EXHIBIT 10.1
Letter to Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Re. Settlement and Release of Claims
December 31, 2000
Page 1
December 31, 2000
Xx. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx 000
Xxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Re: SETTLEMENT AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS AGREEMENT
Dear Xx. Xxxxxxxx:
This letter sets forth the agreement between you and MindArrow Systems, Inc.
("the Company"), regarding the settlement of the termination of your position as
a consultant for the Company.
1. EFFECTIVE DATE. The termination of your status as a consultant for
the Company shall be effective as of the close of business on December 31, 2000
(the "Effective Date"). It is expressly agreed and understood by the parties
hereto that the settlement of your consulting arrangement is by mutual consent
and is not in any manner to be construed as termination for cause.
2. CANCELLATION OF CONSULTING AGREEMENT. In mutual consideration of the
promises contained in this settlement and release of claims agreement (the
"Agreement"), effective as of the Effective Date, it is understood that the
consulting agreement between you and the Company as of June 30, 2000 (the
"Consulting Agreement") attached hereto as Exhibit 1, shall terminate and be of
no further force and effect. Unless otherwise separately defined herein, all
capitalized terms used herein shall have the same meaning as defined in the
Consulting Agreement.
3. CONSIDERATION BY COMPANY. In mutual consideration of the promises
contained in this Agreement, you will receive from the Company a) payment of
$23,750 per the Company's normal payment schedule during the month of January
2001; b) 13 monthly payments of $18,000 beginning on February 1, 2001 followed
by a single payment of $3,500 in the 14th month; c) payment for the lease
obligation on your car in the amount of $750 per month for a period of 8 months
beginning February 1, 2001; d) reimbursement for pre-approved expenses incurred
by you relating to your role as directors of this Company; e) life and health
insurance benefit as your role as director of this Company, per the Company's
policy; and f) an stock option agreement for the purchase of 57,000 shares of
the Company's common stock at a strike price of $5.00 per share.
4. ROLE AS DIRECTOR. This Agreement in no way affects your role as a
director of the Company and to provide guidance and advise to the Company in
this capacity.
Letter to Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Re. Settlement and Release of Claims
December 31, 2000
Page 2
5. RELEASE OF CLAIMS.
a) In recognition of the consideration recited above, you hereby
release and discharge the Company and any of their present, former and future
partners, affiliates, direct and indirect parents, subsidiaries (other than the
Company ), successors, directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, heirs
and assigns (collectively, the "Released Parties"), from any and all claims,
actions and causes of action that you may have as of the Effective Date with
respect to the Released Parties, which arise from all manner of actions, causes
of action, suits, debts, sums of money, accounts, reckonings, bonds, bills,
specialties, covenants, contracts, controversies, agreements, promises,
variances, trespasses, damages, judgments, executions, claims and demands
whatsoever, in law or in equity, including without restriction those arising out
of your consulting relationship with the Company and any other released Parties,
your rights to any compensation or benefits from the Released Parties in
connection with your consultant status, your Consultant Agreement, or the
termination of your consultant status with the Released Parties (collectively,
the "Released Claims"). By signing this Agreement, you represent that you have
been given the opportunity to consult with the attorney(s) of your choice prior
to signing this Agreement and to have those attorney(s) explain the provisions
of this Agreement to you and that you have knowingly and voluntarily accepted
the terms of the offer as described herein.
b) The Released Parties hereby release you from any and all claims,
actions and causes of action, known or unknown, that the Released Parties, or
any of them, may have with respect to you as of the Effective Date, which arise
from any and all manner of actions, causes of action, suits, debts, sums of
money, accounts, reckonings, bonds, bills, specialities, covenants, contracts,
controversies, agreements, promises, variances, trespasses, damages, judgments,
executions, claims and demands whatsoever, in law or in equity.
c) In connection with the releases provided for herein, each of the
parties hereto has been advised by counsel of the provisions of Section 1542 of
the Civil Code of the State of California and they have read said Section and
hereby expressly waive the benefits of said Section, 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."
6. PROTECTION OF THE COMPANY'S INTERESTS.
a) EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY. You confirm that all confidential information
is and shall remain the exclusive property of the Company. All business records,
papers and documents kept or made by you relating to the business of the Company
shall be and remain the property of the Company. You further agree that you
shall deliver to the Company on the Effective Date, and shall not without the
consent of the Company retain copies of, any written materials not previously
made available to the
Letter to Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Re. Settlement and Release of Claims
December 31, 2000
Page 3
public, or records and documents that you made or that came into your possession
concerning the business or affairs of the Company.
b) NON-DISPARAGEMENT. For a period of twenty-four (24) months after
the Effective Date, you agree that you shall not disparage the Company or its
products, services, or management to any third party. The Company agrees that in
response to any inquiry from a prospective employer directed to MindArrow
Systems, Inc., Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx or his successor shall respond to the inquiry by
highlighting your accomplishments and explaining your ceasing to provide
consulting services to the Company.
7. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of California applicable to contracts to
be performed in that state and without regard to laws that might otherwise
govern under applicable principles of conflicts of law.
8. SURIVIVAL. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
made herein shall survive the closing of the transactions contemplated hereby.
9. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. The rights and obligations under this
agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the successors
and assigns of the Company and to your heirs, executives, successors and
assigns.
10. NON-ADMISSION OF LIABILITY. Both parties to this Agreement
acknowledge and agree that this Agreement is a settlement and release of claims
agreement designed to terminate any consultant /client relationship between the
parties and to release any claims that you may have against the Company. This
Agreement shall not in any way be construed as an admission of liability by any
of the parties to this Agreement.
11. NON-ASSIGNMENT OF CLAIM. You warrant that you have made no assignment
and will make no assignment of any claim, right of action, or any right of any
kind whatsoever, embodied in this Agreement and allegations referred to herein,
and that no other person or entity of any kind (other than as expressly
mentioned above) had or has any interest in any of the demands, obligations,
actions, causes of action, debts, liabilities, rights, contracts, damages,
attorneys' fees, costs, expenses, losses or claims referred to herein.
12. ENTIRE AGREEMENT/MODIFICATION. The terms and provisions of this
instrument constitute the entire agreement between the Company and you, and
shall supersede all previous communications, representations or agreements,
either verbal or written, between the parties hereto with respect to your
employment with the Company, including, without limitation, the Employment
Letter to Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Re. Settlement and Release of Claims
December 31, 2000
Page 4
Agreement, except as otherwise provided herein. This Agreement may not be
enlarged, modified, amended or altered except in a writing signed by the Company
and you.
13. KNOWING AND VOLUNTARY AGREEMENT. This Agreement in all respects has
been voluntarily and knowingly executed by the parties hereto. You have been
advised that this is an important legal document and that you should consult
with an attorney of your choice prior to entering into this Agreement. You
specifically represent that you have been given an opportunity to consult with
counsel and that, to the extent desired, you have consulted with an attorney of
your choice regarding the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
14. NOTICES, ETC. All notices and other communications required or
permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be (i) delivered personally or
by facsimile, (ii) transmitted by first-class mail, postage prepaid, or airmail,
postage prepaid, in the event of mailing for delivery outside of the country in
which mailed, (iii) transmitted by an overnight courier of recognized reputation
or of recognized international reputation in the event of an international
delivery, or (iv) transmitted by telecopier (with confirmation by airmail or
courier), addressed to the Company at its address set forth on the first page of
this Agreement, or at such other address as the Company shall have furnished to
each such holder in writing. Except as otherwise specified herein, all notices
and other communications shall be deemed to have been duly given on (A) the date
of receipt if delivered personally or by facsimile, (B) the date seven (7) days
after posting if transmitted by mail, (C) the date three (3) days after delivery
to a courier if sent by recognized or internationally recognized courier
service, or (D) the date on which written confirmation would be deemed to have
been given as provided above, whether by mail or by courier, as applicable, if
transmitted by telecopier, whichever shall first occur.
15. SEVERABILITY OF THIS AGREEMENT. In case any provision of this
Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby.
16. TITLES AND SUBTITLES. The titles of the paragraphs and subparagraphs
of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be
considered in construing this Agreement.
17. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together
shall constitute one instrument.
18. DELAYS OR OMISSIONS. Except as expressly provided herein, no delay
or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to the named
parties, upon any breach or default of the Company under this Agreement, shall
impair any such right, power or remedy of such holder nor shall it be construed
to be a waiver of any such breach or default, or an acquiescence therein, or of
or in any
Letter to Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Re. Settlement and Release of Claims
December 31, 2000
Page 5
similar breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any
single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default
theretofore or thereafter occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of
any kind or character on the part of any holder of any breach or default under
this Agreement, or any waiver on the part of any holder of any provisions or
conditions of this Agreement, must be in writing and shall be effective only to
the extent specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, whether under
this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any holder, shall be
cumulative and not alternative.
19. ARBITRATION. Any disputes concerning this Agreement or otherwise
arising out of your employment or the separation of that employment shall be
submitted to final and binding arbitration in Orange County, California under
the rules of the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Service ("JAMS"). The
arbitrator(s) shall award reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, including expert
fees, to the prevailing party in any arbitration or court proceeding, including
any appeal.
[signatures appear on the following page]
Letter to Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Re. Settlement and Release of Claims
December 31, 2000
Page 6
Please indicate your agreement and acceptance of the terms and conditions
of this Agreement by signing this document in the place provided below.
MindArrow Systems, Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, President/CEO
ACCEPTED BY:
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
