AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE
Exhibit
10.2
This
Agreement and General Release (the “Agreement”)
is
made as of the 26th day of April, 2007 (the “Effective
Date”),
at
Stamford, CT, by and between MTM Technologies, Inc. (the “Company”),
with
offices at 0000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX, 00000, and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
(the
“Executive”),
having an address c/o Shechtman Halperin Savage LLP, Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxx
0000, Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000.
WHEREAS,
the Company and Executive are parties to an Employment Agreement dated as
of
June 28, 2006 (the “Employment
Agreement”);
and
WHEREAS,
during the month of March, 2007, the Company and Executive engaged in
discussions regarding the various responsibilities and lines of reporting
for
the Company’s executive level employees, including the ongoing roles of various
Company executives, including Executive; and
WHEREAS,
during the month of March, 2007, the Company and Executive reached an agreement
in principle regarding the departure of Executive from the Company;
and
WHEREAS,
the Company and Executive desire to document such agreement in principle;
and
WHEREAS,
the Company, Executive and Tory Ventures LLC are entering into a Consulting
Service Agreement made on the date hereof (the “Consulting
Agreement”);
and
WHEREAS,
the parties do now desire to settle fully and finally any and all differences
between them, including, but not limited to, any differences that might arise
out of Executive’s employment with the Company and the conclusion
thereof;
NOW,
THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED THAT:
1. Executive’s
employment with the Company ended or will end effective at the close of business
on the Effective Date, and the Employment Agreement will be deemed to have
terminated as of the Effective Date. Except as provided in the Consulting
Agreement, Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive will not be
reemployed by the Company, and Executive will not accept, apply for, or
otherwise seek employment with the Company or its controlling shareholders,
subsidiaries or related companies at any time without giving such party prior
notice of this Agreement.
2. Executive
acknowledges and agrees that the Company has paid to Executive all of
Executive’s wages, commissions, bonuses, and accrued vacation pay, and that the
Company owes Executive no other wages, commissions, bonuses, vacation pay,
employee benefits, or other compensation or payments of any kind or nature,
other than as provided in this Agreement or the Consulting Agreement.
3. (a) Except
as
provided in Paragraph 3(c) below, Executive
represents and warrants that Executive has returned to the Company any and
all
documents, software, equipment (including, but not limited to, computers
and
computer-related items), Company credit cards, and all other materials or
other
things in Executive’s possession, custody, or control
which
are
the property of the Company, including, but not limited to, any Company
identification, keys, and the like, wherever such items may have been located;
as well as all copies (in whatever form thereof) of all materials relating
to
Executive’s employment, or obtained or created in the course of Executive’s
employment, with the Company or any predecessor of the Company.
(b) Except
as
provided in Paragraph 3(c) below, Executive
hereby
represents that, other than those materials Executive has returned to the
Company pursuant to Paragraph 3(a), above, Executive has not copied or caused
to
be copied, and has not printed-out or caused to be printed-out, any software,
computer disks, or other documents other than those documents generally
available to the public, or retained any other materials originating with
or
belonging to the Company, and that Executive will not do so. Except as provided
in Paragraph 3(c) below, Executive further represents that Executive has
not
retained and will not retain in Executive’s possession any software, documents
or other materials in machine or other readable form, which are the property
of
the Company, originated with the Company, or were obtained or created in
the
course of Executive’s employment, or relate to Executive’s employment, with the
Company or any predecessor of the Company.
(c) The
Company and Executive agree that Executive may retain possession of the
Company’s laptop computer, together with peripheral equipment thereto currently
located in Executive’s office, including, but not limited to, a docking station,
monitor, mouse, printer and cables (collectively, the “Laptop
Equipment”).
The
Company acknowledges and agrees that the BlackBerry wireless handheld device
(the “Blackberry”)
and
the cellular telephone that are currently in Executive’s possession are owned by
Executive. Notwithstanding the foregoing, within thirty (30) days following
the
Effective Date of this Agreement, Executive shall return the Laptop and the
BlackBerry to the Company so that the Company can delete from the Laptop
and the
BlackBerry all Company software, computer programs, and confidential and
proprietary information of the Company. After making such deletions, the
Company
will return the Laptop and the BlackBerry to Executive.
4. As
consideration for this Agreement and in full, final, and complete settlement:
(a) The
Company shall pay Executive a lump sum payment, not otherwise owed to Executive,
in the gross amount of Twenty-Nine Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty-Six
Dollars
And Sixty-Seven Cents ($29,166.67), less applicable federal, state and
local
taxes and other payroll deductions, and in accordance with the Company’s normal
payroll practices on May 15, 2007.
