ADEX MEDIA, INC. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.1
This
Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) by and between AdEx Media, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, (“Employer”) and Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, an individual (“Employee”), is effective as of October 23, 2009 (“Effective
Date”). In consideration of the mutual promises made herein, the
Company and Employee agree as follows:
1.
|
Employment. The
Company hereby employs Employee, and Employee hereby accepts employment
with the Company upon all of the terms and conditions described in this
Agreement.
|
2.
|
Responsibilities. Subject
to the terms of this Agreement, Employee is hereby employed in the
position of Chief
Marketing and Technology Officer and shall perform the functions
and responsibilities of that position. Your position will report directly
to Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Chief
Operating Officer. The Company may assign additional or different
duties to Employee and Employee’s position, title, job description, duties
and responsibilities may be modified from time to time at the sole
discretion of the Company. Employee shall devote the whole of
Employee’s professional time, attention and energies to the performance of
Employee’s work responsibilities under this Agreement. While
employed by the Company, Employee will not, without the prior written
consent of the Company, provide services to or assist in any manner any
business or third party which competes with the current or planned
business of the Company.
|
3.
|
Compensation. As
consideration for the services and covenants described in this Agreement,
the Company agrees to compensate Employee in the following
manner:
|
3.1.
|
Salary/Wages.
Employee’s starting gross salary will be the amount of $185,000 payable on a
bi-weekly basis for this regular, full time position. The fact
that Employee’s salary is expressed as an annualized amount does not
create or imply any minimum employment
term.
|
3.2.
|
Stock
Options/Restricted Stock. Contingent on approval by the
Company’s Compensation Committee and Board of Directors, Employee will be
granted options to purchase 500,000 shares of the
Company’s Common Stock pursuant to the Company’s stock option plan that
will vest over four years. One fourth of the total option amount shall
vest upon the successful completion of twelve months of service. The
remaining options shall vest pro-rata over the following three years in
accordance with the terms of the Option Agreement evidencing the
grant. The strike price of the options granted will be the
closing price of the Company’s stock on the date of the options
grant.
|
3.3.
|
Benefits. Employee
will be entitled to two weeks of vacation each year. If the
Company, in its sole discretion, adopts a general employee benefit plan or
policy concerning benefits such as holidays, leaves of absence, health
insurance, etc., such benefits, if any, will be available to Employee in
accordance with any eligibility requirements, policies, or procedures
adopted by the Company from time to time during the existence of this
Agreement. The rights, if any, of Employee and Employee’s
dependents under any such benefit plans or policies shall be governed
solely by the terms of such plans or policies. The Company reserves to
itself, or its designated administrators, exclusive authority and
discretion to determine all issues of eligibility, interpretation and
administration of each such benefit plan or policy. The Company’s
employment benefits, and policies related thereto, are subject to
termination, modification or limitation at the Company’s sole discretion
at any time.
|
3.4.
|
Total
Compensation. Employee agrees that the compensation
stated above constitutes the full and exclusive consideration and
compensation for all services rendered under the Agreement and for all
promises and obligations under this
Agreement.
|
3.5.
|
Business
Expenses. The Company shall pay or reimburse Employee’s
reasonable pre-approved business expenses, including expenses incurred for
travel on Company business, in accordance with the policies and procedures
of the Company, as may be adopted or amended from time to time at the
Company’s sole discretion. If Employee incurs business expenses under this
Agreement, Employee shall submit monthly to the Company a request for
reimbursement together with supporting documentation satisfactory to the
Company.
|
Employment
Agreement: Page 1
3.6.
|
Bonus. You will
be entitled to participate in the Company’s management bonus program which
is currently being developed. All bonuses are subject to approval by the
Company’s Board of Directors and Compensation
Committee.
|
4.
|
Company
Policies. Employee agrees to abide by the Company’s
policies, practices and procedures, written and unwritten, as they may
from time to time be adopted or modified by the Company at its sole
discretion. The Company’s written policies, practices and procedures,
including any Employee Handbook and/or Code of Conduct, shall be binding
on Employee unless superseded by or in conflict with this Agreement.
