Terms and Conditions
Last Modified: 11/17/2022
Acceptance of the Terms of Use
These terms of use are entered into by and between You and Hatteras& Kure Enterprises, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company ("Company," "we," or "us"). The following terms and conditions, together with any documents they expressly incorporate by reference (collectively, “Terms of Use"), govern your access to and use of www.towfinder.com, including any content, functionality, and services offered on or through www.towfinder.com or the Towfinder mobile applications (the "Website" or the ”Application”), whether as a guest or a registered user and including services rendered by us that facilitate your requests to independent third-party providers, including towing providers and drivers (“Third-Party Providers”).
Please read the Terms of Use carefully before you start to use the Website. By using the Website or by clicking to accept or agree to the Terms of Use when this option is made available to you, you accept and agree to be bound and abide by these Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy, found at https://order.towfinder.com/page/privacy-policies , all of which are incorporated herein by reference. If you do not want to agree to these Terms of Use or the Privacy Policy, you must not access or use the Website.
IMPORTANT: PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS PROVISIONS THAT GOVERN HOW CLAIMS BETWEEN YOU AND COMPANY CAN BE BROUGHT, INCLUDING THE ARBITRATION AGREEMENT (SEE BELOW). PLEASE REVIEW THE ARBITRATION AGREEMENT BELOW CAREFULLY, AS IT REQUIRES YOU TO RESOLVE ALL DISPUTES WITH COMPANY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND, WITH LIMITED EXCEPTIONS, THROUGH FINAL AND BINDING ARBITRATION (AS DESCRIBED BELOW). BY ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, YOU EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND HAVE TAKEN TIME TO CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS IMPORTANT DECISION.
Accessing the Website and Account Security
- Making all arrangements necessary for you to have access to the Website.
- Ensuring that all persons who access the Website through your internet connection are aware of these Terms of Use and comply with them.
To access the Website or the resources it offers, you may be asked to provide certain registration details or other information. It is a condition of your use of the Website that all the information you provide on the Website is correct, current, and complete. You agree that all information you provide to register with this Website or otherwise, including, but not limited to, through the use of any interactive features on the Website, is governed by our Privacy Policy https://order.towfinder.com/page/privacy-policies and you consent to all actions we take with respect to your information consistent with our Privacy Policy.
- Your computer may temporarily store copies of such materials in RAM incidental to your accessing and viewing those materials.
- You may store files that are automatically cached by your Web browser for display enhancement purposes.
- You may print one copy of a reasonable number of pages of the Website for your own personal, non-commercial use and not for further reproduction, publication, or distribution.
- If we provide desktop, mobile, or other applications for download, you may download a single copy to your computer or mobile device solely for your own personal, non-commercial use, provided you agree to be bound by our end user license agreement for such applications.
- Modify copies of any materials from this site.
- Delete or alter any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary rights notices from copies of materials from this site.
- In any way that violates any applicable federal, state, local, or international law or regulation (including, without limitation, any laws regarding the export of data or software to and from the US or other countries).
- For the purpose of exploiting, harming, or attempting to exploit or harm minors in any way by exposing them to inappropriate content, asking for personally identifiable information, or otherwise.
- To send, knowingly receive, upload, download, use, or re-use any material that does not comply with the Content Standards set out below in these Terms of Use.
- To transmit, or procure the sending of, any advertising or promotional material without our prior written consent, including any "junk mail," "chain letter," "spam," or any other similar solicitation.
- To impersonate or attempt to impersonate the Company, a Company employee, another user, or any other person or entity (including, without limitation, by using email addresses or screen names associated with any of the foregoing).
- To engage in any other conduct that restricts or inhibits anyone's use or enjoyment of the Website, or which, as determined by us, may harm the Company or users of the Website, or expose them to liability.
Additionally, you agree not to:
- Use the Website in any manner that could disable, overburden, damage, or impair the site or interfere with any other party's use of the Website, including their ability to engage in real time activities through the Website.
- Use any robot, spider, or other automatic device, process, or means to access the Website for any purpose, including monitoring or copying any of the material on the Website.
- Use any manual process to monitor or copy any of the material on the Website, or for any other purpose not expressly authorized in these Terms of Use, without our prior written consent.
- Use any device, software, or routine that interferes with the proper working of the Website.
- Introduce any viruses, Trojan horses, worms, logic bombs, or other material that is malicious or technologically harmful.
- Attempt to gain unauthorized access to, interfere with, damage, or disrupt any parts of the Website, the server on which the Website is stored, or any server, computer, or database connected to the Website.
- Attack the Website via a denial-of-service attack or a distributed denial-of-service attack.
- Otherwise attempt to interfere with the proper working of the Website.
All User Contributions must comply with the Content Standards set out in these Terms of Use.
You represent and warrant that:
- You own or control all rights in and to the User Contributions and have the right to grant the license granted above to us and our affiliates and service providers, and each of their and our respective licensees, successors, and assigns.
- All of your User Contributions do and will comply with these Terms of Use.
Monitoring and Enforcement; Termination
- Remove or refuse to post any User Contributions for any or no reason in our sole discretion.
- Take any action with respect to any User Contribution that we deem necessary or appropriate in our sole discretion, including if we believe that such User Contribution violates the Terms of Use, including the Content Standards, infringes any intellectual property right or other right of any person or entity, threatens the personal safety of users of the Website or the public, or could create liability for the Company.
