CONFIDENTIAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE
Exhibit 10.1
CONFIDENTIAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT
AND GENERAL RELEASE
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx (“Employee”) and CoStar Realty Information, Inc. (together with its predecessors, collectively “CoStar” or “Employer”) agree to terminate their employment relationship on the following basis:
1. Last Day of Employment. Employee and CoStar agree that Employee shall separate his employment with CoStar effective September 22, 2003 (the “Separation Date”). Employee will return all of CoStar’s property, including without limitation keys, phones, computers, records, and files (electronic or other) on the Separation Date (other than Employee’s cell phone and laptop computer, which Employee shall be entitled to keep) and will cooperate fully with CoStar’s managers and employees in a professional manner to assure a smooth transition. Employee acknowledges that he shall have thirty (30) days from the Separation Date to execute and deliver this Agreement to CoStar.
2. Consideration. (a) In consideration for Employee’s agreement and compliance with the commitments herein and provided that this Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release (the “Agreement”) has not been revoked by Employee, on or about eight (8) days after Employer receives this Agreement signed by Employee, CoStar agrees that pursuant to Section 7(a) of the Employment Agreement, dated August 29, 2000 (the “Employment Agreement”), between CoStar and Employee, for a period of twelve months beginning on or about 8 days after CoStar receives this signed Agreement from Employee, CoStar will pay Employee’s current base salary of $10,200.96 bi-weekly in accordance with the normal payroll practices of CoStar then in effect less all lawful withholdings.
(b) In consideration for Employee’s agreement and compliance with the commitments herein, CoStar and Employee acknowledge that Employee shall have ninety (90) days from the Separation Date to exercise any exercisable, vested options granted to Employee under CoStar Group, Inc.’s 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), other than as set forth below, all in accordance with the terms of the Plan and Employee’s stock option agreements. The parties agree that the following are Employee’s vested, exercisable options: (a) 15,000 vested options with respect to the option granted to Employee on April 17, 2001, at an exercise price of $18.06, and (b) 3,750 vested options with respect to the option granted to Employee on June 4, 2002, at an exercise price of $20.30. The parties agree that Employee shall not be entitled to any further ves ting of any options after the Separation Date.
(c) In consideration for Employee’s agreement and commitments herein and provided that this Agreement has not been revoked by Employee, CoStar and Employee agree that with respect to the options granted to Employee on September 25, 2000 with an exercise price of $33.125 (the “2000 Options”), CoStar shall pay Employee a lump sum payment of $30,000 less all lawful withholdings and Employee agrees that he shall not exercise any of such 2000 Options. CoStar agrees to make such lump sum payment to Employee within thirty (30) days of receipt of this signed Agreement by Employee.
(d) CoStar further agrees that, in consideration for Employee’s agreement and commitments herein and provided that this Agreement has not been revoked by Employee,
CoStar will pay Employee for his properly accrued and unused vacation time, less all lawful withholdings. The parties agree that Employee shall not be entitled to accrue any vacation pay for any periods after the Separation Date.
(e) CoStar further agrees that, in consideration for Employee’s agreement and commitments herein and provided that this Agreement has not been revoked by Employee, CoStar will provide Employee with nine months of outplacement services, provided by DBM’s Executive Program, or a comparable service, which services shall begin on or about the eighth day after Employer receives this Agreement signed by Employee.
(f) CoStar further agrees that, in consideration for Employee’s agreement and commitments herein and provided that this Agreement has not been revoked by Employee, from October 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004, CoStar shall make all payments (other than $242.41 per month, which shall be Employee’s responsibility) directly to the third party administrator on Employee’s behalf for family health care coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) if Employee elects to continue such coverage under CoStar’s group health plan pursuant to paragraph 17 herein. Any and all payments after June 30, 2004 related to health care coverage shall be made by Employee. In the event that prior to June 30, 2004, Employee secures other reasonably comparable health care benefits, Employee shall notify CoStar of such coverage and CoStar shall have no further obligation to make any payments discussed in this Section 2(f).
(g) CoStar further agrees that it shall reimburse Employee for his reasonable and necessary business related expenses for which Employee has submitted to CoStar a properly completed expense report.
3. No Consideration Absent Execution of this Agreement. Employee understands and agrees that he would not receive any monies and/or benefits specified in Section 2 except for his execution of this Agreement and the fulfillment of the promises contained herein.
