Privacy Policy

1. Introduction & Scope

The Law Offices of Aaron M. Cohen, P.A., operating as AMC Defense Law ("firm," "we," "our," or "us"), is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you have a positive experience on our website and in our interactions with you. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information.

This policy applies to information collected through our website, email communications, phone calls, in-person meetings, and any other channels through which you interact with our firm. Please read this policy carefully. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our website or services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

We collect information you voluntarily provide to us, including:

• Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, mailing address, and date of birth
• Legal Information: Details about your legal matter, case information, charges, and circumstances
• Financial Information: Payment information, billing address, and retainer agreements (processed securely)
• Communication Records: Messages, emails, voicemails, and other correspondence with our firm
• Document Information: Copies of identification, government documents, court papers, and other case materials
• Emergency Contact Information: Names and contact details of family members or designated contacts
• Newsletter Subscriptions: Email address for receiving case results and legal updates

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, referral sources
• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device type, IP address
• Cookie Data: Information collected through cookies and similar tracking technologies
• Analytics Information: Aggregated data about website performance and user behavior

2.3 Third-Party Information

We may receive information about you from third parties, including law enforcement agencies, courts, opposing counsel, expert witnesses, and other parties involved in legal proceedings.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Providing legal services and representation in your case
• Communicating with you about your matter and legal representation
• Preparing legal documents, motions, and court filings
• Conducting legal research and case strategy development
• Billing and financial management
• Complying with court orders, legal obligations, and professional responsibility rules
• Protecting our firm's legal rights and interests
• Preventing fraud and enhancing website security
• Improving our website and services (with your consent)
• Sending newsletters and legal updates (with your consent)
• Responding to inquiries and requests for information

4. Critical: Attorney-Client Privilege & Confidentiality

⚠️ IMPORTANT NOTICE: Information submitted through our website contact form, email, or initial phone consultations is NOT automatically protected by attorney-client privilege or attorney work product doctrine. Privilege only applies AFTER a formal attorney-client relationship is established through a signed engagement agreement and a retainer is received.

Until an attorney-client relationship is formally established:

• Your communications are NOT privileged and may be discoverable
• We may discuss your information with third parties as needed
• Your information is not protected as confidential
• We are not bound to represent you or keep information confidential

Once a formal attorney-client relationship is established through a signed engagement agreement:

• Communications become privileged under Florida and federal law
• Information is protected by attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine
• We maintain strict confidentiality obligations
• Information cannot be disclosed without your consent (with limited legal exceptions)

5. Information Sharing & Disclosure

5.1 General Sharing Practices

We do not sell, trade, rent, or otherwise transfer your personal information to third parties without your consent, except as required or permitted by law or professional regulations.

5.2 Mandatory Disclosures

We may disclose information without consent when required by:

• Court orders, subpoenas, or legal process
• Law enforcement investigations
• Professional responsibility and ethical obligations
• Florida Statutes and federal laws
• Bar Association rules and regulations

5.3 Service Providers

We use third-party service providers to assist in operating our business, including website hosting, payment processing, cloud storage, and document management. These providers are contractually obligated to maintain confidentiality and use information only for purposes necessary to provide services to us.

5.4 Legal Proceedings

Information may be disclosed in connection with legal proceedings, including litigation, bankruptcy, or regulatory investigations. We may also disclose information to protect our firm's legal rights, prevent fraud, or respond to claims.

5.5 Case Team & Associates

Your information is shared with members of our legal team, paralegals, and associates as necessary to provide competent representation. We may consult with expert witnesses, investigators, and other professionals as your case requires.

6. Data Security & Protection

We implement industry-standard technical, administrative, and physical security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encrypted data transmission (SSL/TLS certificates)
• Secure server infrastructure and firewalls
• Access controls and password protections
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
• Secure file storage and document management systems
• Employee training on data protection and privacy
• Incident response procedures for data breaches

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your information. You use our services at your own risk.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal information as long as necessary to provide legal services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and maintain business records. Specifically:

• Client Files: Retained for 7 years after case closure (Florida Bar requirement) or as required by law
• Financial Records: Retained for 7 years for tax and audit purposes
• Communications: Retained during representation and for 7 years thereafter
• Website Analytics: Retained for 24 months and then anonymized
• Email Communications: Retained for 7 years or longer if case-related

After the retention period, information is securely deleted or destroyed unless longer retention is required by law.

8. Your Rights & Choices

8.1 Access & Correction

You have the right to request access to your personal information and request corrections to inaccurate data. Contact us using the information below to submit such requests.

8.2 Deletion Requests

You may request deletion of your personal information, except where we must retain it for legal, professional responsibility, or business purposes.

8.3 Marketing Communications

You may opt out of receiving promotional emails and newsletters at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any email or contacting us directly. Note: Even if you opt out of marketing, we will continue to send transactional communications related to your legal representation.

8.4 Cookie Preferences

You can adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies, though some website functionality may be limited.

8.5 California & Other State Rights

If you are a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). If you reside in other states with privacy laws (Virginia, Colorado, etc.), those rights may also apply.

9. California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) & California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) Compliance

This section applies if you are a California resident. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) give California residents specific rights regarding their personal information.