- Disclose your identity or other information about you to any third party who claims that material posted by you violates their rights, including their intellectual property rights or their right to privacy.
- Take appropriate legal action, including without limitation, referral to law enforcement, for any illegal or unauthorized use of the Website.
- Terminate or suspend your access to all or part of the Website for any or no reason, including without limitation, any violation of these Terms of Use.
- Contain any material that is defamatory, obscene, indecent, abusive, offensive, harassing, violent, hateful, inflammatory, or otherwise objectionable.
- Promote sexually explicit or pornographic material, violence, or discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, or age.
- Infringe any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, or other intellectual property or other rights of any other person.
- Violate the legal rights (including the rights of publicity and privacy) of others or contain any material that could give rise to any civil or criminal liability under applicable laws or regulations or that otherwise may be in conflict with these Terms of Use, the Application End User License Agreement, and our Privacy Policy https://order.towfinder.com/page/privacy-policies
- Be likely to deceive any person.
- Promote any illegal activity, or advocate, promote, or assist any unlawful act.
- Cause annoyance, inconvenience, or needless anxiety or be likely to upset, embarrass, alarm, or annoy any other person.
- Impersonate any person or misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person or organization.
- Involve commercial activities or sales, such as contests, sweepstakes, and other sales promotions, barter, or advertising.
- Give the impression that they emanate from or are endorsed by us or any other person or entity, if this is not the case.
Community Guidelines.
All of your content, including listing submissions, must comply with this Agreement, including these Community Guidelines, all as may be interpreted by us in our sole discretion. You hereby acknowledge and agree to comply with the following Community Guidelines:
- Be respectful. We welcome debate, but we will not tolerate personal attacks or defamatory statements about other users, clients, customers or agents. Please avoid controversial topics such as politics, race, religion, and sexuality.
- Be honest. Only post information that you know is true and accurate. Similarly, do not misrepresent your identity or your affiliation with another person or entity. If you submit a review, your review must reflect your true and honest opinion of and experience with the provider, product, or service you review, and you must disclose any incentive you received for providing your review (e.g., if you received any discount for providing the review or you are connected (e.g., through employment or familial relationship) to the subject of the review).
- Submit only what you have a right to submit. Do not submit or post any content that violates any applicable law or that infringes copyright or other intellectual property rights, including in the photos and written content that you submit. Do not submit information about real estate properties you do not own, unless you are authorized to do so as the contracted, exclusive listing Agent for that property.
- Respect privacy and confidentiality. Do not publicly post the personal or private information of others or other peoples' contact information. This also includes communications from community administrators and moderators. In general, do not publicly disclose any confidential or sensitive information.
- No spamming. Do not post advertising, junk mail, spam, scams, or chain letters.
- No illegal or offensive posts. Do not submit or post anything that contains abusive, threatening, illegal, inflammatory, libelous, obscene, or pornographic content.
- No discrimination. Do not post any content that expresses a discriminatory preference, even implicitly.
Reliance on Information Posted
Information About You and Your Visits to the Website
All information we collect on this Website is subject to our Privacy Policy https://order.towfinder.com/page/privacy-policies . By using the Website, you consent to all actions taken by us with respect to your information in compliance with the Privacy Policy.
Online Purchases and Other Terms and Conditions
All Charges and payments will be enabled by us using the preferred payment method designated in your account, after which you will receive a receipt. If your primary account payment method is determined to be expired, invalid or otherwise not able to be charged, you agree that we may use a secondary payment method in your account, if available. Charges paid by you are final and non-refundable, unless otherwise determined by us.
As between you and us, we reserve the right to establish or adjust Charges for any or all services or goods obtained through the use of the Website at any time. We will use reasonable efforts to inform you of Charges that may apply, provided that you will be responsible for Charges incurred under your Account regardless of your awareness of such Charges or the amounts thereof. Certain users may from time to time receive promotional offers and discounts that may result in different amounts charged for the same or similar services or goods obtained through the use of the Website, and you agree that such promotional offers and discounts, unless also made available to you, shall have no bearing on your use of the Website or the Charges applied to you. Promotional offers and discounts are subject to change or withdrawal at any time and without notice. You may elect to cancel your request for services at any time prior to the commencement of such services, in which case you may be charged a cancellation fee on a Third-Party Provider’s behalf. This is sometimes referred to as a Gone-On-Arrival fee, or “GOA” Fee.
With respect to Third-Party Providers, Charges you incur will be owed directly to Third-Party Providers, and we will collect payment of those charges from you, on the Third-Party Provider’s behalf as their limited payment collection agent, and payment of the Charges shall be considered the same as payment made directly by you to the Third-Party Provider. In such cases, you retain the right to request lower Charges from a Third-Party Provider for services or goods received by you from such Third-Party Provider at the time you receive such services or goods, and Charges you incur will be owed to the Third-Party Provider. We will consider in good faith any request from a Third-Party Provider to modify the Charges for a particular service or good. This payment structure is intended to fully compensate a Third-Party Provider, if applicable, for the services or goods obtained in connection with your use of the Website. Except for amounts provided by you through the Application as part of the “tip” feature (if available), we do not designate any portion of your payment as a tip or gratuity to a Third-Party Provider. You understand and agree that, while you are free to provide additional payment as a gratuity to any Third-Party Provider who provides you with services or goods obtained through the Service, you are under no obligation to do so. There also may be certain Charges you incur that will be owed and paid directly to us or our affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, we do not charge a fee for a user to access the Website but may charge users a fee or any other Charge for accessing services made available through the Website. Even if not indicated on the Website, you understand that the prices for product or menu items displayed through the Website may differ from the prices offered or published by Third-Party Providers for the same product or menu items and/or from prices available at other third-party websites/mobile applications. Prices for product or menu items displayed through the Website may not be the lowest prices at which the product or menu items are sold. You also understand that product or menu item prices displayed through the Website or fees charged by and paid to us may vary based on whether you choose to pick up your order or have it delivered.
