<div dir="ltr"><div>ABA Rule 1.8(h) says you can only get a waiver of liability <i><b>if the client has independent counsel</b></i>. Note that for other waivers, you can simply recommend independent counsel. To waive liability, the independent representation has to be actual.</div><div><br></div><div>My firm's policy is "Here is the parade of horribles. If you instruct us to file in DOCX, you acknowledge the risks." The client can still sue us. We have the defense that we informed the client of the risk.<br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Jan 18, 2024 at 4:16 PM Richard Straussman <<a href="mailto:rstraussman@weitzmanip.com">rstraussman@weitzmanip.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">Point taken, although if
you clearly spell it out the limitation of what you are reviewing
and why it is not reliable due to what the PTO does, I am not sure
that there is an implied warranty - especially if they acknowledge
that they are acting expressly contrary to your advice, and that
you are doing it as a "courtesy" and the charge is simply because
time must be expended to do so, even though it may be futile.<br>
<br>
I am still investigating if NY and NJ law allows one to absolve
oneself in this type of manner from liability. If not, then it is
PDF and pay the fee or get new counsel. <br>
<br>
BTW - virtually all of my clients qualify as "small entity" so
they only face a $160 charge, so if cost is a factor, they WILL
always opt for the PDF route, as it will always be cheaper. The
"large entity" clients will follow my advice.<br>
<br>
</font>
<div>
<span><strong>Richard Straussman</strong></span><span><span><strong><br>
</strong></span> </span><strong><span>Senior
Counsel</span><span><strong><br>
</strong></span> <span>Registered Patent Attorney</span><span><br>
</span></strong> <span>Member NY, NJ & CT Bars</span><span><br>
</span> <span><strong>. . . . . . . . . . . . . .</strong></span>
<span></span> <span><br>
</span> <span><strong>Weitzman Law Offices, LLC</strong></span><span><span><br>
</span> <span><strong>Intellectual Property Law</strong></span><span><br>
</span> <span>425 Eagle Rock Avenue, Suite 401
(PLEASE NOTE THE SUITE CHANGE)</span><span><br>
</span> <span>Roseland, NJ 07068</span><span><br>
</span> <span><strong>direct line</strong></span> <span>973.403.9943<br>
</span> <span><strong>main</strong></span> <span>973.403.9940<br>
</span> <span><strong>fax</strong></span><span></span> <span>973.403.9944</span><span><br>
</span> <span><strong>e-mail</strong></span><span></span> <span><a href="mailto:rstraussman@weitzmanip.com" target="_blank">rstraussman@weitzmanip.com</a></span><span><br>
<br>
</span> <span><strong><a href="http://www.weitzmanip.com/" target="_blank">http://www.weitzmanip.com</a><br>
</strong></span> <span><br>
</span><br>
<br>
<br>
</span>
</div>
<div>On 1/18/2024 4:06 PM, David Boundy
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>I would not take the approach Rich recommends. If you
charge for proofreading, you give an implied warranty.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>But you cannot warrant this. Because of the inherent
design of DOCX, <i><b>you cannot know what the PTO received</b></i>.
Any DOCX you review on your computer is necessarily <b>on
your computer</b>. That gives you exactly zero insight into
what the very same bits will yield on the PTO's computers.<br>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Jan 18, 2024 at
4:01 PM Richard Straussman via Patentcenter <<a href="mailto:patentcenter@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">patentcenter@oppedahl-lists.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div> <font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">Some of
those, especially "one off" clients, can find a new
attorney. For larger clients, I am trying to work up a
form along the lines of something like this: <br>
<br>
If you want to file in DOCX, we must have the application
complete and ready to file at least 5 days before any due
date, we will charge to review the PTO created D2 file at
the fixed rate of $50 per text application page and
surcharge and additional $25 on top for reviewing of each
formula, table and per page of pseudo code or source code
listing (we don't do chemical or biotech cases). We will
also create and upload an Auxiliary PDF and retain that
file and the message digest for that file for a fixed fee
of $250. <br>
<br>
Alternatively, they must agree to the filing of a
provisional application in PDF first (and pay our fee and
the Official Fee for doing so) and we will file the DOCX
the next day that expressly incorporates the provisional
by reference in its entirety.<br>
<br>
We will also provide and send, with the application and
declaration, a form that the Applicant MUST sign
acknowledging all of the problems</font><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><font face="Helvetica,
Arial, sans-serif"> and explaining the risks (to them
and us)</font> associated with any DOCX filing with or
without the Auxiliary PDF or pre-filed provisional, and
that expressly states that we absolutely ONLY recommend
filing in PDF, NEVER in DOCX, and that, if they insist on
DOCX, they affirmatively acknowledge that they are acting
<u>directly contrary to our express legal advice </u>
and, thus, while we will, thereafter, file in that form as
a courtesy, thereafter, they assume all responsibility for
all negatives that result from that form of filing. Those
per-page charges will be itemized in the sent form and
will ALWAYS result in much greater than the $400 surcharge
(unless the application is less than 8 pages of pure text
without an Aux file) or 3 pages with one (a size I have
only filed once in 30 years of practice and, in which case
(due to my practice areas) the risks are probably
non-existent), so if they opt for the DOCX route, "stupid
is as stupid does." If they refuse, then it is "sorry,
get new counsel time."<br>
<br>
</font>
<div> <span><strong>Richard Straussman</strong></span><span><span><strong><br>
</strong></span> </span><strong><span>Senior Counsel</span><span><strong><br>
</strong></span> <span>Registered Patent Attorney</span><span><br>
</span></strong> <span>Member NY, NJ & CT Bars</span><span><br>
</span> <span><strong>. . . . . . . . . . . . . .</strong></span>
<span></span> <span><br>
</span> <span><strong>Weitzman Law Offices, LLC</strong></span><span><span><br>
</span> <span><strong>Intellectual Property Law</strong></span><span><br>
</span> <span>425 Eagle Rock Avenue, Suite 401 (PLEASE
NOTE THE SUITE CHANGE)</span><span><br>
</span> <span>Roseland, NJ 07068</span><span><br>
</span> <span><strong>direct line</strong></span> <span>973.403.9943<br>
</span> <span><strong>main</strong></span> <span>973.403.9940<br>
</span> <span><strong>fax</strong></span><span></span>
<span>973.403.9944</span><span><br>
</span> <span><strong>e-mail</strong></span><span></span>
<span><a href="mailto:rstraussman@weitzmanip.com" target="_blank">rstraussman@weitzmanip.com</a></span><span><br>
<br>
</span> <span><strong><a href="http://www.weitzmanip.com/" target="_blank">http://www.weitzmanip.com</a><br>
</strong></span> <span><br>
</span><br>
<br>
<br>
</span> </div>
<div>On 1/18/2024 3:31 PM, Randall Svihla via Patentcenter
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span>Not
every firm has clients who will agree to pay the
$400 non-DOCX surcharge regardless of the parade
of <span>horribles</span>.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span> </span></font></p>
<div style="border-color:rgb(225,225,225) currentcolor currentcolor;border-style:solid none none;border-width:1pt medium medium;padding:3pt 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span>From:</span></font></b><span>
Patentcenter <a href="mailto:patentcenter-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank"><patentcenter-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com></a>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">On Behalf Of </span></b>David
Boundy via Patentcenter<br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Sent:</span></b>
Thursday, January 18, 2024 3:28 PM<br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">To:</span></b>
For bug reports, feature requests, and tips and
tricks about Patent Center. <a href="mailto:patentcenter@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank"><patentcenter@oppedahl-lists.com></a><br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Cc:</span></b>
David Boundy <a href="mailto:DavidBoundyEsq@gmail.com" target="_blank"><DavidBoundyEsq@gmail.com></a><br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Subject:</span></b>
Re: [Patentcenter] Declarations and DOCX filing</span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
<div>
<div>
<div id="m_3967191366386329627m_-7806230092778126326m_-1964162874824305034gmail-:4b3">
<div id="m_3967191366386329627m_-7806230092778126326m_-1964162874824305034gmail-:2uh">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">I agree with
Rich. My firm has issued a policy that
we only file in PDF. If a client wants
DOCX, we give them a parade of
horribles, and tell them that if they
want to save $400, they must give us
instructions in writing, and acknowledge
all the costs of all the horribles. Any
nitwit can see that all the excess costs
will be close to, perhaps above, $400
for even best-case applications, and any
single high cost example will drive the
average far above $400. I'll let you
know in a couple months if anyone
accepts the offer.</span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">On Thu, Jan 18, 2024 at
3:16 PM Richard Straussman via Patentcenter
<<a href="mailto:patentcenter@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">patentcenter@oppedahl-lists.com</a>>
wrote:</span></font></p>
</div>
<blockquote style="border-color:currentcolor currentcolor currentcolor rgb(204,204,204);border-style:none none none solid;border-width:medium medium medium 1pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0in">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2" face="Helvetica"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">Much
better to simply not file in DOCX (of
course, its your license at risk, not to
mention the value of any patent that might
issue).</span></font></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><strong><b><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Richard
Straussman</span></font></b></strong><b><span style="font-weight:bold"><br>
<strong><b><font face="Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Senior
Counsel</span></font></b></strong><br>
<strong><b><font face="Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Registered
Patent Attorney</span></font></b></strong><br>
</span></b>Member NY, NJ & CT Bars<br>
<strong><b><font face="Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .</span></font></b></strong>
<br>
<strong><b><font face="Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Weitzman
Law Offices, LLC</span></font></b></strong><br>
<strong><b><font face="Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Intellectual
Property Law</span></font></b></strong><br>
425 Eagle Rock Avenue, Suite 401 (PLEASE NOTE
THE SUITE CHANGE)<br>
Roseland, NJ 07068<br>
<strong><b><font face="Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">direct
line</span></font></b></strong>
973.403.9943<br>
<strong><b><font face="Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">main</span></font></b></strong>
973.403.9940<br>
<strong><b><font face="Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">fax</span></font></b></strong>
973.403.9944<br>
<strong><b><font face="Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">e-mail</span></font></b></strong>
<a href="mailto:rstraussman@weitzmanip.com" target="_blank">rstraussman@weitzmanip.com</a><br>
<br>
<strong><b><font face="Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="http://www.weitzmanip.com/" target="_blank">http://www.weitzmanip.com</a></span></font></b></strong><b><span style="font-weight:bold"><br>
</span></b><br>
<br>
<br>
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">On
1/18/2024 3:04 PM, Benjamin Keim via
Patentcenter wrote:</span></font></p>
</div>
<blockquote style="margin-top:5pt;margin-bottom:5pt">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">For those
applications that are filed in DOCX, it
bothers me that the document reviewed by
the inventors when they decide to sign
the declaration is not the document that
is saved in Patent Center. </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">For PDF filings
we would send the inventors the PDF
document and the declaration form. They
would choose to sign the declaration if
they agreed what was in the PDF
specification and drawings was their
invention. We would upload the documents
reviewed by the inventors and they would
be saved in the USPTO’s electronic
system. I suppose it wasn’t actually the
documents reviewed by the inventors
because the PDFs were changed by
flattening each page to a TIFF image and
reassembling as a PDF. But all the ink
on the page would be the same but for
some halftoning degradation.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">The USPTO
declaration form PTO/AIA/01 for
declarations included with the initial
filing has the language “As the below
named inventor, I hereby declare that:
This declaration is directed to: The
attached application.” What the inventor
considers as the “attached application”
may be different than what becomes the
record copy in Patent Center. Does this
open up the inventors to risk of fine or
imprisonment (or both) if the USPTO
systems change something significant in
the DOCX file?</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">I’m thinking
about creating a declaration form that
lists the file name, file size, and
SHA-512 hash of the documents (spec and
drawings) provided to the inventors. My
intention for this would be to
unambiguously link the documents
reviewed by the inventors with their
statements made in the declaration.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">-Ben</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">Benjamin A.
