Exhibit 10.24
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE
The "parties" to this Settlement Agreement and Release ("Settlement
Agreement"), which was made and entered into as of April 29, 2002, are Image
Sensing Systems, Incorporated ("ISS") and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx ("Xxxxxx").
WHEREAS, on or about December 21, 1999, ISS and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx executed
an Executive Employment Agreement ("Executive Agreement"), a copy of which
attached hereto as Exhibit A. Pursuant to that Executive Agreement, Xxxxxx was
employed as Chief Financial Officer of ISS.
WHEREAS, the Executive Agreement provides in part that: "[T]he parties
may terminate this Agreement at any time and upon any other terms or conditions
by mutual written agreement."
WHEREAS, the Executive Agreement provides further in part that:
"Notwithstanding [the foregoing], [ISS] may terminate this [Executive] Agreement
at any time without notice for Good Cause."
WHEREAS, the Executive Agreement provides further that "Termination of
[the Executive Agreement] by either party or by mutual agreement of the parties
under Article 4.0 below shall also terminate [Xxxxxx'x] employment by [ISS]."
WHEREAS, the parties to this Settlement Agreement mutually desire to
terminate the Executive Agreement as provided herein, under the terms and
conditions provided herein. This Settlement Agreement shall supercede the
Executive Agreement under the terms and conditions provided herein. Moreover,
ISS and Xxxxxx recognize the inconvenience and expense of litigation, and wish
to avoid such inconvenience and expense. As a result, the parties hereto
desire to terminate, compromise and settle claims each might have, pursuant to
the following terms and conditions.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises contained herein, the
parties agree as follows:
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
1. Termination of Executive Agreement. All parties to this Settlement
Agreement mutually agree that this Settlement Agreement supersedes and replaces
the Executive Agreement. Moreover, pursuant to this Settlement Agreement, all
parties mutually agree to the termination of the Executive Agreement effective
as of the close of business on April 30, 2002, and without notice, with the sole
exception that Xxxxxx'x obligations pursuant to Articles 6.0 through 6.5 and
Articles 7.0 through 7.4 of the Executive Agreement shall survive the
termination of the Executive Agreement in their entirety, and are hereby
incorporated into this Settlement Agreement and made a part hereof as if fully
set forth herein. In addition, any definitions set forth in Article 1.0 of the
Executive Agreement of terms used in Articles 6.0 through 6.5 and Articles 7.0
through 7.4 are hereby incorporated into this Settlement Agreement and made a
part hereof as if fully set forth herein.
2. Termination Payment to Xxxxxx. Pursuant to the following schedule,
ISS shall pay to Xxxxxx no later than twenty - one days following the execution
of this Settlement Agreement by all parties: the sum of $35,628.57 (which amount
includes $8,066.07 in accrued vacation pay) less amounts withheld for federal
taxes, Minnesota state taxes and FICA ("Termination Pay"). The amount paid to
Xxxxxx pursuant to this paragraph will be included on Xxxxxx'x W-2 for 2002.
Said Termination Pay shall be paid by mailing it to Xxxxxx at 0000 Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx 00000. In the event that any payment deadline falls on a
weekend
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or holiday, the deadline shall be extended to the next business day. Payment is
effective upon the date of mailing.
Xxxxxx acknowledges (1) the Termination Pay, (2) the mutual termination
of the Executive Agreement; and (3) the other terms and conditions of this
Settlement Agreement, including, but not limited to, ISS's release of Xxxxxx, as
adequate and sufficient consideration to support this Settlement Agreement,
including, but not limited to, paragraphs numbered 1 and 4 hereof.
3. Resignation from All Positions. Xxxxxx hereby resigns, effective
immediately, from any and all positions with ISS, including, but not limited to,
his position as Chief Financial Officer of ISS.
4. Nondisparagement. Margin agrees that he will not engage in any
verbal, written or other communications that in any way disparage, defame,
libel, slander, malign or otherwise cause harm or potential harm to the
reputation or goodwill of ISS, or the officers, directors and employees of the
ISS.
