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EXHIBIT 10.21
TENDER LOVING CARE HEALTH CARE SERVICES, INC.
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
with
XXXXXXX X. XXXX
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of October 20, 1999 (the
"AGREEMENT"), by and between TENDER LOVING CARE HEALTH CARE SERVICES, INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and XXXXXXX X. XXXX ("INDEMNITEE"):
WHEREAS, highly competent persons are becoming more reluctant to serve
publicly-held corporations as directors or in other capacities unless they are
provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification
against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their
service to and activities on behalf of the corporation; and
WHEREAS, the current impracticability of obtaining adequate insurance
and the uncertainties relating to indemnification have increased the difficulty
of attracting and retaining such persons; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "BOARD OF
DIRECTORS") has determined that the inability to attract and retain such persons
is detrimental to the best interests of the Company's stockholders and that the
Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty
of such protection in the future; and
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company
contractually to obligate itself to indemnify such persons to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the
Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified; and
WHEREAS, Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take
on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that he
be so indemnified;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants
contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as
follows:
Section 1. Services by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees to continue to
serve as an employee of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of his
employment agreement, dated the date hereof as such agreement may be amended,
renewed or extended from time to time.
Section 2. Indemnification -- General. The Company shall indemnify, and
advance Expenses (as hereinafter defined) to Indemnitee as provided in this
Agreement and to
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the fullest extent permitted by applicable law in effect on the date hereof and
to such greater extent as applicable law may thereafter from time to time
permit. The rights of Indemnitee provided under the preceding sentence shall
include, but shall not be limited to, the rights set forth in the other Sections
of this Agreement.
Section 3. Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of the
Company. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided
in this Section 3 if, by reason of his Corporate Status (as hereinafter
defined), he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened,
pending, or completed Proceeding (as hereinafter defined), other than a
Proceeding by or in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section 3,
Indemnitee shall be indemnified against Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines
and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his
behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein,
if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal
Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
Section 4. Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Indemnitee
shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 4
if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he is, or is threatened to be made, a
party to any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding brought by or in the
right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this
Section, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against Expenses actually and
reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding
if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
indemnification against such Expenses shall be made in respect of any claim,
issue or matter in such Proceeding as to which Indemnitee shall have been
adjudged to be liable to the Company if applicable law prohibits such
indemnification; provided, however, that if applicable law so permits,
indemnification against Expenses shall nevertheless be made by the Company in
such event if and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of
Delaware, or the Court in which such Proceeding shall have been brought or is
pending, shall determine.
Section 5. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who Is Wholly or
Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the
extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a party to and is
successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, he shall be
indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on
his behalf in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in
such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more
but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company
shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred
by him or on his behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim,
issue or matter. For purposes of this Section, and without limitation, the
termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal,
with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such
claim, issue or matter.
Section 6. Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by
reason of his Corporate
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Status, a witness in any Proceeding, he shall be indemnified against all
expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection
therewith.
Section 7. Advancement of Expenses. The Company shall advance all
reasonable Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with
any Proceeding within twenty days after the receipt by the Company of a
statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from
time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding.
Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by
Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by
or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if it shall ultimately
be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such
Expenses.
Section 8. Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to
Indemnification.
(a) To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall
submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such
documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is
reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is
entitled to indemnification. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon
receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in
writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.