Keim</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">(206) 920-9038</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><font size="2" face="Calibri" color="#0563c1"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(5,99,193)"><a href="mailto:ben@newportip.com" target="_blank"><font color="#0563c1"><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">ben@newportip.com</span></font></a></span></font></u></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
<div>
<div style="border-style:solid none none;border-width:1pt medium medium;padding:3pt 0in 0in;border-color:currentcolor">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold">From:</span></font></b>
Patentcenter <a href="mailto:patentcenter-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank"><patentcenter-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com></a>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">On
Behalf Of </span></b>Carl Oppedahl
via Patentcenter<br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Sent:</span></b>
Thursday, January 18, 2024 9:01 AM<br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">To:</span></b>
For bug reports, feature requests, and
tips and tricks about Patent Center. <a href="mailto:patentcenter@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank"><patentcenter@oppedahl-lists.com></a><br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Cc:</span></b>
Carl Oppedahl <a href="mailto:carl@oppedahl.com" target="_blank">
<carl@oppedahl.com></a><br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Subject:</span></b>
Re: [Patentcenter] Faxes to the PTO -
some legacy things do work</p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">Yeah, I imagine
most practitioners do always file the
declaration with the application. I
imagine I am quite out of the ordinary,
having to hand in inventors'
declarations later.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">What happens to
me is, I keep fiddling with the text of
the patent application, particularly the
claims, with multiple version changes
leading up to the moment, late in the
day on the last possible day, that I
click "submit" and e-file it at the
patent office.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">The inventor
declaration of course is tied to the
notion that the signer has reviewed the
patent application that is going to be
filed, and agrees that he or she is an
inventor thereof. But in my case, given
that the exact wording of the
application kept wriggling around until
the very end, there is no way the
inventor could be expected to sign such
a thing until after the wriggling had
ceased. Which means, no way could the
inventor even sign the declaration until
chronologically after the filing of the
application had taken place.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">Yet another thing
that happens to me is, the instructions
come in from foreign instructing counsel
to please get something filed at the
USPTO. So I prepare inventor
declarations and send them to
instructing counsel. The signed
declarations do not arrive until some
days later, long after the US patent
application got filed. Which means, no
way could I managed to file the
declaration with the application.</span></font></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">On 1/18/2024
8:49 AM, Randall Svihla via
Patentcenter wrote:</span></font></p>
</div>
<blockquote style="margin-top:5pt;margin-bottom:5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">We
always file the declaration with the
application.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span></font></p>
<div>
<div style="border-style:solid none none;border-width:1pt medium medium;padding:3pt 0in 0in;border-color:currentcolor">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold">From:</span></font></b>
Patentcenter <a href="mailto:patentcenter-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank"><patentcenter-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com></a>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">On
Behalf Of </span></b>Roger Browdy
via Patentcenter<br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Sent:</span></b>
Thursday, January 18, 2024 10:34 AM<br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">To:</span></b>
For bug reports, feature requests, and
tips and tricks about Patent Center. <a href="mailto:patentcenter@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank"><patentcenter@oppedahl-lists.com></a><br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Cc:</span></b>
Roger Browdy <a href="mailto:RLBrowdy@browdyneimark.com" target="_blank">
<RLBrowdy@browdyneimark.com></a><br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Subject:</span></b>
Re: [Patentcenter] Faxes to the PTO -
some legacy things do work</p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">I don’t think
it is a joke. I bet there was a huge
volume of applications filed Tuesday
night to avoid the DOCX tax. We had
to file one late at night and had a
hell of a time trying to do so.
Couldn’t file the assignment/dec forms
with EPAS because of the problems and
couldn’t get back into PC to file the
declaration directly, so have to pay
the surcharge for late filing of
declaration because of the PTO
problems. In a fair world, we would
be able to get that refunded.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">Roger</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
<div>
<div style="border-style:solid none none;border-width:1pt medium medium;padding:3pt 0in 0in;border-color:currentcolor">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold">From:</span></font></b>
Patentcenter <a href="mailto:patentcenter-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank"><patentcenter-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com></a>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">On
Behalf Of </span></b>Patent
Lawyer via Patentcenter<br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Sent:</span></b>
Thursday, January 18, 2024 10:25 AM<br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">To:</span></b>
For bug reports, feature requests, and
tips and tricks about Patent Center. <a href="mailto:patentcenter@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank"><patentcenter@oppedahl-lists.com></a><br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Cc:</span></b>
Patent Lawyer <a href="mailto:patentlawyer995@gmail.com" target="_blank">
<patentlawyer995@gmail.com></a><br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Subject:</span></b>
[Patentcenter] Faxes to the PTO - some
legacy things do work</p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">There was
recent discussion about faxes to the