Copies of written policies and procedures shall be available to Employee
in the offices of the Company, and Employee shall be responsible at all
times to review these policies and
procedures.
|
5.
|
Warranties. Employee
hereby represents and warrants that he or she has taken no confidential,
proprietary or trade secret information from Employee’s prior employer or
employers, and will not knowingly disclose such information to the
Company, or improperly use any such information on behalf of the Company.
Employee acknowledges that the Company has specifically demanded that, if
Employee has any such confidential, proprietary or trade secret knowledge
or information, Employee shall not use such information while employed by
the Company for the benefit of the Company. Employee further
warrants that by entering into this Agreement with the Company he or she
is not violating any of the terms, agreements, or covenants of any
previous employment or association. Employee further
acknowledges that the Company has advised Employee to consult with his or
her personal attorney concerning this proposed employment, matters
relating to prior employment and any agreements or other matters that
might affect employment by the Company. Employee acknowledges
and agrees that neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf
induced or solicited Employee to breach any contract or other enforceable
obligation in connection with any proposed employment with the Company. If
at any time Employee’s duties with the Company begin to conflict with any
prior agreement, Employee shall promptly notify the Company and shall
cease and desist from any such
duties.
|
6.
|
Prior
Inventions. Employee acknowledges that, except for the
inventions disclosed on Appendix A,
attached hereto, Employee does not have any right or claim to any
invention, idea, process, formula, discovery, copyright, patent or other
such item or matter. No rights are hereby conveyed to
inventions, if any, made by Employee prior to employment by the Company,
which inventions are listed in Appendix A.
|
7.
|
Subsequent Invention
Disclosure. Employee agrees to promptly disclose in writing to the
Company any and all inventions which Employee develops during the term of
employment, including all software programs, source or object code,
improvements, inventions, formulas, ideas, processes, techniques, know-how
and data, whether or not patentable, that Employee makes or conceives or
reduces to practice or develops, either alone or jointly with others,
during the term of employment by the Company. Employee will
also disclose to the Company all inventions made, conceived, reduced to
practice, or developed by Employee within six months of the termination of
employment by the Company that result from prior work with the Company.
Such disclosures shall be received by the Company in confidence and do not
extend the assignment of inventions disclosed beyond that required by
law.
|
8.
|
Assignment of
Inventions. Except as excluded by paragraph 9, Employee hereby assigns and agrees
that any and all inventions, discoveries or improvements that Employee
conceives or makes or may conceive or make during the period of employment
relating to or in any way pertaining to or connected with the systems,
products, computer programs, software, software codes, apparatus or
methods employed, manufactured or constructed by the Company, or to
systems, products, apparatus or methods with respect to which the Company
engages in, requests or anticipates research or development, shall be the
sole and exclusive property of the Company to the maximum extent permitted
by California Labor Code Section 2870. The Company shall
be the sole owner of all worldwide trade secrets, patents, copyrights,
Moral Rights and other intellectual property rights in connection with
such inventions. Employee further acknowledges that such
inventions, including computer programs, software codes and other works of
authorship, are “works made for hire” for purpose of the Company’s rights
under copyright laws. Employee hereby assigns to the Company
any rights he or she may have or acquire in such inventions, to the
maximum extent allowed by law. Employee further agrees to assign, and
hereby does assign to the Company the entire right, title and interest in
and to all such inventions, discoveries or improvements as well as any
modifications or improvements thereto that may be made and all worldwide
trade secrets, patents, copyrights,
|
Employment
Agreement: Page 2
|
Moral
Rights and other intellectual property rights in connection therewith. As
used herein, “Moral Rights” means any rights to claim authorship of an
invention, to object to or prevent the modification of any Invention, or
to withdraw from circulation or control the publication or distribution of
any invention, and any similar right, existing under judicial or statutory
law of any country in the world, or under any treaty, regardless of
whether or not such right is denominated or generally referred to as a
“moral right.” Employee understands that any inventions,
discoveries or ideas that Employee has created or possessed prior to
Employee’s employment by the Company are specified in Appendix A
attached to this Agreement and will not be considered to be the property
of the Company.
|
9.