(b) Other
Benefits.
During the period from the date hereof to June 30, 2009 at the cost of
the
Company, Executive will be entitled to a continuance of coverage under
all
health, life, disability and similar employee benefit plans and programs
of the
Company on the same basis as Executive was entitled to participate immediately
prior to the date hereof, provided that Executive’s continued participation is
possible under the general terms and provisions of such plans and programs.
In
the event that Executive’s participation in any such plan or program is barred
for any reason, the Company shall arrange to provide Executive with benefits
substantially similar to those which Executive would otherwise have been
entitled to receive under such plans and programs from which his continued
participation is barred, provided however, that the aggregate cost of providing
benefits to Executive pursuant to this Section 4(b) shall not be materially
increased as a result of providing such alternative coverage.
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On
and
after June 30, 2009, Executive shall be entitled to any rights guaranteed
by the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended
(“COBRA”).
Premium and other payments required for continued health insurance coverage
under COBRA will be Executive’s sole responsibility. In the event that Executive
is covered under substitute benefit plans of another employer prior to
June 30,
2009, the Company will no longer be obligated to continue the respective
coverages provided for in this Section 4(b).
5. In
further consideration of this Agreement and the mutual promises set forth
herein, Executive and the Company shall enter into a Consulting Service
Agreement, in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A
(the
“Consulting
Agreement”).
6. (a) Executive,
in consideration of the monies and other consideration paid to Executive
pursuant to this Agreement, releases and forever discharges
the
Company and its current, former, and future shareholders, members, subsidiaries,
affiliates, related companies, divisions, directors, trustees, officers,
employees, agents, attorneys, successors, and assigns (and the current, former
and future shareholders, members, directors, trustees, officers, employees,
agents, and attorneys of such shareholders, members, subsidiaries, affiliates,
related companies and divisions), and all persons acting by, through, under,
or
in concert with any of them (the Company and the foregoing other persons
and
entities are hereinafter defined separately and collectively as the
“Company
Releasees”),
from
all actions, causes of action, claims, and demands whatsoever, whether known or unknown,
in law
or equity, whether statutory or common law, whether federal, state, local,
or
otherwise, including, but not limited to, any claims related to, or arising
out
of any aspect of Executive’s employment with the Company, any agreement
concerning such employment, or the conclusion of such employment, including,
but
not limited to, any and all claims of or for: wrongful discharge or breach
of
contract; equitable estoppel; employee benefits, including, but not limited
to,
under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or
the
Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; employment discrimination on any basis
or
unlawful retaliation, including, but not limited to, under Title VII of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Age Discrimination in Employment
Act
of 1967, as amended (“ADEA”);
the
Civil Rights Act of 1866; 42 U.S.C. § 1981, as amended; the Americans With
Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1991, as amended;
the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, as amended; the New York
State
Human Rights Law, as amended; the New York City Human Rights Law, as amended;
the Connecticut Human Rights And Opportunities Law, as amended; and any claim
for attorneys’ fees, experts’ fees, disbursements, or costs; which against the
Company Releasees, Executive, Executive’s heirs, executors, administrators, or
assigns ever had, now have, or hereafter may have, by reason of any matter,
cause, or thing whatsoever from the beginning of the world to the date of
Executive’s execution of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Executive does not release or discharge actions, causes of action, claims
or
demands under this Agreement or the Consulting Agreement.
(b) The
Company, in further consideration of this Agreement, releases and forever
discharges Executive and his respective heirs, executors, administrators,
successors, and assigns (Executive and the foregoing other persons are
hereinafter defined separately and collectively as the “Executive
Releasees”),
from
all actions, causes of action, suits, debts, dues, sums of money, accounts,
reckonings, bonds, bills, specialties, covenants, contracts, controversies,
agreements, promises, variances, trespasses, damages, judgments, executions,
claims, and demands whatsoever, whether known or unknown, in law or equity,
whether
3
statutory
or common law, whether federal, state, local, or otherwise, including, but
not
limited to, any claims related to, or arising out of any aspect of Executive’s
employment with the Company, or the termination of such employment, and all
agreements concerning such employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company Releasees do not release Executive from (i) any claims related to
fraud,
criminal activity, or any claims which may arise out of the provisions that
survived the termination of his Employment Agreement pursuant to Paragraph
12 of
this Agreement, or that are related to the surviving agreements that are
referenced in Paragraph 12 of this Agreement (hereinafter defined, separately
and collectively, as the “Claims”)
or
(ii) actions, causes of action, claims or demands under this Agreement or
the
Consulting Agreement. The Company represents that, as of the Effective Date of
this Agreement, the members of the Company’s Board of Directors as of the
Effective Date of this Agreement and the following Company employees have
no
actual knowledge of a factual basis for any such Claims by the Company against
Executive: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx; Xxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq. and Xxxxx
X.
Xxxxx.
7. (a) Except
as
otherwise provided in Paragraphs 7(b) and 16 of this Agreement, Executive
represents and warrants that Executive has never commenced or filed, and
covenants and agrees never to commence, file, aid, or in any way prosecute
or
cause to be commenced or prosecuted against the Company Releasees, or any
of
them, any action, charge, complaint, or other proceeding, whether
administrative, judicial, legislative, or otherwise, including, but not limited
to, any action or proceeding for attorneys’ fees, experts’ fees, disbursements,
or costs, based upon or seeking relief on account of actions or failures
to act
by the Company Releasees, or any of them, which may have occurred or failed
to
occur before Executive’s execution of this Agreement; provided,
however,
that
Executive may enforce his rights under this Agreement and the Consulting
Agreement and the rights of Tory Ventures LLC under the Consulting
Agreement.
(b) Executive
further acknowledges, represents, and warrants that Executive has not reported
any purported improper, unethical or illegal conduct or activities to any
supervisor, manager, department head, Human Resources representative, Corporate
Compliance representative, agent or other representative of the Company or
to
any member of the Company’s legal or compliance departments, and Executive has
no knowledge of any such improper, unethical or illegal conduct or activities.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or
restrict Executive from (i) making any disclosure of information required
by
law; (ii) providing information to, or testifying or otherwise assisting
in any
investigation or proceeding brought by any federal, state or local regulatory
or
law enforcement agency or legislative body, any self-regulatory organization,
or
the Company’s legal or compliance departments; or (iii) testifying,
participating in or otherwise assisting in a proceeding relating to an alleged
violation of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, or any federal, state or municipal
law relating to fraud or any rule or regulation of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any self-regulatory organization.
8. Executive
represents and warrants that Executive has not assigned and will never assign
any claim based on or arising out of any alleged discriminatory, unlawful,
wrongful, tortious, or other conduct against Executive by the Company Releasees,
or any of them, including, but not limited to, any and all claims for attorneys’
fees, experts’ fees, or damages resulting as a consequence thereof, based upon
or seeking relief on account of actions or failures to act by the Company
Releasees, which may have occurred or failed to occur before Executive’s
execution of this Agreement and that in the event any such claim is filed
or
prosecuted by any
4
other
person or entity, Executive will reasonably cooperate with the Company
Releasees, and will use reasonable efforts to withdraw Executive’s name and to
disassociate Executive completely from any such claim, will request such
person
or entity to withdraw such claim with prejudice, and except as may be required
by law or a lawfully issued subpoena, will not voluntarily cooperate with
or
testify on behalf of the person or entity prosecuting such claim.
9. (a) Executive
agrees, warrants, and represents that he will not disclose facts relating
to or
disparage, denigrate, or otherwise demean the Company or any of the other
Company Releasees, or their business, operations, personnel, policies or
procedures, to any person, firm, corporation, governmental agency, or other
entity; provided,
however,
that
notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or
restrict Executive from (i) making any disclosure of information required
by
law; (ii) providing information to, or testifying or otherwise assisting
in any
investigation or proceeding brought by any federal, state or local regulatory
or
law enforcement agency or legislative body, any self-regulatory organization,
or
the Company’s legal or compliance departments; (iii) testifying, participating
in or otherwise assisting in a proceeding relating to an alleged violation
of
the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, or any federal, state or municipal law relating
to fraud or any rule or regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
or
any self-regulatory organization; or (iv) providing information to any federal,
state, or local regulatory or law enforcement agency or legislative body,
any
self-regulatory organization, the Company’s legal, human resources, or
compliance departments, or the Company’s outside counsel, in connection with the
Company’s investigation of, or defense of, any threatened legal claims against
the Company, any charges or complaints filed against the Company, any
investigation commenced against the Company, or any lawsuits filed against
the
Company.