If you think a correction should be made to any Charge you incurred, you must let us know in writing within 30 days after the Charge took place or we will have no further responsibility and you waive your right to later dispute the amounts charged.
We may charge you a fee on behalf of Third-Party Providers if, during your use of the Website, you have caused damage to a vehicle or property that requires repair or cleaning (“Repair” or “Cleaning”). The amount of such fee shall be determined, in our sole discretion, based on the type of damage and the severity. We reserve the right to verify or otherwise require documentation of damages prior to processing a fee. If a Repair or Cleaning request is verified by us in our reasonable discretion, we reserve the right to facilitate payment for the reasonable cost of such Repair or Cleaning using your payment method designated in your Account. Such amounts, as well as those pertaining to lost and found goods, will be transferred by us to a Third-Party Provider, if applicable, and are non-refundable.
Additionally, if you fail to comply with these Terms, you may be responsible for Charges, including without limitation, for transactions that could not be completed properly, arising out of or in connection with your failure to comply with these Terms of Use.
SERVICE PROVIDER TERMS
If you use the Website as a service provider, the following terms (in addition to the Terms of Use) apply to your use of the Website to provide services:
- You agree that we are not liable for any personal injury or damage to property arising from or related to your use of the Website.
- You agree that our relationship with us is that of independent contracting parties. You agree to not hold yourself out as an employee of Company and to be responsible for your own business taxes, expenses, and other obligations.
- You agree to use the Website and provide your services in accordance with the highest ethical and industry standards. We reserve the right to terminate our relationship and contract with you for violation of this subsection (c), at our sole discretion.
- You agree to carry the insurance required in Exhibit A for as long as you maintain an account with Company and for a period of 3 years thereafter.
Linking to the Website and Social Media Features
This Website may provide certain social media features that enable you to:
- Link from your own or certain third-party websites to certain content on this Website.
- Send emails or other communications with certain content, or links to certain content, on this Website.
- Cause limited portions of content on this Website to be displayed or appear to be displayed on your own or certain third-party websites.
- Establish a link from any website that is not owned by you.
- Cause the Website or portions of it to be displayed on, or appear to be displayed by, any other site, for example, framing, deep linking, or in-line linking.
- Link to any part of the Website other than the homepage.
- Otherwise take any action with respect to the materials on this Website that is inconsistent with any other provision of these Terms of Use.
WE DO NOT GUARANTEE THE QUALITY, SUITABILITY, SAFETY OR ABILITY OF THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS. YOU AGREE THAT THE ENTIRE RISK ARISING OUT OF YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES, AND ANY SERVICE OR GOOD REQUESTED OR OBTAINED FROM THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, REMAINS SOLELY WITH YOU, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW.
WE DO NOT CONTROL, MANAGE OR DIRECT ANY THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS INCLUDING TOWING PROVIDERS. THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS ARE NOT ACTUAL AGENTS, APPARENT AGENTS, OSTENSIBLE AGENTS, OR EMPLOYEES OF COMPANY.
WE DO NOT CONTROL, ENDORSE OR TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY USER CONTENT OR THIRD-PARTY CONTENT AVAILABLE ON OR LINKED TO BY THE WEBSITE.
HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PROVIDED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL THE COMPANY, ITS AFFILIATES, OR THEIR LICENSORS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OFFICERS, OR DIRECTORS BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, UNDER ANY LEGAL THEORY, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE, OR INABILITY TO USE, THE WEBSITE, ANY WEBSITES LINKED TO IT, ANY CONTENT ON THE WEBSITE OR SUCH OTHER WEBSITES, INCLUDING ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PERSONAL INJURY, PAIN AND SUFFERING, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, LOSS OF REVENUE, LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF BUSINESS OR ANTICIPATED SAVINGS, LOSS OF USE, LOSS OF GOODWILL, LOSS OF DATA, YOUR USE OF OR RELIANCE ON THE WEBSITE OR YOUR INABILITY TO ACCESS OR USE THE WEBSITE, ANY TRANSACTION OR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOU AND ANY THIRD-PARTY PROVIDER, AND WHETHER CAUSED BY TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), BREACH OF CONTRACT, OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF FORESEEABLE. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION SERVICES REQUESTED THROUGH THE WEBSITE MAY OFFER RIDESHARING OR PEER-TO-PEER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AND MAY NOT BE PROFESSIONALLY LICENSED OR PERMITTED. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS ARE NOT OSTENSIBLE AGENTS, APPARENT AGENTS, ACTUAL AGENTS, OR EMPLOYEES OF US.