9.1 Personal Information We Collect

We collect personal information as described in Section 2 of this Privacy Policy. For California residents, this includes:

• Identifiers such as name, email, phone number, mailing address, and date of birth
• Commercial information including payment details, retainer agreements, and billing information
• Professional or employment-related information pertaining to your legal matter
• Education information from government documents and case materials
• Biometric information if you provide identification documents containing biometric identifiers
• Internet and electronic network activity information (website usage, IP address, browser data)
• Inferences drawn from your information to create profiles about your legal needs or preferences

9.2 Your California Privacy Rights

California residents have the following rights under the CCPA and CPRA:

Right to Know

You can request that we disclose what personal information we have collected about you, the sources of that information, the purposes for collection, and the categories of third parties with whom we share it. You can submit requests to know up to twice per calendar year.

Right to Delete

You can request that we delete personal information we have collected from you and direct our service providers to do the same, subject to certain legal exceptions (such as when we must retain information for legal, professional responsibility, or business purposes).

Right to Opt-Out of Sale or Sharing

You have the right to direct us not to sell or share your personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising. We do not currently sell personal information for commercial purposes, and we do not use your information for targeted behavioral advertising. However, we do share information with service providers and other parties as described in this Privacy Policy.

Right to Correct

You can request that we correct inaccurate personal information we hold about you. We will make corrections within 45 calendar days (or up to 90 days if we provide notice of extension).

Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Personal Information

You can direct us to limit our use and disclosure of your sensitive personal information (including social security numbers, financial account numbers, precise geolocation data, and other sensitive identifiers) to the purposes necessary to provide you with the legal services you requested.

Right to Non-Discrimination

We cannot deny you goods or services, charge you different prices, or provide different quality of service solely because you exercised your CCPA rights. However, if personal information is necessary to complete a transaction or provide services, we may not be able to serve you if you request deletion or do not provide the information.

9.3 How to Submit a CCPA Request

California residents can exercise their CCPA rights by submitting a request through the following methods:

• Email: contact@amcdefenselaw.com with subject line "CCPA Request"
• Phone: (561) 542-5494 during business hours
• Mail: AMC Defense Law, 1200 North Federal Highway, Suite 300, Boca Raton, Florida 33432, with "CCPA Request" in the letter

9.4 Request Verification & Response Timeline

When you submit a CCPA request, we will verify your identity to protect your privacy and security. Depending on the type of request, we may ask you to provide additional information to confirm you are the consumer about whom we have personal information.

We will respond to your request within 45 calendar days. If we need additional time to process your request, we will notify you and provide an extended timeline of up to 90 calendar days total.

9.5 Authorized Agents

You may authorize another person or entity to submit CCPA requests on your behalf. If you use an authorized agent, we may require the agent to provide proof of authorization and may require you to verify your identity directly with us to confirm you gave the agent permission.

9.6 Exceptions to Your Rights

There are legal exceptions that may prevent us from fulfilling your CCPA request. Common exceptions include:

• Information exempt under the CCPA (publicly available information, certain medical information, consumer credit reporting information)
• Information necessary to comply with legal obligations, court orders, or professional responsibility rules
• Information necessary to defend legal claims or exercise legal rights
• Information we cannot reasonably verify as belonging to you
• Requests that are manifestly unfounded or excessive
• Information protected by attorney-client privilege or attorney work product doctrine

9.7 Privacy Protections for California Residents

We maintain strict safeguards to protect your California privacy rights:

• We do not require you to create an account to submit a CCPA request
• We do not charge a fee for processing CCPA requests unless they are manifestly unfounded or excessive
• We use personal information obtained in connection with your CCPA request only for verification purposes
• We maintain written records of all CCPA requests and our responses

9.8 Contact for Privacy Requests

For questions about your California privacy rights or to submit a CCPA request, please contact:

9.9 California Attorney General & Privacy Protection Agency

If you believe we have violated your CCPA rights, you may file a complaint with the California Attorney General or the California Privacy Protection Agency. Most CCPA violations are enforced by these agencies, not through individual lawsuits. However, you may have the right to sue if your unencrypted personal information was stolen in a data breach due to our failure to maintain reasonable security.

10. Third-Party Links & Services

Our website may contain links to third-party websites and services that we do not control. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any information.

10. International Data Transfers

If you access our website or services from outside the United States, please note that your information may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States. By using our services, you consent to such transfers and processing.

11. Children's Privacy

Our website is not intended for children under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that a child has provided information, we will delete it promptly.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy at any time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of material changes by posting the revised policy on our website and updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of our services following such changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Compliance with Laws

We comply with applicable privacy laws, including:

• Florida Information Protection Act of 2014
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
• California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA)
• Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA)
• Colorado Privacy Act (CPA)
• Applicable state data breach notification laws
• Federal laws protecting sensitive information
• Florida Rules of Professional Conduct and Bar Association requirements

14. Data Breach Notification

If we discover a data breach or unauthorized access to your information, we will notify you promptly in accordance with applicable laws. We maintain an incident response plan and will take all necessary steps to mitigate harm.

15. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us: