Status, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Disability, Personal Appearance, Race, Religion, or National Origin;
- Inappropriate Use of Nudity and/or Sexual Images in Public Spaces or in Presentations;
- Unwanted or Unwelcomed Touching, Unwanted Remarks of a Sexual Nature, Unwelcome Comments About Someone’s Body or Personal Appearance, and Unwanted or Unwelcome Attention.
FJA event participants who have been subjected to discrimination, harassment or other inappropriate or unacceptable behaviors – or witness another event participant subjected to the same – are encouraged to notify FJA CLE Director Lee Phillips at lphillips@myfja.org or (850) 251-4298; FJA Executive Director Paul Jess at pjess@myfja.org or (850) 251-4292; FJA General Counsel Bill Cotterall at wcotterall@myfja.org or (850) 524-3500; FJA Chief of Staff John Brazzell at jbrazzell@myfja.org or (850) 251-4290; or the current FJA President so that they can investigate and take appropriate action.
The Florida Justice Association® (FJA®) is committed to the safety and well-being of all participants, vendors and attendees of its events, programs, and conferences. FJA asks that if an event attendee or participant sees or hears something that may impact the safety and well-being of themselves or others to immediately report questionable or concerning activities to an FJA staff member, hotel/venue staff or security personnel.
The personal safety of those attending or participating in an FJA event is first and foremost. Unfortunately, it is necessary to be proactive to ensure you are doing all you can to maintain your personal safety. Tips include:
- Stay alert, confident and aware of your surroundings.
- Never remain alone in isolated or unoccupied areas; avoid alleys, shortcuts or vacant spaces.
- Keep your head up when walking and use direct eye contact with people around you, especially if alone; always give an impression you are calm, confident and know where you are going.
- Do not get distracted with text messages or wear earbuds.
- If you believe you are being followed, abruptly change directions and stay in well-lighted area; if necessary make noise to draw attention to you and the person following you.
- Lock your hotel door, even if you are leaving for a brief moment, but especially while you are sleeping, napping or leaving for an extended period. Exterior doors should never be propped open.
- Make sure your room key(s) are secured. Immediately report and replace lost or stolen room keys.
- Use the buddy system when walking to and from event venues, including networking event locations during early or late hours.
- Remove your meeting badge as soon as you leave an FJA event, especially when you leave the building/venue.
- Minimize displaying lots of cash or credit cards.
- Utilize your in-room hotel safe for personal property or valuables.
- Avoid leaving personal property unattended – anywhere, anytime.
- Above all, trust your instincts; if it doesn’t feel or look right, it most likely is not.
RESPONSIBLE DRINKING
At FJA events, including receptions, where both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are served, participants and staff who choose to drink alcoholic beverages are expected to drink responsibly. FJA and convention, hotel or venue event staff have the right to deny service to attendees for any reason and may require an attendee to leave the event.
Registrants, participants, vendors, and attendees for Florida Justice Association® (FJA®) events and programs recognize that by attending or participating in a live or virtual event/program, they are entering a space where photography, filming, and/or audio/video recording may be utilized.
Registrants, participants, vendors and attendees entering an event premises or virtual program consent to interview(s), photography, audio recording, video recording and its/their release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction to be used for news, webcasts, promotional purposes, telecasts, advertising, inclusion on websites, social media, or any other purpose by FJA and/or its affiliates and representatives. Images, photos and/or videos may be used to promote similar FJA events in the future, highlight the event and exhibit the capabilities of FJA. As a registrant, participant, vendor, or attendee you release FJA, its officers, directors, employees, contractors, agents, and each and all persons involved from any liability connected with the taking, recording, digitizing, or publication and use of interviews, photographs, computer images, video and/or or sound recordings.
Registrants, participants, vendors, and attendees entering an event premises or virtual program waive all rights they may have to any claims for payment or royalties in connection with any use, exhibition, streaming, webcasting, televising, or other publication of these materials, regardless of the purpose or sponsoring of such use, exhibiting, broadcasting, webcasting, or other publication irrespective of whether a fee for admission or sponsorship is charged. Registrants, participants, vendors, and attendees also waive any right to inspect or approve any photo, video, or audio recording taken by FJA or the person or entity designated to do so by FJA.
You acknowledge you have been fully informed of your consent, waiver of liability, and release before entering the event or joining a virtual program.
PURCHASES MADE ON MYFJA.ORG
FJA Members
When you purchase one of our products or services online that information is directed to a secure database where our staff retrieves and processes your request. Data provided during submission of your order is recorded as a record in our membership database. That information is used to not only provide you with the product or service you have purchased but enables us to streamline future communications and marketing with you, which ensures you are made aware of resources relevant to your interests. Payment for your purchase is not made on a real‐time basis.
Non‐members
Nonmembers have access to purchase many products and services on myfja.org not designated as Members Only. Upon making a purchase online, non‐members may be asked to provide their name, address, phone number, and e‐mail address, which are used to establish a contact record. Your contact information, along with details regarding your purchase, is used to fulfill your order as well as streamline future communications and marketing with you, which ensures you are made aware of resources relevant to your interests. Payment for your purchase is not made on a real‐time basis.
CREDIT CARD NUMBERS
FJA will not release your credit card account information to any person or entity.
