Rules of March Madness at LorainCounty.com

No Purchase Necessary

1. CONTEST ENTRY PERIOD: From March 15, 2009 to March 19, 2009.

2. MEANS OF ENTRY: Entries will be accepted from after LorainCounty.com has been updated with the 2009 NCAA® Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament brackets after they are announced (approximately 8:30 PM ET March 16) until the tip-off of the first tournament game (approximately 11:30 AM ET March 19). Beginning on March 15, 2009, entrants may submits which teams he or she thinks will win games in the 2009 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. Such picks must be submitted during the time period set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph.
   
   To enter, visit LorainCounty.com/madness/.  Entrants must submit their brackets via the Internet to participate.

   Once registered, entrants will then pick who they think will win every game in the 2009 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. Points will be earned for each game picked correctly. Point values increase as the tournament progresses toward the men's championship game. (See Scoring Chart Below.)

   From all eligible entries received, the Grand Prize winner will be the prize eligible participant who correctly picked winners in the 2009 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament games that earned them the most total points, according to the quantity and round in which they were picked.

   Limit one (1) entry per person or email address. If more than (1) entry is received per person or email address only the first entry will be accepted. Only online entries will be accepted. All materials become the property of the LorainCounty.com and none will be returned. Entrants' name and standing will be listed on LorainCounty.com/madness/

   In the event of a dispute about the identity of the online entrant, entries will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at time of entry. Authorized account holder is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization (e.g. business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address. The potential winner may be required to provide LorainCounty.com with proof that the potential winner is the authorized account holder of the email address associated with the winning entry.
    

MINOR POLICY: Entrants under the age of 18 must first obtain permission of parent/legal guardian before entering online. Minors may only win with the permission of their parent or legal guardian.


3. WINNER SELECTION: One (1) Grand Prize winner will be chosen. The prize eligible participant that earned the most points in the 2009 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament games from among all eligible entries received will be the Grand Prize winner. One (1) 2nd place winner will be chosen. The eligible participant who earned the second most points in the 2009 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament games from among all eligible entries received will be the 2nd place winner. One (1) 3rd place winner will be chosen. The eligible participant who earned the third most points in the 2009 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament games from among all eligible entries received will be the 3rd place winner. Such determinations shall take place on or about April 17, 2009 by LorainCounty.com whose decisions are final.

   In the event of a tie, the tie will be broken in the following ways:

   1. Person who lists the total final score of the final game closest to the actual total score.

   2. Person who lists the total final score of the final game closest to the actual total score without going over.

   3. Person who selects the most correct upsets in the first round of the tournament.

   4. Person who selects the most correct upsets in the second round of the tournament.

   5. Random drawing of participants left.

   All winners will be notified by email within seven (7) days after the determination date. The winner must sign and return an affidavit of eligibility and publicity/liability release within ten (10) days following attempted notification. Failure to comply within this time period may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. Any prize/prize notification returned as undeliverable may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner.

   Minors will be required to provide LorainCounty.com with a Parental Permission Form, which will be sent to all potential prize winners who are minors. To be eligible to receive prize, the Parental Permission Form must include a parent's or legal guardian's signature (signifying approval of child's entry in contest) and be returned by mail (or by fax) to the address (or fax number) indicated on the Form within ten (10) days of notification. Any minor who does not provide this completed and executed Parental Permission Form within ten (10) days will forfeit his or her right to be declared a winner and/or win a prize.

   By accepting a prize, the winner grants permission to LorainCounty.com to use their names, photographs, likenesses, voices, prize information and/or biographical information for publicity and promotional purposes without further compensation, unless prohibited by law.  If a winner is disqualified an alternate winner will be selected.
   

   Prizes
   After the last game of the tournament, scheduled for April 6, 2009, prizes will be awarded to the top prize eligible participants, based on total points accumulated during the tournament.

   • Grand Prize: Ultimate Bragging Rights and $1.00 Per Point Scored by the Winner (Win up to $168.00!), Sponsored by LorainCounty.com and Emerge Inc
   • Second Place: Bragging Rights and $0.50 Per Point Scored by the 2nd Place Winner (Win up to $84.00!)
   • Third Place: Bragging Rights and $0.25 Per Point Scored by the 3rd Place Winner (Win up to $42.00!)

4. ELIGIBILITY: This contest is open anyone. In order to win prizes the participant must Reside in or work in Lorain County.  Minors must first obtain permission of parent/legal guardian before entering online. Void where prohibited by law.
   

5. TERMS: Contest entrants agree to abide by the terms of these Official Rules and by the decisions of the judges, which are final on all matters pertaining to this contest. This contest is governed by, and these rules will be construed and interpreted pursuant to, the laws of the United States. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. All federal, state and local taxes, and all income and any other taxes, fees and surcharges will be the sole responsibility of the prize winner. LorainCounty.com (i) make no warranty, guaranty or representation of any kind concerning any prize, (ii) disclaim any implied warranty; and (iii) are not in any way responsible or liable for damage, loss or injury resulting from altered, late, lost, damaged, misdirected, mutilated, inaudible, illegible or incomplete entries, or human, telephone, computer, online, or technical malfunctions or failures (including busy lines and disconnections), or acceptance and use of a prize or travel in connection with such prize. Winner and travel companion assume liability for injuries caused or claimed to be caused by participating in the contest, or by the acceptance, possession or use of any prize.

   By entering, participants agree that no claim relating to such damages, losses or injuries shall be asserted against LorainCounty.com, any of their affiliates, or their respective parents, subsidiaries, directors, officers, principals, shareholders, employees or agents. By accepting a prize, winner agrees to release and hold LorainCounty.com harmless from any and all damages, losses, rights, claims and actions of any kind resulting from the acceptance, possession or use of any prize, including without limitation, personal injuries, death and property damage.

   If you are a college athlete participating in this promotion this could affect your NCAA eligibility.

   By participating in this contest participants agree to be bound by all the Official Rules of this contest. Certain restrictions, conditions and limitations apply.

   LorainCounty.com is not responsible for typographical or other errors in the offer or administration of this contest, including but not limited to errors in advertising, the Official Rules, the selection and announcement of the winner or the distribution of the prizes.
   

6. CONDUCT: The Official Rules will be posted at the contest web site throughout the contest. Sponsors reserve the right at their sole discretion to disqualify any individual they find to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the contest or web site; to be acting in violation of the Official Rules; or to be acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person. Sponsors reserve the right to lock out an entrant whose eligibility is in question or who has been disqualified or is otherwise ineligible to enter the contest.

   CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY ALTER OR DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSORS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH ENTRANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
   

7. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY: Sponsors are not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by web site users or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the contest or by any technical or human error which may occur in the processing of submissions in the contest. Sponsors assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft of or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries. Sponsors are not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of email or entrants due to or resulting from technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any web site or combination thereof, including injury or damage to participants or to any other person's computer related to or resulting from participating or downloading materials in this contest. If, for any reason, the contest is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of Sponsors, which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this contest, Sponsors reserve the right at their sole discretion to cancel, terminate, or suspend the contest and in such event, to select winner by random drawing from all valid entries received up to the time of cancellation, termination or suspension.