(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to
the first sentence of Section 8(a) hereof, a determination, if required by
applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement thereto shall be made
in the specific case: (i) if a Change in Control (as hereinafter defined) shall
have occurred, by Independent Counsel (as hereinafter defined) (unless
Indemnitee shall request that such determination be made by the Board of
Directors or the stockholders, in which case by the person or persons or in the
manner provided for in clause (ii) or (iii) of this Section 8(b)) in a written
opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to
Indemnitee; (ii) if a Change of Control shall not have occurred, (A) by the
Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested
Directors (as hereinafter defined), or (B) if a quorum of the Board of Directors
consisting of Disinterested Directors is not obtainable or, even if obtainable,
such quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, by Independent Counsel in a
written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to
Indemnitee, or (C) by the stockholders of the Company; or (iii) as provided in
Section 9(b) of this Agreement; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is
entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10)
days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person,
persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee's
entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or
entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is
not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably
available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any
costs or expenses (including attorneys' fees and disbursements) incurred by
Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such
determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination
as to Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby
indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
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(c) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is
to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof, Independent
Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 8(c). If a Change of
Control shall not have occurred, Independent Counsel shall be selected by the
Board of Directors, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee
advising him of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. If a Change
of Control shall have occurred, Independent Counsel shall be selected by
Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the
Board of Directors, in which even the preceding sentence shall apply), and the
Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity
of Independent Counsel so selected. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company,
as the case may be, may, within 7 days after such written notice of selection
shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may
be, a written objection to such selection. Such objection may be asserted only
on the ground that Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the
requirements of "Independent Counsel" as defined in Section 17 of this
Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual
basis of such assertion. If such written objection is made, Independent Counsel
so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until a court has
determined that such objection is without merit. If, within 20 days after
submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to
Section 8(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not
objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery
of the State of Delaware or other court of competent jurisdiction for resolution
of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the
other's selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as
Independent Counsel of a person selected by the Court or by such other person as
the Court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom an objection is
so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under
Section 8(b) hereof. The Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and
expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in
connection with acting pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof and the Company shall pay
all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section
8(c), regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or
appointed. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration
pursuant to Section 10(a)(iii) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be
discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject
to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).
Section 9. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.
(a) If a Change of Control shall have occurred, in making a
determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the
person or persons or entity making such determination shall presume that
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has
submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 8(a) of this
Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that
presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of
any determination contrary to that presumption.
(b) If a person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section
8 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification shall not have made a determination with 60 days after receipt
by the Company of the request therefor, the
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requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to
have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent
(i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a
material fact necessary to make Indemnitee's statement not materially
misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a
prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however,
that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an
additional 30 days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination
with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such
additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or
information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing
provisions of this Section 9(b) shall not apply (i) if the determination of
entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to
Section 8(b) of this Agreement and if (A) within 15 days after receipt by the
Company of the request for such determination the Board of Directors has
resolved to submit such determination to the stockholders for their
consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within 75 days after such
receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of
stockholders is called within 15 days after such receipt for the purpose of
making such determination, such meeting is held within 60 days after having been
so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination
to entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant
to Section 8(b) of this Agreement.
(c) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter
therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo
contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided
in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to
indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good
faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding,
that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
Section 10. Remedies of Indemnitee.
(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 8
of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this
Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 7
of this Agreement, (iii) the determination of entitlement to indemnification is
to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 8(b) of this Agreement and
such determination shall not have been made and delivered in a written opinion
within 90 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification,
or (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 6 of this
Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request
therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification is not made within ten (10) days
after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification or such determination is deemed to have been made pursuant to
Section 8 or 9 of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an
adjudication in an appropriate court of the State of Delaware, or in any other
court of competent jurisdiction, of his entitlement to such indemnification or
advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his option, may seek an
award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the
rules of the American Arbitration Association. Indemnitee shall commence such
proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days
following the date on which
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Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this
Section 10(a). The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee's right to seek
adjudication or award in arbitration.
(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to
Section 8 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification,
any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10
shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the
merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse
determination. If a Change of Control shall have occurred, in any judicial
proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10 the Company
shall have the burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.
(c) If a determination shall have been made or deemed to have been made
pursuant to Section 8 or 9 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any
judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10, absent
(i) a misstatement by Indemnitee or a material fact, or an omission of a
material fact necessary to make Indemnitee's statement not materially
misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a
prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.
(d) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial
proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10 that the
procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and
enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator
that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.
(e) In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 10, seeks a
judicial adjudication of or an award in arbitration to enforce his rights under,
or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be
entitled to recover from the Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company
against, any and all expenses (of the types described in the definition of
Expenses in Section 17 of this Agreement) actually and reasonably incurred by
him in such judicial adjudication or arbitration, but only if he prevails
therein. If it shall be determined in such judicial adjudication or arbitration
that Indemnitee is entitled to receive part but not all of the indemnification,
or advancement of Expenses sought, the expenses incurred by Indemnitee in
connection with such judicial adjudication or arbitration shall be appropriately
prorated.