THE SERVICES MAY BE USED BY YOU TO REQUEST AND SCHEDULE TRANSPORTATION, GOODS, OR LOGISTICS SERVICES WITH THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS, BUT YOU AGREE THAT WE HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY TO YOU RELATED TO ANY TRANSPORTATION, GOODS OR LOGISTICS SERVICES PROVIDED TO OR NOT PROVIDED TO YOU BY THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS OTHER THAN AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THESE TERMS OF USE.
WE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, LIABILITY OR LOSSES ARISING OUT OF LACK OF OR IMPROPER INSTALLATION OR USE OF CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS FOR GUESTS ON SERVICES REQUESTED THROUGH THE SERVICES FOR WHOM A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM IS LEGALLY REQUIRED.
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PROVIDED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL THE COLLECTIVE LIABILITY OF THE COMPANY AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES, AND THEIR LICENSORS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OFFICERS, AND DIRECTORS, TO ANY PARTY (REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE) EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE PAID TO THE COMPANY FOR THE APPLICABLE CONTENT OR SERVICE IN THE LAST TWELVE (12) MONTHS OUT OF WHICH LIABILITY AROSE.
THE FOREGOING DOES NOT AFFECT ANY LIABILITY THAT CANNOT BE EXCLUDED OR LIMITED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW.
If you are a California resident, under California Civil Code Section 1789.3, you may contact the Complaint Assistance Unit of the Division of Consumer Services of the California Department of Consumer Affairs in writing at 1625 N. Market Blvd., Suite S-202, Sacramento, California 95834, or by telephone at (800) 952-5210 in order to resolve a complaint regarding the Website or to receive further information regarding use of the Website.
Governing Law and Jurisdiction
Arbitration Agreement
(a) Agreement to Binding Arbitration Between You and Us.
(1) Covered Disputes: Except as expressly provided below in Section 2(b), you and Company agree that any dispute, claim, or controversy in any way arising out of or relating to (i) these Terms and prior versions of these Terms, or the existence, breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation, scope, waiver, or validity thereof; (ii) your access to or use of the Services at any time; (iii) incidents or accidents resulting in personal injury to you or anyone else that you allege occurred in connection with your use of the Services (including, but not limited to, your use of the Website), regardless whether the dispute, claim, or controversy occurred or accrued before or after the date you agreed to the Terms, and regardless whether you allege that the personal injury was experienced by you or anyone else; and (iv) your relationship with Company, will be settled by binding individual arbitration between you and Company, and not in a court of law. This Arbitration Agreement survives after your relationship with Company ends.
(2) Class Action Waiver: You acknowledge and agree that any and all disputes, claims, or controversies between the parties shall be resolved only in individual arbitration. The parties expressly waive the right to have any dispute, claim, or controversy brought, heard, administered, resolved, or arbitrated as a class, collective, coordinated, consolidated, and/or representative action, and neither an arbitrator nor an arbitration provider shall have any authority to hear, arbitrate, or administer any class, collective, coordinated, consolidated, and/or representative action, or to award relief to anyone but the individual in arbitration. The parties also expressly waive the right to seek, recover, or obtain any non-individual relief. Notwithstanding anything else in this agreement, this Class Action Waiver does not prevent you or Company from participating in a class-wide, collective, and/or representative settlement of claims.
The parties further agree that if for any reason a claim does not proceed in arbitration, this Class Action Waiver shall remain in effect, and a court may not preside over any action joining, coordinating, or consolidating the claims of multiple individuals against Company in a single proceeding, except that this Class Action Waiver shall not prevent you or Company from participating in a class-wide, collective, and/or representative settlement of claims. If there is a final judicial determination that any portion of this Class Action Waiver is unenforceable or unlawful for any reason, (i) any class, collective, coordinated, consolidated, and/or representative claims subject to the unenforceable or unlawful portion(s) shall proceed in a court of competent jurisdiction; (ii) the portion of the Class Action Waiver that is enforceable shall be enforced in arbitration; (iii) the unenforceable or unlawful portion(s) shall be severed from this Arbitration Agreement; and (iv) severance of the unenforceable or unlawful portion(s) shall have no impact whatsoever on the enforceability, applicability, or validity of the Arbitration Agreement or the arbitrability of any remaining claims asserted by you or Company.
(3) Mass Actions:
a. Mass Action Waiver: You acknowledge and agree that any and all disputes, claims, or controversies between the parties shall be resolved only in individual arbitration. The parties expressly waive the right to have any dispute, claim, or controversy brought, heard, administered, resolved, or arbitrated as a mass action, and neither an arbitrator nor an arbitration provider shall have any authority to hear, arbitrate, or administer any mass action or to award relief to anyone but the individual in arbitration—except as provided below in Section 2(a)(3)(c). The parties also expressly waive the right to seek, recover, or obtain any non-individual relief. The parties agree that the definition of a “Mass Action” includes, but is not limited to, instances in which you or Company are represented by a law firm or collection of law firms that has filed 50 or more arbitration demands of a substantially similar nature against the other party within 180 days of the arbitration demand filed on your or Company’s behalf, and the law firm or collection of law firms seeks to simultaneously or collectively administer and/or arbitrate all the arbitration demands in the aggregate. Notwithstanding anything else in this agreement, this Mass Action Waiver does not prevent you or Company from participating in a mass settlement of claims.
