SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS
SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENT AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS
This Settlement Agreement and Release of Claims ("Agreement") is made and entered into
by and between Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx ("Xxxxx”) on the one hand, and Yasheng
Eco-Trade Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Yasheng"), on the other
hand, as of June
2, 2010. All of
the parties are collectively referred to as “Parties.”
PURPOSE
Sharp and Yasheng enter into this Agreement for the
purpose of resolving all disputes currently between and among them. All
Parties to this Agreement explicitly
understand and agree that this Agreement is made solely to end disputes and
bring peace between the parties. No party to this Agreement admits any
wrongdoing.
RECITALS
This Agreement is made with respect to
the following facts:
A.
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On
or about October 19, 2009, Sharp filed a Complaint in the San Diego
Superior Court, Case No. 37-2009-00100574-CU-MC-CTL against Yasheng and 50
fictitiously named defendants (the
"Case");
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X.
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Xxxxx
subsequently amended
the Complaint to name Xxxxx
Xxxxx and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx as fictitiously named
Defendants;
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C.
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On
or about December 29,2009, Sharp filed a First Amended Complaint in the
Case;
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D.
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On
or about January 15, 2010, the Court in the San Diego Superior Court
granted the motion of Yasheng and Xxxxx Xxxxx to transfer the Case to the
Los Angeles Superior
Court;
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E.
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The
Case was assigned Case Number BC434061 in the Los Angeles Superior Court
on or about March 24,2010 (the
"Action");
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F.
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On
or about May 7, 2010 a default was entered against Yasheng Eco-Trade
Corporation in the
Action;
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G.
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On
or about May 10, 2010 a default was entered against Xxxxx Xxxxx in the
Action;
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H.
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On or about
May 14, 2010 a motion to set aside the defaults was filed on behalf of
Yasheng and Xxxxx
Xxxxx;
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I.
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On
or about May 17, 2010, the Court in the Los Angeles Superior Court granted
the motion of Yasheng and Xxxxx Xxxxx to reclassify the Action as a
Limited Jurisdiction
case;
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J.
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The
parties hereto, in entering into this Agreement, desire to fully and
finally resolve the Action, and terminate and cancel all relationships,
controversies, claims, debts, obligations and matters of whatever nature
existing between them, or which may heretofore have arisen between the
Parties, except as created by this
Agreement.
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AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE,
for and in consideration of
the following terms and conditions, each of the Parties hereby agrees as
follows:
1.
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Recitals
are Part of the Agreement.
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The foregoing Recitals are incorporated
herein by this reference.
2.
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Settlement
Funds.
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The Parties agree to settle this action for
the payment of $25,000 (Twenty Five Thousand Dollars) by Yasheng to Sharp to be paid on or before June
3, 2010. Time is of the essence with respect to the payment called for in this
agreement. The payment shall be delivered in certified funds or by a check
written on the Client Trust Account of Law Offices of Xxxxxxx Xxxx, A
Professional Corporation, and made payable to the Law Offices of Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Client Trust Account and shall be delivered on or before the due date to 00000
Xxxxxxx Xxx., Xxxxx 0-000, Xxxxxx, XX 00000 or by wire transfer to the Law
Offices of Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx Client Trust Account, Bank of the West, 000 X.
Xxxxx Xx., Xxxxxx, XX 00000, Routing No. 000000000, Account No. 656011350 with
funds to be received on or before the due date.
3.
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Dismissal.
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Upon receipt of timely payment of the
settlement funds called for in paragraph 2 above, Sharp shall provide the Law
Offices of Xxxxxxx Xxxx, A Professional Corporation with an executed Request for
Dismissal with prejudice of the Action in the form attached hereto as Appendix
1. Law Offices of Xxxxxxx Xxxx, A Professional Corporation shall file the
Request for Dismissal.
4.
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Agreement
of Sharp to Refrain From
Conduct.
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Contingent upon receipt of the
settlement funds called for in paragraph 2, Sharp agrees to the
following:
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(a)
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Sharp will cease and desist from
contacting shareholders and former shareholders of Yasheng about anything
related to Yasheng’s business, its present or former officers
and directors or his
dealings with
Yasheng;
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(b)
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Sharp will cease and desist from
encouraging shareholders and former shareholders of Yasheng to bring
claims against Yasheng and/or its present or former officers or
directors.
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(c)
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Sharp will not institute or cause
to be instituted through his counsel (though not counsel of record in this
matter), Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, or any other attorney, any further actions
against Yasheng and/or its present or former officers or
directors.
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(d)
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Sharp shall shut down all of his
websites concerning Yasheng, including without limitation xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx.xxxxxxx.xxx/ and will not directly
or indirectly cause to be created any further websites concerning Yasheng
and/or its present or former officers or
directors.
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(e)
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Sharp will cease and desist from
communicating directly or indirectly with the
general public, including without limitation, shareholders and former
shareholders of Yasheng concerning Yasheng or its present or former
officers or directors.
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5.
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Non-Disparagement
Covenant.