PTO and return faxes from the PTO. </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">Because of
yesterday’s shit show with Patent
Center and because of other
deficiencies in Patent Center, I had
to fax four separate submissions to
the PTO last night.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">I did receive
acknowledgment faxes back from the PTO
for each submission. So, that legacy
functionality is still there, and it
still worked for me. (I hope the PTO
lurkers on this list don’t go and turn
it off!)</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">I use a service
called eFax. It is not free.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">PS. I am still
laughing at Sandra E’s joke about DDOS
being just normal filers filing in a
volume the system can’t handle.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
</blockquote>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
</blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt">-- <br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11pt"><br clear="all">
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<p style="margin:0in;text-align:start"><b><font size="2" face="Arial" color="#606e9a"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:rgb(96,110,154);font-weight:bold">David
Boundy </span></font></b><font size="2" face="Arial" color="#7c869a"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:rgb(124,134,154)">|
Partner <span style="background:white">| </span>Potomac Law Group, PLLC</span></font><font size="3" face="Arial" color="#323130"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"></span></font></p>
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Box 590638,
Newton, MA
02459</span></font><font size="3" face="Arial" color="#323130"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"></span></font></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><font size="2" face="Helvetica" color="#7c869a"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:rgb(124,134,154)">Tel
(646) 472-9737 </span></font><font size="2" face="Helvetica" color="gray"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:gray">|</span></font><font size="2" face="Helvetica" color="#7c869a"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:rgb(124,134,154)"> Fax:
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<p style="margin:0in"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:10pt"><a href="http://ssrn.com/author=2936470" target="_blank">Articles at http://ssrn.com/author=2936470</a><a href="https://www.keynect.us/requestCardAccess/USA500DBOUN?" target="_blank"><font color="black"><span style="color:windowtext"><br>
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<br>
<fieldset></fieldset>
</blockquote>
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<p><a border="0" href="https://www.iam-media.com/strategy300/individuals/david-boundy" style="color:rgb(102,127,160);text-decoration:none;outline:none;background:transparent 0px 0px" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4wHwYjQzxHxAaQrLX1XiLlcQpAZ83upYUjMvJLtwefIP8dBVb6tJA9Yn2W4bPdW2A18c1EIEHg" width="73" height="92"> <br>
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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:rgb(50,49,48);font-weight:normal;text-align:start;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:15px"><b><span style="margin:0px;font-size:10pt;color:rgb(96,110,154)">David Boundy </span></b><span style="margin:0px;font-size:10pt;color:rgb(124,134,154)">| Partner </span><span style="margin:0px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;color:rgb(124,134,154)"><span style="margin:0px;background-color:white;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">|</span><span style="margin:0px;background-color:white"><span style="margin:0px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> </span></span></span><span style="margin:0px;font-size:10pt;color:rgb(124,134,154)">Potomac Law
Group, PLLC</span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:rgb(50,49,48);font-weight:normal;text-align:start;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:15px"><span style="margin:0px;font-size:10pt;color:rgb(124,134,154)">P.O. Box
590638,
Newton, MA
02459</span></p>
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Group, PLLC</span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:rgb(50,49,48);font-weight:normal;text-align:start;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:15px">
<span style="margin:0px;font-size:10pt;color:rgb(124,134,154)">P.O. Box 590638, Newton, MA 02459</span></p>
<div style="margin:0px;font-family:Tahoma,serif,EmojiFont;font-size:13.3333px;color:black;text-align:left">
<font size="2" face="Helvetica" color="#7C869A"><span style="margin:0px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont"></span></font></div>
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<span style="margin:0px;font-size:10pt"></span><span style="margin:0px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont;font-size:12pt"><font size="2" face="Helvetica" color="#7C869A"><span style="margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px;font-size:10pt"><span style="margin:0px">Tel
(646)</span><span style="margin:0px"> 472-9737</span></span><span style="margin:0px;font-size:10pt"> </span></span></font><font size="2" face="Helvetica" color="gray"><span style="margin:0px;font-size:10pt">|</span></font><font size="2" face="Helvetica" color="#7C869A"><span style="margin:0px;font-size:10pt"> Fax:
(202) 318-7707</span></font></span></p>
<p style="margin:0px;color:rgb(124,134,154);font-size:13px;font-family:Helvetica,serif,EmojiFont">
<span style="margin:0px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont;font-size:12pt"><span style="margin:0px;font-size:10pt;color:rgb(12,100,192)"><u><a href="mailto:dboundy@potomaclaw.com" title="mailto:dboundy@potomaclaw.com" style="color:rgb(254,70,165)" target="_blank">dboundy@potomaclaw.com</a></u> </span></span><span style="margin:0px;color:gray"><span style="margin:0px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont;font-size:12pt"><u><span style="margin:0px;font-size:10pt"></span></u></span></span><span style="margin:0px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont;font-size:10pt">| </span><u style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><a href="http://www.potomaclaw.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="http://www.potomaclaw.com/" style="margin:0px" target="_blank"><span style="margin:0px;color:rgb(12,100,192)">www.potomaclaw.com</span></a></u></p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><font size="2">
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