b. Dispute Procedure: Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the applicable arbitration provider’s rules, the arbitrator shall be empowered to determine whether the party bringing any claim has filed a Mass Action in violation of the Mass Action Waiver. Either party shall raise with the arbitrator or arbitration provider such a dispute within 15 days of its arising. If such a dispute arises before an arbitrator has been appointed, the parties agree that (i) a panel of three arbitrators shall be appointed to resolve only disputes concerning whether the party bringing any claim has filed a Mass Action in violation of the Mass Action Waiver. Each party shall select one arbitrator from the arbitration provider’s roster to serve as a neutral arbitrator, and these arbitrators shall appoint a third neutral arbitrator. If the parties’ arbitrators cannot agree on a third arbitrator, the arbitration provider will select the third arbitrator; (ii) Company shall pay any administrative fees or costs incidental to the appointment of Arbitrators under this provision, as well as any fees or costs that would not be incurred in a court proceeding, such as payment of the fees of the arbitrators, as well as room rental; (iii) the arbitrators shall issue a written decision with findings of fact and conclusions of law; and (iv) any further arbitration proceedings or assessment of arbitration-related fees shall be stayed pending the arbitrators’ resolution of the parties’ dispute. If the arbitrator or panel of arbitrators determines that you have violated the Mass Action Waiver, the parties shall have the opportunity to opt out of arbitration within 30 days of the arbitrator’s or panel of arbitrator’s decision. You may opt out of arbitration by providing written notice of your intention to opt out to the arbitration provider and to Hatteras & Kure Enterprises, LLC., Attn: Legal Department, 687 Sheriff Watson Rd, Sanford, NC 27332 via USPS Priority Mail or hand delivery. This written notice must be signed by you, and not any attorney, agent, or other representative of yours. Company may opt out of arbitration by sending written notice of its intention to opt out to the arbitration provider and to you or your attorney, agent, or representative if you are represented. For the avoidance of doubt, the ability to opt out of arbitration described in this Section 2(a)(3)(b) only applies if the arbitrator or panel of arbitrators determines that you have violated the Mass Action Waiver. If the parties proceed with arbitration, the parties agree that arbitrations will be batched as provided in Section 2(a)(3)(c) below.
c. Batching:
i. To increase efficiency of resolution in the event a Mass Action is filed and neither party exercises its right to opt out of arbitration pursuant to Section 2(a)(3)(b) above, the following procedure shall apply. At the request of either party, an arbitrator shall be selected according to the applicable arbitration provider’s rules to act as a special master (“Special Master”) to resolve threshold disputes regarding the propriety of some or all the arbitration demands submitted in the Mass Action (“Mass Arbitration Demands”). These threshold disputes may include, but are not limited to:
1. Any dispute regarding filing fees owed with respect to the Mass Arbitration Demands, including whether claimants have submitted valid fee waivers;
2. Any dispute regarding whether the applicable arbitration provider has complied with the Arbitration Agreement with respect to processing and administering the Mass Arbitration Demands;
3. Any dispute regarding whether the Mass Arbitration Demands meet the requirements set forth in Section 2(d) below;
4. Whether claimants are barred from proceeding with their claims based on a prior settlement agreement, violation of these Terms, or expiration of the statute of limitations;
5. Any dispute relating to representation of the same claimant by multiple law firms;
6. Any dispute regarding whether the Mass Arbitration Demands were filed with the correct arbitration provider;
7. Any dispute regarding discovery common to all claims; and
8. Any disputes regarding legal or factual issues common to all claims.
Any such request shall be made within 15 days following the expiration of the opt-out period described in Section 2(a)(3)(b) and may be made by providing written notice to the arbitration provider. Upon the request of either party to appoint a Special Master to resolve the foregoing issues, the applicable arbitration provider shall refrain from further processing any of the Mass Arbitration Demands to which a dispute has been raised. No further payment for filing fees, administrative costs, or arbitrator fees shall be deemed due with respect to any of the Mass Arbitration Demands as to which a dispute has been raised until after the dispute(s) has/have been resolved by the Special Master. Company shall be responsible for the applicable arbitration provider’s and Special Master’s fees and costs related to the proceedings before the Special Master.
A Special Master appointed pursuant to this procedure shall have no authority to consolidate cases.
ii. After proceedings before the Special Master have concluded, to the extent any of the Mass Arbitration Demands are permitted to proceed, the parties shall group the Mass Arbitration Demands into batches of no more than 100 demands per batch by state of residence, and then alphabetically by last name (plus, to the extent there are less than 100 arbitration demands left over after the batching described above, a final batch consisting of the remaining demands), and shall inform the arbitration provider of the batches and their compositions within 14 days of the conclusion of proceedings before the Special Master. The arbitration provider shall treat each batch of claims as one case, with each case having one demand for arbitration, one appointed arbitrator, and one set of administrative documents and administrative and filing fees per batch. The parties shall randomly assign sequential numbers to each batch, and only one batch shall proceed to arbitration at a time in the order of the random sequential numbers. A separate arbitrator will be appointed to, and administrative and filing fees assessed for, each batch as the batch proceeds to arbitration. You agree to cooperate in good faith with Company and the arbitration provider to implement such a batch approach to resolution and fees. Nothing in this provision shall be construed as limiting the right to object that the filing or presentation of multiple arbitration demands by or with the assistance of the same law firm or organization violates any term of this Agreement.
iii. If any Mass Arbitration Demands were originally processed as individual arbitration demands before this batching procedure was commenced, further proceedings, including the assessment of further arbitration filing or administration fees to either party shall be governed by the procedures set forth in this Section 2(a)(3).