5. Irreparable Harm/Injunctive Relief: The parties to this Settlement
Agreement mutually agree that any breach of paragraph 4 of this Settlement
Agreement or of Articles 6.0 through 6.5 and Articles 7.0 through 7.4 of the
Executive Agreement which, pursuant to paragraph 1 above survive termination of
the Executive Agreement, and are incorporated herein and made a part hereof,
would result in irreparable harm to ISS, entitling ISS, among other things, to
immediate injunctive relief.
6. Release by ISS. ISS hereby releases any and all claims, causes of
actions, obligations or liabilities, solely in connection with the amount of
Termination Pay to be paid pursuant to this Settlement Agreement. ISS covenants
and agrees that it will not file or pursue
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any claim or cause of action against Xxxxxx in connection with the amount of
Termination Pay to be paid pursuant to this Settlement Agreement. If ISS
breaches this covenant, it shall pay the attorneys' fees and costs of the party
against whom the claim, or cause of action was asserted, related to securing
dismissal of said claim or cause, or cause of action.
7. Release by Xxxxxx. Xxxxxx, for and on behalf of himself and his
heirs, administrators, executors, representatives, agents, successors and
assigns hereby releases, acquits and forever discharges ISS, its parents,
subsidiaries, related companies, affiliates, and assigns, and their current and
former directors, officers, agents, attorneys, employees and representatives,
from any and all claims, charges, causes of actions, obligations or liabilities,
known and unknown, which arise on or before the effective date of this
Settlement Agreement. By way of illustration only, this Release encompasses, but
is not limited to: any claim or allegations stemming from the Executive
Agreement, Xxxxxx'x resignations, the Termination Pay, and claims, charges, or
causes of action that could be brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964, 42 U.S.C. Section 2000(e) et seq., as amended; the Civil Rights Act of
1866, as amended; the Equal Pay Act, as amended; United States Executive Orders
11246 and 11375; The Regulations of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance
Programs, as amended; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C.
Section 701, et. seq.; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (including the
Older Workers Benefit Protection Act), 29 U.S.C. Section 621 et seq.; the
Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. Sections 12101-12213; the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), 29 U.S.C. Section 1001, et seq.; the
Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. Section 201, et seq.; the National Labor
Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. Section 151, et seq., the Worker Adjustment Retraining
and Notification Act, 29 U.S.C. Section 2101, et seq., the Minnesota Human
Rights Act, Minn. Stat. Section 363.01, et seq.; any and all statutes providing
rights and protections of any kind for employees
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working in the state of Minnesota, and any other federal, state, or local
statute, ordinance, regulation or rule, including any attorneys' fees,
liquidated damages, punitive damages, and any costs or disbursements that could
be awarded in connection with these or any other statutory claims; and claims,
charges or causes of action which could be brought based on contract,
quasi-contract, implied contract, wrongful or constructive discharge, breach of
the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, libel, defamation, slander,
negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress, discrimination on any
basis prohibited by statute, ordinance or public policy, negligence,
interference with business opportunity or with contracts, or unfair insurance
practices, and any other cause of action whatsoever, any of which arise on or
before the date of the effective date of this Settlement Agreement.
Xxxxxx, for and on behalf of himself and his heirs, administrators,
executors, agents, representatives, successors and assigns hereby covenants and
agrees that he will not file or otherwise pursue any claim, charge, or cause of
action against ISS, its parents, subsidiaries, related companies, affiliates, or
assigns, or against ISS's current and former directors, officers, agents,
attorneys, employees or representatives which relates to the matters released in
this paragraph. If Xxxxxx breaches this covenant, Xxxxxx shall pay the
attorneys' fees and costs of the party against whom the claim, charge or cause
of action was asserted, related to securing dismissal of said claim, charge or
cause of action.
8. Assumption of Settlement Agreement Successors and Assignees. ISS's
rights and obligations under this Settlement Agreement will inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon ISS's successors and assigns. Xxxxxx'x rights and
obligations under this Settlement Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon his heirs, administrators, executors, successors and assigns.