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Upon confirmation of receipt of funds
into the trust account, the Parties agree that except as required by law, they
shall each refrain from all conduct, verbal or otherwise, which disparages or
damages or could disparage or otherwise damage the reputation, goodwill, good
standing, or employment of the other party.
6.
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Restriction
on Press Release,
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Upon confirmation of receipt of funds
into the trust account, the Parties agree not to make any public statement,
press release or announcement related to this settlement except for a statement
that has been agreed to by all Parties.
7.
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Confidentiality/Non-Disclosure
Agreement.
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Upon confirmation of receipt of funds
into the trust account, the Parties agree that the terms of this Agreement are
to be maintained in the strictest confidence, except as may be required by law
or necessary for purposes of accounting. Should anyone inquire as to the outcome
of this litigation, the Parties to this agreement shall use words to the effect
of "The case was settled and/or resolved." Notwithstanding the
forgoing, nothing shall
prevent any Yasheng from
disclosing information as
required in SEC filings, by
providing the following information in its SEC filings:
Item
8.01 Other
Events
On October 19, 2009, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
(“Xxxxx”) filed a Complaint
in the San Diego Superior Court, Case No. 37-2009-00100574-CU-MC-CTL (the
“Case”) against Yasheng Eco-Trade Corporation (the “Company”). On
December 29, 2009, Sharp filed a First Amended Complaint in the
Case. On January 15, 2010, the Court in the San Diego Superior Court
granted the motion of the Company to transfer the Case to the Los Angeles
Superior Court. The Case was assigned Case Number BC434061 in the Los
Angeles Superior Court on or about March 24, 2010.
On June
2, 2010, the Company entered into a settlement agreement and release of claims
(the “Agreement”) with Sharp for the purpose of resolving the
Case. Under the terms of the Agreement, the parties agreed to settle the
action pursuant to which the Company will pay Sharp $25,000 (the “Funds”) on or
before June 3,
2010. Upon receipt of the Funds, Sharp will provide an executed
Request for Dismissal with prejudice. Additionally, Sharp has agreed
to cease and desist from contacting shareholders of the Company and
communicating in any manner regarding the Company.
Item
9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
Exhibit
Number
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Exhibit
Description
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99.1
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Settlement
Agreement and Release of Claims by and between Yasheng Eco-Trade
Corporation and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, dated June 2,
2010
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8.
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Release
of All Claims by Sharp.
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Upon confirmation of receipt of funds
into the trust account this release shall take effect. With the exception of the
obligations of the Parties hereunder, Sharp does hereby fully, finally, and
forever release and discharge Yasheng, and its present and former officers and
directors from any and all claims, damages, debts, liabilities, demands,
obligations, costs, attorneys' fees, expenses, compensation, actions or causes
of action, of every nature, character and description, whether known or unknown,
which he now owns or holds, or at any time prior to the latest date of execution
of this Agreement has owned or held including, without limitation, those stated
in, arising from, related to, raised or which could have been raised in
connection with the Case and/or the Action.
9.
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Release
of All Claims by Defendants.
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With the exception of the obligations of
Sharp hereunder, Yasheng, for itself and its
present and former officers and directors, does hereby fully, finally, and forever
release and discharge Sharp from any and all claims, damages, debts,
liabilities, demands, obligations, costs, attorneys' fees, expenses,
compensation, actions or causes of action, of every nature, character and
description, whether known or unknown, which they now own or hold, or at any
time prior to the latest date of execution of this Agreement has owned or held
including, without limitation, those stated in, arising from, related to, raised
or which could have been raised in connection with the Case and/or the
Action.
10.
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Parties
Acknowledge Releases Waive Provisions of Civil Code §
1542.
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In furtherance of the releases provided
in this agreement, the Parties each recognize that the releases set forth herein
are general releases and are intended to encompass all known and unknown,
foreseen and unforeseen, claims which each has or may have against the other.
Accordingly, each of the Parties to this Agreement hereby expressly waives and
relinquishes any and all rights and benefits which he or it may have under
section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California, which provides as
follows:
“A general release does not extend to
claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the
time of executing the release, which if known by him must have materially
affected his settlement with the debtor.”
Each of the Parties to this Agreement
acknowledges that he or it may hereafter discover facts different from, or in
addition to those that he or it now knows, believes or suspects to be true with
respect to the claims, debts, liabilities, demands, obligations, costs,
attorneys' fees, expenses, compensation, actions and causes of action which are
the subject of these releases. Nevertheless, each of the Parties to this
Agreement, hereby expressly agrees to assume the risk of the possible discovery
of additional or different facts and agrees that the releases shall be and
remain effective in all respects regardless of the discovery of such additional
or different facts.
11.
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No
Admission of Liability.
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It is agreed and understood that the
Parties deny all allegations of liability and have agreed to resolve this matter
solely for the purposes of compromising and settling their dispute. Such
compromise and settlement does not constitute an admission of any party of the
truth or validity of matters in controversy, nor shall it be construed as
such.
12.
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Liquidated
Damages and Right to Injunctive Relief for Violations of
Agreement.