|
Inventions Not
Assigned. In accordance with California Labor Code
Section 2870, this Agreement does not require the assignment of an
invention which qualifies fully for protection under Section 2870,
which provides as follows:
|
|
(A)
ANY PROVISION IN AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WHICH PROVIDES THAT AN EMPLOYEE
SHALL ASSIGN, OR OFFER TO ASSIGN, ANY OF HIS OR HER RIGHTS IN AN INVENTION
TO HIS OR HER EMPLOYER SHALL NOT APPLY TO AN INVENTION THAT THE EMPLOYEE
DEVELOPED ENTIRELY ON HIS OR HER OWN TIME WITHOUT USING THE EMPLOYER'S
EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES, FACILITIES, OR TRADE SECRET INFORMATION EXCEPT FOR
THOSE INVENTIONS THAT EITHER:
|
|
(1)
RELATE AT THE TIME OF CONCEPTION OR REDUCTION TO PRACTICE OF THE INVENTION
TO THE EMPLOYER'S BUSINESS, OR ACTUAL OR DEMONSTRABLY ANTICIPATED RESEARCH
OR DEVELOPMENT OF THE EMPLOYER; OR
|
|
(2)
RESULT FROM ANY WORK PERFORMED BY THE EMPLOYEE FOR THE
EMPLOYER.
|
|
(B)
TO THE EXTENT A PROVISION IN AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT PURPORTS TO REQUIRE
AN EMPLOYEE TO ASSIGN AN INVENTION OTHERWISE EXCLUDED FROM BEING REQUIRED
TO BE ASSIGNED UNDER SUBDIVISION (A), THE PROVISION IS AGAINST THE PUBLIC
POLICY OF THIS STATE AND IS
UNENFORCEABLE.
|
10.
|
Assistance. Employee
will assist the Company in every proper way to obtain for the Company and
enforce all patents, copyrights, mask work rights, trade secret rights and
other legal protections for the assigned inventions in any and all
countries. Employee will execute any documents that the Company
may reasonably request for use in obtaining or enforcing such patents,
copyrights, mask work rights, trade secrets and other legal
protections. Employee’s obligations under this section will
continue beyond the termination of employment with the Company, provided
that the Company will compensate Employee upon the Company’s request of
such assistance. Employee hereby appoints the Secretary of the
Company as Employee’s attorney-in-fact to execute documents on Employee’s
behalf to effect the obligations of Employee under this Section 10.
|
Employment
Agreement: Page 3
11.
|
Confidential,
Proprietary, and Trade Secret Information. During the
course of employment, Employee will come into possession of or acquire
knowledge of confidential, proprietary and trade secret information of the
Company. Employee hereby covenants and agrees that Employee
will not, either during the term of employment or at any time thereafter,
disclose any such confidential, proprietary or trade secret information to
any person, firm, corporation, association, partnership or other entity
(other than those in the Company’s organization qualified and authorized
to receive such information) for any purpose or reason
whatsoever. Such confidential and proprietary information shall
be deemed to include, but not be limited to, (i) Company products,
designs, software, software codes, software developments, research
projects, improvements and methods of operation, (ii) business plans,
marketing plans and related information, (iii) the names, lists,
buying habits and practices of the Company’s customers, clients and
vendors, and the relationships between them and the Company, (iv) the
Company’s financial condition, profit performance and financial
requirements, and (v) all other confidential information of, about or
concerning the Company, the manner of operation of the Company and other
confidential data of any kind, nature or description relating to the
Company. Employee specifically agrees not to make use of any
such confidential or proprietary information for Employee’s own purpose,
or for the benefit of any person, firm, corporation or other entity except
the Company. Employee will abide by the Company’s policies and
procedures, as established from time to time for the protection of its
trade secrets and confidential information. Employee does not know of any
of the Company’s confidential, proprietary or trade secret information
other than the information learned from the Company. Further,
Employee agrees to be bound by, and to execute such additional instruments
as may be necessary or desirable to evidence Employee’s agreement to be
bound by, all nondisclosure or similar covenants between the Company and
any third party.
|
12.
|
Return of
Property. All confidential, proprietary and trade secret
information, and all other documents, records, apparatus, equipment and
other physical property which is furnished to or obtained by Employee in
the course of employment with the Company shall be and remain the sole
property of the Company. Employee agrees that, upon termination of his or
her employment, Employee shall return all such property and agrees not to
make or retain copies, reproductions or summaries of any such property
without the express written consent of the
Company.
