PRIVACY POLICY
This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) describes how Law Office of Stephen A. Burroughs (“we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, and discloses your personal information in connection with our legal services and website. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly and in compliance with all applicable laws, including the Tennessee Information Protection Act (TIPA) and other relevant state and federal regulations.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This Policy applies to information collected through our website, in-person meetings, phone calls, and other communications. An attorney-client relationship is not created by your use of our website or your submission of information through it. An attorney-client relationship is only formed through a signed, written engagement agreement.
1. INFORMATION WE COLLECT
We collect various types of personal information, which may be provided by you directly or collected from other sources.
A. Information You Provide Directly:
i. Contact Information: Name, address, email address, and phone number.
ii. Case-Related Information: Details about your personal injury, medical history, employment information, financial information, and other sensitive information relevant to your potential or current legal case.
iii. Identification Information: Driver’s license number, social security number, or other government-issued identifiers.
iv. Financial Information: Information for billing and payment purposes.
B. Information Collected from Other Sources:
i. Protected Health Information (PHI): As a personal injury law firm, we frequently act as a “Business Associate” under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). We collect PHI from healthcare providers, insurance companies, and other third parties with your explicit, written authorization or as permitted by law.
ii. Third-Party Information: We may collect information from insurance companies, opposing counsel, police reports, and other parties involved in your case.
2. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
A. To Provide Legal Services: We use your information to evaluate your case, provide legal counsel, communicate with you, and represent you in negotiations and litigation.
B. To Communicate With You: We use your contact information to send you updates about your case, respond to your inquiries, and schedule appointments.
C. For Billing and Payments: We use your financial information to process payments and manage your account.
D. For Marketing and Outreach: We may use your contact information to send you newsletters or information about our services, unless you have opted out of such communications.
E. To Comply with Legal Obligations: We use your information as necessary to comply with legal, regulatory, and ethical obligations, including bar association rules and court orders.
F. For Security and Fraud Prevention: We use your information to protect our firm and our clients from fraud and security threats.
3. DISCLOSURE OF YOUR INFORMATION
We may disclose your personal information to third parties in the following circumstances:
A. With Your Consent: We will share your information with third parties, such as healthcare providers, insurance adjusters, or expert witnesses, only with your explicit, written authorization.
B. To Our Service Providers: We may share your information with trusted third-party vendors who assist us with our business operations, such as document management, IT services, and billing. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes for which we hired them.
C. In Legal Proceedings: We may be required to disclose your information in response to a subpoena, court order, or other legal process. We will take reasonable steps to notify you before disclosing your information, unless prohibited by law.
D. For Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the new entity. We will notify you of any such change.
E. As Required by Law: We may disclose your information to government agencies or law enforcement officials if we believe in good faith that such disclosure is necessary to comply with the law, prevent illegal activity, or protect the rights and safety of our clients or others.
4. YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE TENNESSEE INFORMATION PROTECTION ACT (TIPA)
If you are a resident of Tennessee, and we meet the applicability thresholds under TIPA, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:
A. Right to Confirm and Access: You have the right to confirm whether we are processing your personal information and to access that information.
B. Right to Correct: You have the right to request that we correct inaccuracies in your personal information.
C. Right to Delete: You have the right to request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain exceptions (e.g., when the information is necessary to comply with a legal obligation).
D. Right to Data Portability: You have the right to obtain a copy of the personal information you have provided to us in a portable and readily usable format.
E. Right to Opt-Out: You have the right to opt out of the processing of your personal information for the purposes of targeted advertising or the sale of your personal information. Please note that we do not sell your personal information.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the “Contact Us” section below. We will respond to your request within 45 days, with a possible 45-day extension if necessary, and will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights.
5. DATA SECURITY
We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. These measures include encryption, access controls, and secure storage practices. However, no security system is impenetrable, and we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information.
6. UPDATES TO THIS POLICY
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The updated Policy will be posted on our website with a new effective date. We encourage you to review this Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.
7. CONTACT US
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:
LAW OFFICE OF STEPHEN A. BURROUGHS
9041 Executive Park Dr. Suite 250 #6
Knoxville, TN 37923
(865) 525-3773 Office | (865) 637-2185 Facsimile