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Each of the Parties agrees that the
damages from the breach of any of the terms of this Agreement would be
impossible or extremely difficult to ascertain. The Parties agree that
liquidated damages in the amount of $25,000 and issuance of a temporary
restraining order, preliminary injunction and/or permanent injunction would be
necessary, proper, fair and equitable.
Notwithstanding any of the other
provisions of this agreement, in the event Xxxxx Xxxxx or Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx make
any public statements about Xx. Xxxxx, the Action, or the settlement of the
Action, Sharp shall be relieved of his obligations under paragraph 4(d), 4(e),
5, 6 and 7 of this agreement and shall not be liable for any liquidated damages
nor shall Yasheng be entitled to obtain any injunctive
relief.
13.
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No
Third Party Beneficiaries.
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This Agreement is entered into solely
for the benefit of the parties, and their representatives as set forth in the
mutual releases and non-disparagement provisions of this Agreement, and there
are no intended or unintended beneficiaries.
14.
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Entire
Agreement.
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This Agreement contains the entire
understanding between the parties concerning the subject matter it contains.
There are no representations, agreements, arrangements, or understandings, oral
or written, among the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement,
which are not fully expressed herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior
negotiations, representations or agreements, either written or
oral.
15.
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Joint
Preparation.
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This Agreement is the product of
bargained-for, arms-length negotiation between the Parties and shall not be
construed for or against anyone party in the event of any uncertainty and/or
ambiguity. This document is drafted, prepared and created by all the parties
collectively and shall not be construed in favor of, or against, any
party.
16.
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Attorney's
Fees and Costs.
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Each party to this Agreement shall bear
his own costs and attorney's fees in connection with the Action and this
settlement. In the event that an action is brought to enforce the terms of this
Agreement, the prevailing party or parties shall be entitled to recover
attorneys' fees and costs as may be set by the Court in such
proceeding.
17.
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Waivers,
Modification, Amendment, Severability.
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The Agreement shall not be modified by
any of the Parties by oral representation made before or after execution of this
Agreement. No supplement, modification, or amendment of this Agreement shall be
binding unless executed in writing and signed by all of the Parties. No waiver
of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed, or shall constitute,
a waiver of any other provision, whether or not similar, nor shall any waiver
constitute a continuing
waiver. No
waiver shall be binding unless executed in writing by the party making the
waiver. The provisions of this Agreement are separate and divisible, and if any
of those provisions or portions thereof are held to be unenforceable or invalid
by any court of competent jurisdiction, the validity and enforceability of the
remain provisions, or portions thereof, shall not be affected thereby and they
shall remain in full force.
18.
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Representations
and Warranty of Authority and Consents.
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Each of the Parties to this Agreement
represents and warrants to the other that all due action has been taken to
authorize the signature of this Agreement by the undersigned Parties, and each
of the Parties hereby warrants that each person signing on behalf of an entity
has all necessary and legal authority to bind such entity to this Agreement and
to make enter into all covenants set forth in this Agreement. Each person
signing below herby agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the other party
harmless if he or she does not have such authority.
19.
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Opportunity for
Sharp to Have Independent Advice of
Counsel.
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Sharp acknowledges that he has had the
opportunity to review the terms of this Agreement with an attorney of his
choosing, Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, that he is fully informed as to the terms and
conditions set forth herein, understands them and agrees to them. Sharp hereby
waives any defense to the enforcement of this Agreement that he was not
represented by counselor did not have the opportunity to confer with counsel
regarding the meaning and consequences of the terms of this
Agreement.
20.
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All
Parties Understand Obligations of Agreement and Represented by
Counsel.
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Each of the Parties acknowledges that
they have read and understand this Agreement and that they have had the
opportunity to be represented by counsel of their own choice in the negotiation
leading up to the execution of this Agreement. Each of the Parties acknowledge
that they are entering into this Agreement voluntarily, of their own free will
and that they are not under duress or entering into this Agreement as a result
of any pressure or threat by any person or other party. Each of the Parties
warrants that no promise or inducement has been offered to him or it except as
set forth herein. This Agreement is executed without reliance upon any statement
or representation by the person or Parties released, or their
representatives.
21.
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Interpretation
and Venue.
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This Agreement shall be interpreted
according to the laws of the State of California. In the event that a proceeding is
filed to enforce the terms of this Agreement, jurisdiction and venue are within
that of the Los Angeles Superior Court, Central Civil
District.
22.
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Counterparts.
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This Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument. In addition, a faxed or
electronic signature shall be binding as though it were an
original.
DATED: June
2, 2010
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“SHARP”
By:
/S/
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
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DATED: June
2, 2010
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“YASHENG”
YASHENG
ECO-TRADECORPORATION
By:
/S/
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Xxxxx Xxxxx, Its Chief
Executive Officer
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APPROVED
AS TO FORM:
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DATED: June
2, 2010
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Law
Offices of Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, APC
By:
/S/
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Attorney for Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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DATED: June
2, 2010
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Law
Offices of Xxxxxxx Xxxx, A P.C.
By:
/S/
Xxxxxxx
Xxxx, Attorney for Yasheng Eco-Trade
Corporation
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