|
13.
|
Non-Solicitation. For
a period of two years immediately following the termination of this
Agreement, Employee agrees not to, either directly or indirectly, attempt
to recruit, solicit or take away any of the employees of the Company who
worked for the Company at any time during the term of this Agreement; make
known to any person, firm or corporation the names or addresses of, or any
information pertaining to, any current or former employees of the Company;
attempt to call on, solicit or take away any customers of the Company or
any other persons, corporations or other entities with which the Company
has had or contemplated any business transaction or relationship during
his or her employment with the Company, including, but not limited to,
investments, licenses, joint ventures, and agreements for development,
with the use of any proprietary or confidential information or trade
secret of the Company, for purposes of entering into any business
transaction or relationship with any such customers or other persons,
corporations, or other entities.
|
14.
|
Equitable
Relief. Employee and the Company agree that in the event
of any breach of paragraphs 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13 of this Agreement, the Company and
Employee will not have an adequate remedy at law. Thus, in the event of
such a breach or threatened breach, the Company and/or Employee will be
entitled to such equitable and injunctive relief as may be available to
prevent and restrain the breach of the provisions of said paragraphs. Such
availability to obtain injunctive relief will not prevent the Company or
Employee from pursuing any other equitable or legal relief, including the
recovery of damages from such breach or threatened
breach.
|
15.
|
At-Will
Employment. Employee’s Employment at the Company is at
will. This means that employment may be terminated with or without Cause
and with or without notice at any time by either the Employee or the
Company. Nothing in this or any other document or statement
shall limit the right to terminate employment at will. No
officer, manager, supervisor or employee of the Company has any authority
to enter into an agreement for employment for any specified period of time
or to make an agreement for employment other than at-will. Only
the CEO of the Company has the authority to make any such agreement and
then only in a writing that expressly modifies the policy of at-will
employment. For purposes of this Agreement, any of the following shall
constitute “Cause”: (i)
willful or habitual breach of or failure to perform Employee's duties
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (ii) fraud, dishonesty,
|
Employment
Agreement: Page 4
|
or
other act of substantial misconduct in the performance of Employee’s
duties pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (viii) willful failure or
refusal to comply or violation of any policies, standards and
regulations of Employer, as may be modified from time, (ix) conviction of
or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or misdemeanor involving
moral turpitude, (x) continuing failure to communicate and fully disclose
material information to the Board of Directors, the failure of which would
materially adversely impact the Company or may result in a violation of
state or federal securities laws, or (xi) debarment by any federal agency
that would limit or prohibit Employee from serving in his capacity for
Employer under this Agreement.
|
16.
|
Employment Eligibility
Verification. For purposes of federal immigration law,
Employee will be required to provide to the Company documentary evidence
of Employee’s identity and eligibility for employment in the United
States. Such documentation must be provided to the Company
within three business days of the date of hire or Employee’s employment
may be terminated.
|
17.
|
Notification. Employee
authorizes the Company to notify Employee’s future employers of the terms
of this Agreement and Employee’s responsibilities
hereunder.
|
18.
|
Name and Likeness
Rights. Employee authorizes the Company to use, reuse,
and to grant others the right to use and reuse Employee’s name,
photograph, likeness (including caricature), voice, and biographical
information, and any reproduction or simulation therof, in any media now
known or hereafter developed (including, but not limited to, film, video
and digital or other electronic media), both during and after Employee’s
employment with the Company, for whatever purposes the Company deems
necessary.
|
19.
|
Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance
with and governed by the laws of the State of
California.
|
20.
|
Interpretation. This
Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the plain meaning of its
terms and not strictly for or against either
party.
|
21.
|
Headings. The
headings of this Agreement are intended solely for the convenience of
reference and should be given no effect in the construction or
interpretation of this Agreement.
|
22.
|
Entire
Agreement. This Agreement embodies the complete
agreement and understanding of the parties related to his or her
employment of the Employee by the Company, superseding any and all other
prior or contemporaneous oral or written agreements or communications
between the parties hereto with respect to the employment of the Employee
by the Company, and contains all of the covenants and agreements of any
kind whatsoever between the parties with respect to such employment. Each
party acknowledges that no representations, inducements, promises or
agreements, whether oral or written, express or implied, have been made by
either party or anyone acting on behalf of any party, that are not
incorporated herein and that no other agreement or promise not contained
herein shall be valid or binding.
