Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using CleanPlate Chicago (the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Service. We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Your continued use of the Service following any changes constitutes acceptance of those changes.

2. Description of Service

CleanPlate Chicago is an informational website that aggregates and presents publicly available restaurant health inspection data from the City of Chicago. The Service includes:

• Display of public health inspection records from the Chicago Data Portal
• A proprietary "CleanPlate Score" calculated using our own algorithm
• Summaries and interpretations of inspection data
• Search and filtering functionality
• Map-based visualization of restaurant locations

3. Data Source and Accuracy Disclaimer

Data Source: All inspection data originates from the City of Chicago Data Portal (data.cityofchicago.org) and is public domain government data. We do not independently verify or validate this data. The City of Chicago may update, correct, or modify inspection records at any time.

Data Freshness: While we sync data regularly, there may be delays between when an inspection occurs, when the City publishes the data, and when it appears on our Service. Inspection results shown may not reflect the current status of an establishment.

Errors and Omissions: The data may contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies from the original source or introduced during our processing. Establishments may have closed, changed ownership, or been re-inspected since the data was published.

4. CleanPlate Score Disclaimer

Algorithm Limitations: The CleanPlate Score is calculated using a weighted formula that considers factors such as inspection results, violation counts, trends, and recency. This algorithm:

• Is based solely on publicly available inspection data
• Does not account for factors beyond health inspections (e.g., food quality, service, atmosphere)
• May not reflect recent changes or improvements at an establishment
• Is subject to change as we refine our methodology
• Should not be the sole factor in your dining decisions

Not a Safety Guarantee: A high CleanPlate Score does not guarantee that an establishment is safe, clean, or free from health risks. A low score does not necessarily mean an establishment is unsafe. The score is one data point among many you should consider.

5. No Professional Advice

The information on this Service does not constitute professional health, safety, medical, or legal advice. Nothing on this Service should be construed as:

• Health or safety certification of any establishment
• A recommendation to dine or not dine at any establishment
• Medical advice regarding food safety or foodborne illness
• Legal advice regarding health code compliance

You should always use your own judgment and, when appropriate, consult with qualified professionals before making decisions based on the information provided.

6. Limitation of Liability

Without limiting the foregoing, we shall not be liable for:

• Any illness, injury, or harm resulting from dining at any establishment listed on the Service
• Any loss of business, revenue, or reputation to any establishment
• Any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions in the data or scores
• Any decisions made based on the information provided
• Any interruption or unavailability of the Service
• Any third-party claims arising from your use of the Service

YOU USE THIS SERVICE ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

7. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY
• FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
• NON-INFRINGEMENT
• ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF DATA
• UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE OPERATION

8. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless CleanPlate Chicago, its operators, affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or in any way connected with:

• Your access to or use of the Service
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your reliance on any information provided by the Service
• Any claim that your use of the Service caused damage to a third party

9. Intellectual Property

Our Content: The CleanPlate Score algorithm, website design, code, logos, and original content are the property of CleanPlate Chicago and are protected by intellectual property laws.

Government Data: The underlying inspection data is public domain government data from the City of Chicago and is not subject to our copyright claims.

10. Third-Party Services

The Service may contain links to or integrate with third-party services (such as maps or external websites). We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or practices of these third-party services.

11. Restaurant Operators

If you are a restaurant operator and believe information about your establishment is inaccurate:

• The underlying inspection data comes from the City of Chicago. To correct official records, contact the Chicago Department of Public Health.
• Our CleanPlate Score will automatically update when new inspection data is published.
• We do not manually adjust scores or data.

12. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Cook County, Illinois.

13. Dispute Resolution

Before initiating any legal proceeding, you agree to first contact us to attempt to resolve the dispute informally. Any claim or dispute arising from your use of the Service must be brought within one (1) year after the claim or cause of action arises.

14. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that these Terms shall otherwise remain in full force and effect.

15. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and CleanPlate Chicago regarding your use of the Service.

16. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, please contact us through the information provided on our About page.