Section 11. Non-Exclusivity: Survival of Rights; Insurance;
Subrogation.
(a) The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of
Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any
other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable
law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the By-Laws, any agreement, a vote of
stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment,
alteration or termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof shall be
effective as to any Indemnitee with respect to any action taken or omitted by
such Indemnitee in his Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or
termination.
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(b) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or
policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees,
agents or fiduciaries of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such
person serves at the request of the Company Indemnitee shall be covered by such
policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent
of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent
under such policy or policies.
(c) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall
be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of
Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary
to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to
enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.
(d) The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any
payment of amounts otherwise indefinable hereunder if and to the extent that
Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance
policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.
Section 12. Duration of Agreement. This Agreement shall continue until
and terminate upon the later of: (a) 10 years after the date that Indemnitee
shall have ceased to serve as director, or (b) the final termination of all
pending Proceedings in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of
indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding
commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement relating
thereto. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and
assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his heirs, executors
and administrators.
Section 13. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this
Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason
whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any
Section of this Agreement contain any such provision held to be invalid, illegal
or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall
not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b) the fullest extent
possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each
portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to
be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or
unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested
by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
Section 14. Exception to Right of Indemnification or Advancement of
Expenses. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Indemnitee
shall not be entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this
Agreement with respect to any proceeding, or any claim therein, brought or made
by him against the Company.
Section 15. Identical Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be
an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed
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by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to
evidence the existence of this Agreement.
Section 16. Headings. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement
are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of
this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
Section 17. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) "Change of Control" means a change in control of the Company
occurring after the date hereof of a nature that would be required to be
reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or in
response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act"), whether or not the Company is
then subject to such reporting requirement; provided, however, that, without
limitation, such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if after
the date hereof (i) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d) of the Act) is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then
outstanding securities without the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the
members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such person
attaining such percentage interest; (ii) the Company is a party to a merger
consolidation, sale of assets or other reorganization, or a proxy contest, as a
consequence of which members of the Board of Directors in office immediately
prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board
of Directors thereafter; or (iii) during any period of two consecutive years,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of
Directors (including for this purpose any new director whose election or
nomination for election by the Company's stockholder was approved by a vote of
at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at
the beginning of such period) cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board of Directors.
(b) "Corporate Status" describes the status of a person who is or was a
director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.
(c) "Disinterested Director" means a director of the Company who is not
or was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is
sought by the Indemnitee.
(d) "Expenses" shall include all reasonable attorneys' fees, retainers,
court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses,
duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage,
delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types
customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to
prosecute or defend, investigating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a
Proceeding.
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(e) "Independent Counsel" means a law firm, or a member of a law firm,
that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor
in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or
Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party, or (ii) any other party
to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Independent Counsel" shall not include
any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct than
prevailing, would have a conflict or interest in representing either the Company
or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee's rights under this
Agreement.
(f) "Proceeding" includes any action, suit, arbitration, alternate
dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing or any other
proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, except one
initiated by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement to enforce his
rights under this Agreement.
Section 18. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or
amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both
of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement
shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof
(whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
Section 19. Notice by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify
the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena,
complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding
or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses
covered hereunder.
Section 20. Notices. All notices requests, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given if (i) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said
notice or other communication shall have been directed, or (ii) mailed by
certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day
after the date on which it is so mailed:
(a) If to Indemnitee, to:
his address indicated on
the signature page hereof
(b) If to the Company, to:
Tender Loving Care Health Care Services, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
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or such other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company or
to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.
Section 21. Governing Law. The parties agree that this Agreement shall
be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the
State of Delaware.
Section 22. Miscellaneous. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed
to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on
the day and year first above written.
TENDER LOVING CARE HEALTH
CARE SERVICES, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx
---------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: President and Chief
Operating Officer
INDEMNITEE
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Address: 0 Xxxxxxx Xx.
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
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