|
23.
|
Modification. This
Agreement may be modified or amended only by an agreement in writing
signed by the parties hereto.
|
24.
|
Waiver. The
failure of either party to insist, in any one or more instances, upon
performance of the terms or conditions of this Agreement shall not be
construed as a waiver or relinquishment of any right granted under this
Agreement or of the future performance of any such term or
condition.
|
25.
|
Severability. Should
any provision or part of this Agreement be held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining
provisions and parts shall be unaffected and shall continue in full force
and effect, and said invalid, void or unenforceable provision or part
shall be deemed not to be part of this
Agreement.
|
Employment
Agreement: Page 5
26.
|
No
Partnership. The parties agree that nothing expressed or
implied in this Agreement shall be deemed or construed by the parties
hereto, or by any third person, to create the relationship of principal
and agent or of partnership or joint venture or of lessor and lessee or of
any other association between Employee and Company other than that of
employer and employee.
|
27.
|
Voluntary
Agreement. Employee and the Company represent and agree
that each has reviewed all aspects of this Agreement, has carefully read
and fully understands all provisions of this Agreement, and is voluntarily
entering into this Agreement. Each party represents and agrees
that such party has had the opportunity to review any and all aspects of
this Agreement with the legal, tax or other advisor or advisors of such
party’s choice before executing this
Agreement.
|
28.
|
Successors and
Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to
the benefit of, and be enforceable by and against the Employee’s heirs,
beneficiaries and legal representatives. The rights and obligations of
Employee may not be delegated or assigned except as expressly set forth in
this Agreement. In the event of a sale of all or substantially all of the
Company’s capital stock, sale of all, or substantially all of the
Company’s assets, or consolidation or merger of the Company with or into
another corporation, entity or individual, the Company may assign its
rights and obligations under this Agreement to its successor-in-interest,
and such successor-in-interest shall be deemed to have acquired all rights
and assumed all obligations of the Company under this
Agreement.
|
29.
|
Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and
the same instrument.
|
30.
|
Alternative Dispute
Resolution Program. Employee understands and agrees
that, as a condition of employment, employee will enter into an agreement,
attached as Appendix B,
to arbitrate all disputes arising out of or related to the termination of
employment, as well as any unlawful discrimination, or unlawful harassment
(including sexual harassment) claims. Only an arbitrator, not a judge or a
jury, will hear such disputes.
|
31.
|
Trinet. Our
benefits, payroll, and other human resource management services are
provided through TriNet Employer Group, Inc., a professional employer
organization. As a result of AdEx Media,
Inc.’s arrangement with TriNet, TriNet will be considered your
employer of record for these purposes and your managers here at AdEx
Media, Inc. will be responsible for directing your work, reviewing your
performance, setting your schedule, and otherwise directing your work at
AdEx Media, Inc.
|
EMPLOYEE
|
||
By:
|
||
Signature
|
Signature
|
|
Print
Name
|
Print
Title
|
|
Date
|
Date
|
Employment
Agreement: Page 6
Appendix A
Inventions
Except as
set forth below, I hereby acknowledge that at this time I have no right, title,
or other interest in any invention, patent, copyright, or other such material
other than the following: (If none, so state)
NONE.
DATED:_______________________
_______________________________
Employee
Appendix B
Alternative
Dispute Resolution (ADR) Policy and Agreement
1.
|
Agreement to
Arbitrate.
|
1.1.
|
In
the event that any employment dispute arises between AdEx Media, Inc.