4. Confidentiality and Non-Solicitation. Employee agrees that the provisions set forth in Section 9 of the Employment Agreement shall continue to be in full force and effect and shall survive termination of Employee’s employment with CoStar. Employee understands that CoStar’s obligations under this Agreement remain conditioned on Employee’s satisfaction of and adherence to the covenants and obligations set forth in Section 9 of the Employment Agreement. Employee agrees not to disclose any term of this Agreement, including without limitation, the fact or amount of these additional payments, to any party including, but not limited to, any past, present or prospective employee of CoStar or any of its affiliates, without the prior written consent of CoStar, which may be withheld in CoStar’s sole discretion; provided, however, that CoStar hereby gives permission to Employee to disclose the details of this Agreement to Employee’s counsel and immediate family members.
5. General Release. Except for any claims that Employee may have for workers’ compensation benefits, for pension benefits, or for health care, life or disability insurance (which are not released under this Agreement), in consideration of the monies/benefits set forth in Section 2, Employee does hereby unconditionally, irrevocably and absolutely release and discharge CoStar and its affiliates and their respective current and former owners, directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, affiliates, stockholders, insurers, divisions, predecessors, successors and/or assigns and any related holding, parent or subsidiary corporations, individually
and in corporate capacities (collectively, the “Released Parties”), from any and all loss, liability, claims, expenses, demands, causes of action, suits, rights and entitlements of every kind and description of any type, whether in law and/or in equity, whether known or unknown, asserted or unasserted (collectively, the “Claims”), related directly or indirectly or in any way connected with any transaction, affairs or occurrences between the Employee and any Released Party to date, including, but not limited to, any claims under the Employment Agreement, any other agreements, with respect to Employee’s employment with CoStar, the termination of said employment or arising out of any acts committed or omitted during said employment relationship.
This release includes, but is not limited to, any Claims for back pay reinstatement, personal injuries, breach of contract (express or implied), breach of any covenant of good faith and fair dealing (express or implied), front pay, lost benefits, compensatory damages, punitive damages, emotional distress and for any recovery of any losses or other damages to Employee or Employee’s property based on any alleged violation of any of the following:
| • | The National Labor Relations Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C., 151 et seq; | ||
| • | Title VII of the Civil Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 2000e et seq; | ||
| • | The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, 29 U.S.C. 621 et seq; | ||
| • | The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended; | ||
| • | The Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 12101; | ||
| • | The Occupational Safety and Health Act, as amended; | ||
| • | The Older Worker Benefit Protection Act, 29 U.S.C. 621 et seq; | ||
| • | The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, 29 U.S.C. 2601 et seq; | ||
| • | Sections 1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United States Code, as amended; | ||
| • | The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. 651 et seq; | ||
| • | The Immigration Reform Control Act, as amended; | ||
| • | The Maryland Fair Employment Practice Act, Maryland Xxxx Xxx., Xxx. 00X, § 0 et seq; and | ||
| • | Any other federal, state or local statutory or common law. |
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Employee does not hereby release or waive any obligation of CoStar or any Released Party to indemnify, make contribution to, defend or hold harmless Employee that may exist as of and prior to the Separation Date, including, but not limited to, any obligation arising out of Employee’s former status as an officer, director, employee or fiduciary of CoStar or any other Released Party. It is the intent of the parties and of this Agreement that any existing indemnification obligations be excluded from the claims being released by Employee.
6. No Promises. Employee agrees that no promises, coercion, representations or inducements have been made which caused him to sign this Agreement other than those which are expressly set forth above and that the terms of this Agreement are contractual and not a mere recital.
7. Governing Law. This Agreement will be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland.
8. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement, or part thereof, is held invalid, void or voidable as against the public policy or otherwise, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions, or parts of this Agreement.
9. Release As Defense. The release contained herein may be pleaded as a full and complete defense and may be used as the basis for an injunction against any action, suit or proceeding which may be prosecuted, instituted or attempted by either party in breach thereof.
10. Consultation with Counsel and Consideration Period. Employee further acknowledges that he has been advised in writing and offered the opportunity to discuss this Agreement and its contents with his attorney. Employee acknowledges that he has fully discussed this Agreement with his attorney with respect to the meaning and effect of the provisions of this Agreement, or has voluntarily chosen to sign this Agreement without consulting his attorney, fully understanding the content, meaning and legal effect and consequences of this Agreement. Employee acknowledges and agrees that CoStar has given Employee at least twenty-one (21) days to review and consider this Agreement before signing it, and Employee understands that he may use as much of this twenty-one (21) day period as he wishes prior to signing this Agreement. If Employee voluntarily chooses to execute this Agreement before the end of the twenty-one (21) day period, Employee will sign the attached “Election to Execute Prior to Expiration of Twenty-One (21) Day Consideration Period” at the same time he executes this Agreement. Employee further acknowledges that he is executing this Agreement voluntarily and free of any duress or coercion.
11. Understanding of Agreement. Employee warrants and represents to CoStar that he has read and understands the meaning of each provision of this Agreement and his signature below constitutes his acceptance of each term of the Agreement.