(4) Delegation Clause: Only an arbitrator, and not any federal, state, or local court or agency, shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute arising out of or relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, or formation of this Arbitration Agreement, including without limitation any claim that all or any part of this Arbitration Agreement is void or voidable. An arbitrator shall also have exclusive authority to resolve all threshold arbitrability issues, including issues relating to whether the Terms are applicable, unconscionable, or illusory and any defense to arbitration, including without limitation waiver, delay, laches, or estoppel. However, only a court of competent jurisdiction, and not an arbitrator, shall have the exclusive authority to resolve any and all disputes arising out of or relating to the Class Action Waiver and Mass Action Waiver, including, but not limited to, any claim that all or part of the Class Action Waiver and/or Mass Action Waiver is unenforceable, unconscionable, illegal, void, or voidable—except that, as stated and pursuant to the procedures provided in Section 2(a)(3)(b), an arbitrator or panel of arbitrators shall have authority to determine whether the party bringing any claim has violated the Mass Action Waiver.
(5) Application to Third Parties: This Arbitration Agreement shall be binding upon and shall include any claims brought by or against any third parties, including but not limited to your spouses, heirs, third-party beneficiaries and assigns, where their underlying claims arise out of or relate to your use of the Services. To the extent that any third-party beneficiary to this agreement brings claims against the Parties, those claims shall also be subject to this Arbitration Agreement.
(b) Exceptions to Arbitration.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Arbitration Agreement shall not require arbitration of the following claims: (i) individual claims brought in small claims court so long as the matter remains in such court and advances only on an individual basis; (ii) individual claims of sexual assault or sexual harassment occurring in connection with your use of the Services; and/or (iii) injunctive or other equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent the actual or threatened infringement, misappropriation, or violation of a party’s copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, patents, or other intellectual property rights.
Such claims may be brought and litigated in a court of competent jurisdiction by you on an individual basis only. On an individual basis means that you cannot bring such claims as a class, collective, coordinated, consolidated, mass and/or representative action against Company. For the avoidance of doubt, this precludes you from bringing claims as or participating in any kind of any class, collective, coordinated, consolidated, mass and/or representative or other kind of group, multi-plaintiff or joint action against Company and no action brought by you may be consolidated or joined in any fashion with any other proceeding. Where your claims are brought and litigated to completion on such an individual basis in a court of competent jurisdiction, Company agrees to honor your election.
The parties’ agreement not to require arbitration in these limited instances does not waive the enforceability of this Arbitration Agreement as to any other provision (including, but not limited to, the waivers provided for in Section 2(a), which will continue to apply in court as well as in arbitration), or the enforceability of this Arbitration Agreement as to any other controversy, claim, or dispute.
(c) Rules and Governing Law.
For disputes arising in California, the arbitration will be administered by ADR Services, Inc. (“ADR”) in accordance with ADR’s Arbitration Rules (the “ADR Rules”) in effect at the time that the claim is brought, unless the parties agree otherwise in writing. The ADR Rules are available at www.adrservices.com or by searching for “ADR Arbitration Rules” using a service such as www.google.com or www.bing.com. The arbitration shall be heard by one arbitrator (the “Arbitrator”) selected in accordance with the ADR Rules.
For disputes arising outside of California (or for disputes arising in California only if ADR cannot or will not administer the arbitration), the parties shall be required to meet and confer to select a neutral arbitration provider. Such an arbitration provider shall have operations in the state in which the dispute arises. If the parties are unable to mutually agree upon an arbitration provider, then either party may invoke 9 U.S.C. § 5 to request that a court of competent jurisdiction appoint an arbitration provider with operations in the state in which the dispute arises. Any arbitration provider appointed by a court under 9 U.S.C. § 5 shall conduct arbitration solely on an individualized basis as set forth in this Section 2. Once the parties mutually agree upon a neutral arbitration provider, or an arbitrator provider is appointed under 9 U.S.C. § 5, the ensuing arbitration shall commence pursuant to the rules of the designated arbitration provider, except as designated herein. Once an arbitration provider is agreed upon or appointed, an Arbitrator shall be appointed. The Arbitrator will be either (1) a retired judge or (2) an attorney licensed to practice law in the state where the arbitration is conducted with experience in the law underlying the dispute. The Arbitrator will be selected by the parties from the applicable arbitration provider’s roster of arbitrators. If the parties are unable to agree upon an Arbitrator after a good faith meet and confer effort, then the applicable arbitration provider will appoint the Arbitrator in accordance with its rules.
Notwithstanding any choice of law or other provision in these Terms, the parties agree and acknowledge that this Arbitration Agreement evidences a transaction involving interstate commerce and that the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq. (“FAA”), will govern its interpretation and enforcement and proceedings pursuant thereto. It is the intent of the parties to be bound by the provisions of the FAA for all purposes, including, but not limited to, interpretation, implementation, enforcement, and administration of this Arbitration Agreement, and that the FAA and the applicable arbitration provider’s rules shall preempt all state laws to the fullest extent permitted by law. If the FAA and applicable arbitration provider’s rules are found to not apply to any issue regarding the interpretation or enforcement of this Arbitration Agreement, then that issue shall be resolved under the laws of the state where you reside when you accept these Terms.
Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to incidents or accidents resulting in personal injury (including but not limited to sexual assault or harassment claims) that you allege occurred in connection with your use of the Services, whether before or after the date you agreed to the Terms, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state in which the incident or accident occurred.
(d) Process.
Pre-Arbitration Dispute Resolution and Notification. The parties agree that good-faith informal efforts to resolve disputes often can result in a prompt, low-cost, and mutually beneficial outcome. The parties therefore agree that, before either party demands arbitration against the other, we will personally meet and confer, via telephone or videoconference, in a good-faith effort to resolve informally any claim covered by this Arbitration Agreement. Multiple individuals initiating claims cannot participate in the same informal telephonic dispute resolution conference. If you are represented by counsel, your counsel may participate in the conference, but you shall also fully participate in the conference. The party initiating the claim must give notice to the other party in writing of their intent to initiate an informal dispute resolution conference, which shall occur within 60 days after the other party receives such notice, unless an extension is mutually agreed upon by the parties. To notify Company that you intend to initiate an informal dispute resolution conference, write to Hatteras & Kure Enterprises, LLC., Attn: Legal Department, 687 Sheriff Watson Rd, Sanford, NC 27332, providing your name, the telephone number(s) associated with your account (if any), the email address(es) associated with your account, and a description of your claim. Engaging in an informal dispute resolution conference is a condition precedent that must be fulfilled before commencing arbitration, and the Arbitrator shall dismiss any arbitration demand filed before completion of an informal dispute resolution conference. The statute of limitations and any filing fee deadlines shall be tolled while the parties engage in the informal dispute resolution process required by this paragraph.
Initiating Arbitration. In order to initiate arbitration following the conclusion of the informal dispute resolution process required by this Section, a party must provide the other party with a written demand for arbitration and file the demand with the applicable arbitration provider, as determined by Section 2(c). A party initiating an arbitration against Company must send the written demand for arbitration to Hatteras & Kure Enterprises, LLC, Attn: Legal Department, 687 Sheriff Watson Rd, Sanford, NC 27332, or serve the Demand on Company’s registered agent for service of process, c/o Hatteras & Kure Enterprises, LLC. Additionally, a party initiating arbitration against Company must send an electronic version of the demand for arbitration to the Arbitration Provider and must send an electronic version of the as-filed demand to info@towfinder.com.
By signing the demand for arbitration, counsel certifies to the best of counsel’s knowledge, information, and belief, formed after an inquiry reasonable under the circumstances, that (i) the demand for arbitration is not being presented for any improper purpose, such as to harass, cause unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase the cost of dispute resolution; (ii) the claims and other legal contentions are warranted by existing law or by a nonfrivolous argument for extending, modifying, or reversing existing law or for establishing new law; and (iii) the factual contentions have evidentiary support or, if specifically so identified, will likely have evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery. The Arbitrator shall be authorized to afford any relief or impose any sanctions available under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11 or any applicable state law for either party’s violation of this requirement.
(e) Location.
Unless you and Company otherwise agree, the arbitration will be conducted in the county where you reside. Your right to a hearing will be determined by the applicable arbitration provider’s rules. Subject to the applicable arbitration provider’s rules, the Arbitrator will have the discretion to direct a reasonable exchange of information by the parties, consistent with the expedited nature of the arbitration.
(f) Offers of Judgment.
At least 10 days before the date set for the arbitration hearing, any party may serve an offer in writing upon the other party to allow judgment on specified terms. If the offer is accepted, the offer with proof of acceptance shall be submitted to the arbitrator, who shall enter judgment accordingly. If the offer is not accepted prior to the arbitration hearing or within 30 days after it is made, whichever occurs first, it shall be deemed withdrawn, and cannot be given in evidence upon the arbitration. If an offer made by one party is not accepted by the other party, and the other party fails to obtain a more favorable award, the other party shall not recover their post-offer costs and shall pay the offering party’s costs from the time of the offer.
(g) Arbitrator’s Decision.
The Arbitrator will render an award within the time frame specified in the applicable arbitration provider’s rules. Judgment on the arbitration award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. The Arbitrator may award declaratory or injunctive relief only in favor of the claimant and only to the extent necessary to provide relief warranted by the claimant’s individual claim. An Arbitrator’s decision shall be final and binding on all parties.
The Arbitrator is not bound by decisions reached in separate arbitrations, and the Arbitrator’s decision shall be binding only upon the parties to the arbitration that are the subject of the decision.
The Arbitrator shall award reasonable costs incurred in the arbitration to the prevailing party in accordance with the law(s) of the state in which arbitration is held.
(h) Fees.
With the exception of the provisions governing payment of arbitration costs set forth above, your responsibility to pay any filing, administrative, and arbitrator fees will be solely as set forth in the applicable arbitration provider’s rules and shall be up to the amount you would be required to pay if you filed a claim in court.
If you have a gross monthly income of less than 300% of the federal poverty guidelines, you are entitled to a waiver of arbitration fees and costs, exclusive of arbitrator fees. If you believe that you meet the requirements to obtain a fee waiver, and your demand for arbitration arises outside of California, then you may request a fee waiver only by submitting to the arbitration provider AO 240, Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs (found here), or a declaration under oath containing all the information required by AO 240; if your demand for arbitration arises in California, then you must submit a declaration under oath providing your monthly income and the number of persons in your household.