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9. Acceptance Period: Xxxxxx agrees, understands and acknowledges that
he may take at least twenty-one (21) days to decide whether to sign this
Settlement Agreement. Xxxxxx further agrees, understands and acknowledges that
changes to this Settlement Agreement will not restart this acceptance period.
Xxxxxx further represents that if he signs this Settlement Agreement before the
expiration of the acceptance period, it is because he has decided that he does
not need any additional time to decide whether to sign this Settlement Agreement
and that he has signed this Settlement Agreement on the advice of his counsel,
if he has elected to retain counsel.
10. Right to Rescind and/or Revoke: Xxxxxx agrees, understands and
acknowledges that he has the right to revoke this Settlement Agreement only
insofar as it extends to potential claims under the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act by informing ISS of his intent to revoke this Settlement
Agreement with seven (7) calendar days following his execution of it. Any such
rescission must be in writing and hand-delivered to counsel for ISS; or, if sent
by mail, postmarked within the applicable time period, sent by certified mail,
return receipt requested, and addressed as follows: ISS, Attention: Chairman of
the Board, 500 Spruce Tree Centre, 0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xx. Xxxx, XX
00000-0000.
Xxxxxx likewise agrees, understands and acknowledges that he has the
right to rescind this Settlement Agreement only insofar as it extends to
potential claims under the Minnesota Human Rights Act by providing written
notice of rescission to ISS within fifteen (15) calendar days following his or
her execution of this Settlement Agreement. Any such rescission must be in
writing and hand-delivered to counsel for ISS; or, if sent by mail, postmarked
within the applicable time period, sent by certified mail, return receipt
requested, and addressed as follows: ISS, Attention: Chairman of the Board, 500
Spruce Tree Centre, 0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx,
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Xx. Xxxx, XX 00000-0000. The Settlement Agreement will be irrevocable after such
fifteen (15) day period has elapsed.
Xxxxxx agrees, understands and acknowledges that if he exercises any
right of rescission or revocation pursuant to this Paragraph, ISS may at its
option either nullify this Settlement Agreement in its entirety or keep it in
effect as to all claims not rescinded or revoked in accordance with the
rescission or revocation provisions of this Settlement Agreement. In the event
ISS opts to nullify the entire Settlement Agreement, neither Xxxxxx or ISS will
have any rights or obligations whatsoever under this Settlement Agreement, and
Xxxxxx shall be obligated to return all sums paid, if any, pursuant to this
Settlement Agreement.
11. Oral Modification Not Binding. This instrument is the entire
Settlement Agreement of the parties. Oral changes will have no effect. It may be
altered only by a written agreement signed by both parties.
12. Review of Settlement Agreement. The parties to this Settlement
Agreement, each affirm and acknowledge that each has read the foregoing
Settlement Agreement and that each has either consulted with or had the
opportunity to consult with an attorney prior to signing this Settlement
Agreement. The parties to this Settlement Agreement further affirm and agree
that this Settlement Agreement is written in language understandable to them and
that each understands the meaning of the terms of this Settlement Agreement and
their effect.
13. Knowing and Voluntary Settlement Agreement. The parties to this
Settlement Agreement acknowledge that each has entered into this Settlement
Agreement knowingly and voluntarily; that each has had a reasonable period of
time within which to consider this Settlement Agreement; and that each has had
the opportunity to retain and be represented by
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counsel in connection with this Settlement Agreement, whether or not he has
elected to retain counsel.
14. Instrument. The parties agree that this Settlement Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which may be deemed an original,
and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
15. Choice of Forum. The parties agree that any dispute arising over
this Settlement Agreement shall be brought exclusively in the appropriate courts
in the State of Minnesota.
Dated: April 29, 2002 IMAGE SENSING SYSTEMS, INCORPORATED
By /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
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Its: Chief Executive Officer
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Dated: April 29, 2002 XXXXXXX XXXXXX
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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