12. Revocation Period. Employee acknowledges that for a period of seven (7) days after he signs this Agreement by Employee, Employee may revoke this Agreement, and the Agreement shall not become effective or enforceable until such revocation period has expired. If Employee elects to revoke this Agreement within this seven-day period, Employee will so inform CoStar by delivering a written notice of revocation to CoStar. This Agreement shall become effective and enforceable eight (8) days after it has been signed by Employee and CoStar, and in the event that the parties do not sign on the same date, then this Agreement shall become effective eight (8) days after it is signed by Employee. This Agreement shall not become effective and enforceable if Employee revokes it within the seven (7) day revocation period by written notice to CoStar.
13. Non-Disparagement. Employee agrees not to make and/or publish in any manner any derogatory, adverse, false or defamatory statements, written or verbal, regarding any of the Released Parties to anyone including, but not limited to CoStar’s or its affiliates’ respective directors, officers, employees, agents, vendors, existing clients, potential clients that Employee knows that CoStar or any of its affiliates has targeted or potential acquisition targets that Employee knows CoStar or any of its affiliates has targeted. Employee agrees that he has not and will not engage in the following activities: (1) incite other persons and/or entities to raise allegations of wrongdoing against any of the Released Parties; and/or (2) publish any representation that any of the Released Parties in any way treated him unfairly, breached any obligation to him, or in any other manner mistreated him. In addition, CoStar agrees that it shall not make and/or publish in any manner any derogatory, adverse, false or defamatory statements, written or verbal, regarding Employee, and CoStar agrees that it shall use its reasonable efforts to
prevent its officers and directors from making and/or publishing in any manner any derogatory, adverse, false or defamatory statements, written or verbal, regarding Employee.
14. Future Assistance. Employee agrees upon reasonable advance notice to be available to respond to future inquiries or reasonable requests for assistance from CoStar and its affiliates related to matters arising during Employee’s employment with CoStar. CoStar agrees to reimburse Employee for his reasonable expenses associated with such assistance.
15. Affirmations. Employee affirms that he has not filed, caused to be filed, or presently is a party to any claim, complaint, or action against CoStar in any forum or form. Employee further affirms that he has been paid and/or has received all leave (paid or unpaid), compensation, wages, bonuses, commissions, and/or benefits to which he may be entitled and that no other leave (paid or unpaid), compensation, wages, bonuses, commissions, benefits and/or monies are due to him, with the exception of the consideration provided in this Agreement. Employee furthermore affirms that he has no known workplace injuries or occupational diseases and has been provided and/or has not been denied any leave requested under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
16. Nonadmission of Wrongdoing. The parties agree that neither this Agreement nor the furnishing of the consideration for this Agreement shall be deemed or construed at anytime for any purpose as an admission by either party of any liability or unlawful conduct of any kind.
17. COBRA. Employee hereby acknowledges that CoStar has advised him that (if applicable) under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) he has a right to elect continued coverage under CoStar’s group health plan, at his own expense (other than as set forth in Section 2(f)), for a period of 18 months from the Separation Date. This election must be made no later than 60 days after the notification date.
18. Notice. Employee acknowledges that this Agreement shall constitute written notice to Employee pursuant to Section 7(a) of the Employment Agreement.
EMPLOYEE HEREBY IS ADVISED IN WRITING THAT EMPLOYEE HAS UP TO TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS TO CONSIDER THIS AGREEMENT AND TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY PRIOR TO EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT.
EMPLOYEE HEREBY AGREES THAT ANY MODIFICATIONS, MATERIAL OR OTHERWISE, MADE TO THIS AGREEMENT DO NOT RESTART OR AFFECT IN ANY MANNER THE ORIGINAL TWENTY-ONE DAY CONSIDERATION PERIOD.
HAVING ELECTED TO EXECUTE THIS AGREEMENT, TO FULFILL THE PROMISES SET FORTH HEREIN, AND TO RECEIVE THEREBY THE SUMS SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH “2” ABOVE, EMPLOYEE FREELY AND KNOWINGLY, AND AFTER DUE CONSIDERATION, ENTERS INTO THIS AGREEMENT INTENDING TO WAIVE, SETTLE AND RELEASE ALL CLAIMS HE HAS OR MIGHT HAVE AGAINST RELEASED PARTIES, INCLUDING ALL CLAIMS UNDER THE AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT AND THE OLDER WORKERS BENEFIT PROTECTION ACT.
CoStar Realty Information, Inc. (CoStar)
| /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx By: |
October 13, 2003 Date |
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| /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx |
October 13, 2003 Date |
Note: Return signed agreement to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Human Resources
CoStar Realty Information, Inc.
0 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