(b) The
Company agrees that the following persons will not disparage, denigrate,
or
otherwise demean Executive, to any person, firm, or corporation: Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx; Xxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.; Xxxxx X. Xxxxx and the members
of
the Company’s Board of Directors as of the Effective Date of this Agreement. The
Company further agrees that the foregoing persons will not disclose facts
relating to Executive to any person, firm, corporation, governmental agency,
or
other entity; provided,
however,
that
notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or
restrict the Company or any of the aforementioned persons from (i) making
any
disclosure of information required by law; (ii) providing information to,
or
testifying or otherwise assisting in any investigation or proceeding brought
by
any federal, state or local regulatory or law enforcement agency or legislative
body, any self-regulatory organization, or the Company’s legal or compliance
departments; (iii) testifying, participating in or otherwise assisting in
a
proceeding relating to an alleged violation of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of
2002,
or any federal, state or municipal law relating to fraud or any rule or
regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any self-regulatory
organization; or (iv) providing information to any federal, state, or local
regulatory or law enforcement agency or legislative body, any self-regulatory
organization, the Company’s legal, human resources, or compliance departments,
or the Company’s outside counsel, in connection with the Company’s investigation
of, or defense of, any threatened legal claims against the Company, any charges
or complaints filed against the Company, any investigation commenced against
the
Company, or any lawsuits filed against the Company.
10. Executive
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each and all of the Company Releasees
from
and against any and all loss, cost, damage, or expense, including, but not
limited
5
to,
attorneys’ fees, incurred by the Company Releasees arising out of any breach by
Executive of this Agreement, or the fact that any representation made by
Executive in this Agreement was false when made.
11. Should
any provision of this Agreement be declared or determined by a court to be
illegal or invalid, the validity of the remaining provisions will not be
affected thereby and said illegal or invalid provision will be deemed not
to be
a part of this Agreement.
12. With
the
exception of the Consulting Agreement, this Agreement sets forth the entire
agreement between the parties hereto, fully supersedes any and all prior
agreements or understandings between the parties hereto pertaining to the
subject matter hereof, including without limitation, the Employment Agreement,
and may not be modified orally. The
foregoing notwithstanding, Executive and the Company each represents, and
agrees
that: (i) the terms of and obligations imposed on the Company by Section
6 of
the Employment Agreement and on Executive by Section 7(a) through (f) (including
any and all subparts) of the Employment Agreement survive the termination
of the
Employment Agreement, and remain in full force and effect, and are in no
way
diminished or modified by this Agreement, provided,
however,
that:
Section 7(d) of the Employment Agreement is hereby modified to provide that
the
period during which Executive will not engage in the conduct prohibited by
such
Section 7(d) shall extend through and including the earlier of the date that
is
two years from the Effective Date and the date of termination of the Consulting
Agreement by Executive.
13. (a) Except
as
specifically provided herein, any dispute or controversy arising under or
in
connection with this Agreement shall be, upon the demand of either party,
subject to a non-binding mediation proceeding before a mediator on the panel
of
the CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution, such mediator to be agreed upon
by the
parties.
(b) If
a
mediator is not agreed upon or if mediation is not successful, any dispute
or
controversy between the Company and Executive arising under or in connection
with this Agreement (except any claim by the Company relating to Executive’s
breach of Section 7 of the Employment Agreement, as modified by Paragraph
12 of
this Agreement) shall be settled by binding arbitration before a single
arbitrator in Stamford, CT pursuant to the Employment Dispute Resolution
Rules
of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). Each party shall bear its own
costs, expenses and fees, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and
experts’ fees with respect to any such arbitration. The parties shall share
equally the fees of the arbitrator and the AAA. Judgment upon any resulting
arbitration award may be entered in any court of competent
jurisdiction.
(c) Neither
party shall be required to mediate or arbitrate any dispute arising between
it
and the other party relating to any breach of Section 7 of the Employment
Agreement, as modified by Paragraph 12 of this Agreement, but shall have
the
right to institute judicial proceedings in the United States District Court
or
in a state court having jurisdiction in Stamford, CT, with respect to such
dispute or claim. Each party hereby consents to, and waives any objection
to,
the personal jurisdiction and venue of the aforesaid courts, and waives any
claim that the aforesaid courts constitute an inconvenient forum and any
right
to trial by jury. If such judicial proceedings are instituted, the parties
agree
that such proceedings shall not be stayed pending the outcome of any arbitration
proceedings hereunder.
6
14. This
Agreement will be deemed to have been made in Stamford, CT, and will be
interpreted, construed, and enforced pursuant to the substantive laws of
the
State of Connecticut, without giving effect to its conflict or choice of
law
principles.
15. This
Agreement will not in any way be construed as an admission by the Company
or the
Company Releasees of any liability, or of any wrongful acts whatsoever against
Executive or any other person.
16. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary:
(a) The
Company and Executive agree that, by entering into this Agreement, Executive
does not waive rights or claims that may arise after the date this Agreement
is
executed.
(b) The
Company and Executive agree that this Agreement does not affect the rights
and
responsibilities of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (the
“EEOC”) or like agencies to enforce the ADEA and other laws, and will not affect
or be used to interfere with Executive’s protected right to file a charge or
participate in an investigation or proceeding conducted by the EEOC or
like
agencies. The Company and Executive further agree that Executive knowingly
and
voluntarily waives all rights or claims (that arose prior to Executive’s
execution of this Agreement) Executive may have against the Company Releasees
to
receive any benefit or remedial relief (including, but not limited to,
reinstatement, back pay, front pay, damages, and attorneys’ fees) as a
consequence of any charge filed with the EEOC or like agencies, or of any
litigation concerning any facts alleged in any such charge.
(c) For
a
period of seven (7) days following the execution of this Agreement, Executive
has the right to revoke this Agreement by written notice by hand delivery,
overnight courier or fax to Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq., Senior Vice President
&
General Counsel, MTM Technologies, Inc., 0000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx,
XX,
00000. The Company and Executive further agree that this Agreement shall
not
become effective or enforceable until the eighth (8th) day after the execution
of this Agreement; and that in the event Executive revokes this Agreement
prior
to the eighth (8th) day after the execution of this Agreement, this Agreement,
the Consulting Agreement, and the promises contained in this Agreement
and the
Consulting Agreement, shall automatically be deemed null and void.
(d) The
Company hereby advises and urges Executive in writing to consult with an
attorney prior to executing this Agreement. Executive represents and warrants
that the Company gave Executive a period of at least twenty-one (21) days
in
which to consider this Agreement before executing this Agreement.
(e) Executive’s
acceptance of the monies and other consideration paid by the Company, as
described in Paragraph 4 of this Agreement, at any time more than seven
(7) days
after the execution of this Agreement shall constitute an admission by
Executive
that Executive did not revoke this Agreement during the revocation period
of
seven (7) days; and shall further constitute an admission by Executive
that this
Agreement has become effective and enforceable.
(f) If
Executive executed this Agreement at any time prior to the end of the greater
than forty-five (45) day period that the Company gave Executive in which
to
consider
7
this
Agreement, such early execution was a knowing and voluntary waiver of
Executive’s right to consider this Agreement for at least forty-five (45) days,
and was due to Executive’s belief that Executive had ample time in which to
consider and understand this Agreement, and in which to review this Agreement
with an attorney.
(g) This
Agreement shall not affect or be used to interfere with Executive’s protected
right to test in any court, under the Older Worker Benefit Protection Act,
or
like statute or regulation, the validity of the waiver of rights set forth
in
this Agreement.
17. EXECUTIVE
EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGES, REPRESENTS, AND WARRANTS THAT EXECUTIVE: HAS CAREFULLY
READ THIS AGREEMENT; FULLY UNDERSTANDS ITS TERMS, CONDITIONS, AND SIGNIFICANCE;
HAS HAD AMPLE TIME TO CONSIDER AND NEGOTIATE IT; HAS BEEN ADVISED AND URGED
BY
THE COMPANY TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY CONCERNING THIS AGREEMENT; HAS HAD
A
FULL OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THIS AGREEMENT WITH AN ATTORNEY; AND HAS EXECUTED
THIS AGREEMENT VOLUNTARILY, KNOWINGLY, AND WITH SUCH ADVICE FROM HIS ATTORNEY,
XXXXX X. XXXXX, ESQ., OF XXXXXXXXX HALPERIN SAVAGE LLP, AS EXECUTIVE DEEMED
APPROPRIATE.
PLEASE
READ CAREFULLY. THIS AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE HAS IMPORTANT LEGAL
CONSEQUENCES.
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxxxx III |
/s/
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxx X. Xxxxxxxx III
Title:
Chief Financial Officer
|
XXXXXXX
X. XXXXXX
|
STATE
OF
CONNECTICUT )
:ss:
COUNTY
OF
______________ )
On
___________, 2007 before me personally came Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, to me known
and
known to me to be the individual described in and who executed the foregoing
Agreement, and he duly acknowledged to me that he voluntarily and knowingly
executed the said Agreement, after having read and understood said
document.
Notary
Public
|
8
Exhibit
A
CONSULTING
SERVICE AGREEMENT
9