Any and all disputes regarding a party’s obligation to pay any arbitration fees or costs that arise after an arbitrator is appointed shall be determined solely by the arbitrator. If such a dispute arises before an arbitrator has been appointed, and if no Special Master has been requested by either party pursuant to section 2(a)(3)(c)(i) of these Terms, the parties agree that (i) the due date for any disputed fees shall be stayed pending resolution of the parties’ dispute, (ii) a panel of three arbitrators shall be appointed to resolve the parties’ dispute concerning a party’s obligation to pay fees or costs of arbitration, (iii) the panel of arbitrators shall be appointed by each party selecting one arbitrator from the arbitration provider’s roster to serve as neutral arbitrators, and these arbitrators shall appoint a third neutral arbitrator. If the parties’ arbitrators cannot agree on a third arbitrator, the arbitration administrator will select the third arbitrator, (iv) Company shall pay any administrative fees or costs incidental to the appointment of a panel of arbitrators under this provision, as well as any fees or costs that would not be incurred in a court proceeding, such as payment of the fees of the arbitrator(s), as well as room rental, and (v) the arbitrator(s) shall issue a written decision with findings of fact and conclusions of law. If two or more fee disputes between a claimant and Company arise at or around the same time, the disputes may be consolidated for resolution by a single arbitrator or panel of arbitrators either at the agreement of the parties or the election of the party common to all such disputes.
(i) Severability and Survival.
If any portion of this Arbitration Agreement is found to be unenforceable or unlawful for any reason, (i) the unenforceable or unlawful provision shall be severed from these Terms; (ii) severance of the unenforceable or unlawful provision shall have no impact whatsoever on the remainder of the Arbitration Agreement or the parties’ ability to compel arbitration of any remaining claims on an individual basis pursuant to the Arbitration Agreement; and (iii) to the extent that any claims must therefore proceed on a class, collective, consolidated, or representative basis, such claims must be litigated in a civil court of competent jurisdiction and not in arbitration, and the parties agree that litigation of those claims shall be stayed pending the outcome of any individual claims in arbitration.
Limitation on Time to File Claims
EXHBIT A TO THE WEBSITE TERMS OF USE: SERVICE PROVIDER INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
It is the Service Provider’s expressed intent to provide valid insurance coverage to limit Company’s liability for any claim from Service provider’s personnel, subcontractors, customers, users, or agents; or involving Service Provider’s services, products, or property. In the event Service Provider’s insurance coverage is invalid, inapplicable, or inadequate, Service Provider shall hold Company harmless from all such claims to the extent of coverage limits. This hold harmless obligation shall not be construed as relieving Service Provider of its obligation to provide insurance coverage as provided below.
(A) Workers Compensation Insurance - including Occupational Disease, in accordance with the laws of the state in which Service Provider operates to include Employer’s Liability Insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per person per occurrence.
(B) Commercial General Liability Insurance - Commercial liability with a limit of not less than: $1,000,000 for any one occurrence involving death, injury, or property damage and not less than double the amount required for one occurrence in general aggregate.
(C) Automobile Liability Insurance - Covering owned, non-owned, hired and all vehicles used by COMPANY with a limit of not less than $1,000,000 applicable to bodily injury, death, or loss or damage to property in any one occurrence.
(D) Umbrella Insurance – In addition to the insurance coverage provided in A, B, and C above, the Service Provider agrees to provide an umbrella excess insurance if required of not less than $5,000,000.
(E) If Service Provider is required to provide higher coverage limits in any other contract and/or agreement between Company and Service Provider, Service Provider agrees that the higher limits will prevail on all agreements.
(F) Subrogation – All policies identified in (A), (B), (C) and if required (D) above shall be endorsed to provide that underwriters and insurance companies of Service Provider shall not have any right of subrogation against Company, its owners, employees, invitees, servants, underwriters, or the insurance companies of any of the foregoing.
(G) Additional insured – Service Provider shall furnish Certificates of Insurance to Company evidencing the insurance and waiver of subrogation required by Coverages (A), (B), (C) and if required (D) and coverage under (B) (C) and if required (D) shall list Company as an Additional Insured that insures coverage to limit Company’s liability for any claim from Service Provider’s personnel, subcontractors, customers, users, or agents. Each certificate shall provide that the agent or broker shall endeavor to provide not less than thirty (30) days prior written notice to Company in the event of cancellation or material change in the policies.
(H) Sub-contractors and Agents – Service Provider shall provide insurance coverage as listed in (A), (B), (C) and if required (D) above, for any subcontractor or agent who performs work for the Service Provider at Company premises which fully complies with the requirements of (E), (F) and (G) above or shall require the subcontractor or agent to provide identical insurance coverages in compliance with the requirements of (E), (F), and (G) above, except naming both the Service Provider and Company as Additional Insureds.
(I) Primary Insurance and Intent – Any coverage provided by Service Provider to Company under Sections A, B, C, F and G, and if required D and E if applicable, is primary insurance and shall not be considered contributory insurance or co-insurance with any insurance policies of Company.
(J) Reporting of Injuries – Service Provider agrees to timely furnish Company with two copies of a written report of any accident occurring in relation to the Website, which results in property damage and/or injury within 15 days of occurrence.