The Florida Justice Association takes the safeguard of your credit card information seriously. Our dedication to members and non‐members who purchase products and services on myfja.org is what lead us to protect our site with the highest level of Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption software available to anyone. Because we selected SSL, purchasing products or services online with myfja.org is safe.
SECURITY
Any information you provide during your visit to Myfja.org is directed to a staff member, agent or department applicable to the operation executed. Financial information (credit card numbers, expiration date and verification number) of members or non‐members is encrypted before being transmitted over the Internet. Procedural and technical safeguards have been put into place to ensure that a restricted number of authorized staff or agents of FJA have access to the above‐mentioned personal information provided by our visitors. These safeguards apply to both internal and external accessibility. No financial information as outlined above is transmitted through email.
Financial information may be given to those employees who need the information to perform a certain job such as, but not limited to, processing dues payments or registration for a seminar. That financial information is then recorded in our membership database where again only certain staff, agents or departments have access to such information. The server which houses the FJA membership database is not connected to the World Wide Web and therefore safe from outside attacks; the database server is closely monitored by technology professionals in a secure environment.
Although we take every precaution when it comes to protecting the information our visitors provide, FJA recognizes that “true” security doesn’t exist on the World Wide Web; even the most well thought out security policies can be fallible. If you believe that your financial information has been compromised, know your rights by contacting your credit card provider or visiting the Federal Trade Commission website. Under The Fair Credit Billing Act, should your credit card information be exploited without your consent, you may have no liability for unauthorized use.
EMAIL ADDRESSES
More often than not the Association is utilizing email as a means of direct communication with its’ members. Because of this fact we encourage all FJA members to provide their email address for timely communication of important legislative issues or information about our seminars, products and services. Another reason for providing an up‐to‐date email address is that it allows members an easy way to request retrieval of their Web site username and password; the email address must match the address in our database.
See the Terms of Service Policy, Username and Password Information section, for more details about how your email address may be used.
From time to time FJA, its subsidiaries or its affiliates will send promotions to members via email informing them of products or services available that might be of interest. Examples of such promotions include, but not limited to, upcoming CLE seminars, on‐line deposition subscriptions through TrialSmith. Members are provided with an opportunity to opt out of future messages. This is easily done with a reply email or a message sent to FJA@floridajusticeassociation.org asking to be removed from our broadcast email list.
INFORMATION COLLECTED ON MYFJA.ORG
When you fill out an online form on myfja.org, we collect and store any information you enter on our website. Examples of instances where we collect your information are, but not limited to, registration for CLE seminars, membership applications, pledge forms, information request forms or online dues payments. The information collected may include:
- Your Name
- Your Florida Bar ID Number &Date Admitted
- Your Date of Birth
- Your Mailing or Street Address
- Your Phone and/or Fax Number
- Your Email Address
- Information Pertaining to Your Practice
- Your Political Affiliation
- Your Gender
- Type of Credit Card Being Used (American Express, MasterCard or VISA)
- Name Imprinted on the Credit Card Being Used
- The Credit Card &Verification Number
- The Credit Card Expiration Date
Along with the above we will also collect any information you provide as it pertains to the product or service you are attempting to purchase or signup for.
Some information to be provided on myfja.org may be required in order to process requests. Where applicable, we have indicated which fields are required by popup messages upon the visitor’s attempt to submit an incomplete form. The visitor always has an option to not provide information simply by electing not to use a particular service or feature.
SERVICE PROVIDERS
FJA may also supply your information to companies that provide support services to us such as, but not limited to, broadcast services, printing or mailing facilities, web designer or host, or those that assist in marketing our products or services. These companies may need your information in order to execute their function(s). Any such companies are not authorized to utilize the information we provide to them for any other purpose.
WEBSITE TRAFFIC ‐ LOG FILES
The Florida Justice Association website, myfja.org, automatically receives and records information provided by the visitor. That information is captured onto server logs from your web browser including, but not limited to, pages visited on our website, the browser program you use or files accessed on myfja.org. The logs are used to convert the data into website traffic statistics, which we use to examine trends, identify the number of hits per page as well as gather general non‐personal, demographic data for aggregate use (compile data from all visitors). Log files are not linked to personally identifiable information; they merely collect information that helps us determine the interests of our visitors.
OTHER WEBSITE LINKS
There are several places on myfja.org where visitors might encounter links to other websites. These links are intended to provide a mechanism by which members or non‐members can easily access resources related to but outside the scope of information maintained on myfja.org.
FJA will not be responsible for information contained, utilized on or privacy practices of other websites, including those reached through sponsorships located on myfja.org. Other sites may have their own policies regarding privacy. Visitors linking from myfja.org to another site should protect themselves by searching for and reading privacy policies located on the destination site(s) before disclosing any personal information. If a visitor accessed myfja.org through another site, the visitor should be aware that the site linked from may collect their own information; refer to the privacy policies on those sites to see how information is collected and used.
Sponsorship of any myfja.org web page does not imply endorsement of sponsor or the products or services they provide. See our Terms of Service Policy, Indemnification and Hold Harmless section, for more information.
QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS FOR MORE INFORMATION
Questions pertaining to the Privacy Statement and Security Policy of myfja.org may be directed to:
Florida Justice Association
218 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Phone: (850) 224‐9403