(“Company”) and Xxxxx Xxxxxxx (“Employee”), the parties involved will make
all efforts to resolve any such dispute through informal means. If these
informal attempts at resolution fail and if the dispute
arises out of or is related to the parties’ Employment Agreement, the
termination of Employee’s employment or alleged unlawful discrimination,
including but not limited to unlawful harassment, the Company and Employee
will submit the dispute to final and binding arbitration in San Francisco
County, California, except as set forth in paragraph 14 of the Employment
Agreement.
|
1.2.
|
The
parties expressly understand and agree that arbitration is the exclusive
remedy for all such disputes; with respect to such disputes, no other
action may be brought in court or any other forum (except actions to
compel arbitration hereunder). THIS ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE
RESOLUTION (“ADR”) AGREEMENT IS A WAIVER OF THE PARTIES’ RIGHTS TO A CIVIL
COURT ACTION FOR A DISPUTE RELATING TO BREACH OF THE PARTIES’ EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT, TERMINATION OF THAT EMPLOYMENT OR ALLEGED UNLAWFUL
DISCRIMINATION, WHICH INCLUDES RETALIATION OR SEXUAL OR OTHER UNLAWFUL
HARASSMENT; ONLY AN ARBITRATOR, NOT A JUDGE OR JURY, WILL DECIDE THE
DISPUTE.
|
1.3.
|
Employment
disputes arising out of or related to termination of employment or alleged
unlawful discrimination, including retaliation or sexual or other unlawful
harassment, shall include, but not be limited to, the following: alleged
violations of federal, state and/or local constitutions, statutes or
regulations; claims based on any purported breach of contractual
obligation, including breach of the covenant of good faith and fair
dealing; and claims based on any purported breach of duty arising in tort,
including violations of public policy. Disputes related to workers’
compensation and unemployment insurance are not arbitrable hereunder.
Claims for benefits covered by a separate benefit plan that provides for
arbitration are not covered by this ADR Agreement. Also, nothing in the
Employment Agreement or in the ADR Policy shall be construed as precluding
Employee from filing a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (“EEOC”), the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) or other
federal, state or local agencies, seeking administrative assistance in
resolving claims. However, any claim that cannot be resolved
administratively through such an agency shall be subject to the Employment
Agreement and this ADR Policy and
Agreement.
|
2.
|
Request for
Arbitration.
|
2.1.
|
Attempt at Informal
Resolution of Disputes. Prior to submission of any
dispute to arbitration, Employee and the Company shall attempt to resolve
the dispute informally as follows: Employee and the Company will select a
mediator from a list provided by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation
Service or other similar agency who will assist the parties in attempting
to reach a settlement of the dispute. The mediator may make settlement
suggestions to the parties but shall not have the power to impose a
settlement upon them. If the dispute is resolved in mediation, the matter
shall be deemed closed. If the dispute is not resolved in mediation and
goes to the next step (binding arbitration), any proposals or compromises
suggested by either of the parties or the mediator shall not be referred
to in or have any bearing on the arbitration procedure. The mediator
cannot also serve as the arbitrator in any subsequent proceeding unless
all parties expressly agree in
writing.
|
ADR
Policy and Agreement: Page 1
2.2.
|
Arbitration
Procedures. The party desiring arbitration, whether
Employee or the Company, must submit a “Request For Arbitration” in
writing to the other party within the time period required by the law that
applies to the claim under the applicable statute of
limitations. If the “Request for Arbitration” is not submitted
in accordance with the aforementioned time limitations, the party failing
to do so will not be able to bring that party’s claims to this or any
other forum. The “Request for Arbitration” form must, unless otherwise
required by law, clearly state “Request for Arbitration” at the beginning
of the first page and include the following
information:
|
(a)
|
A
factual description of the dispute in sufficient detail to advise the
other party of the nature of the
dispute;
|
(b)
|
The
date on which the dispute first
arose;
|
(c)
|
The
names, work locations and telephone numbers of any individuals, including
employees or supervisors, with knowledge of the dispute;
and
|
(d)
|
The
relief requested by the requesting
party.
|
The
responding party may submit counterclaim(s) in like manner in accordance with
applicable law.
2.3.
|
Selection of
Arbitrator. All disputes will be resolved by a single
Arbitrator, who will be mutually selected by the Company and Employee. If
the parties cannot agree on an Arbitrator, then a list of five
arbitrators, experienced in employment matters, shall be provided by the
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. The Arbitrator will be
selected by the parties who will alternately strike names from the list.
The last name remaining on the list will be the Arbitrator selected to
resolve the dispute. Upon selection, the Arbitrator shall set an
appropriate time, date and place for the arbitration, after conferring
with the parties to the dispute.
|
2.4.
|
The Arbitrator’s
Authority. The Arbitrator shall have the following
powers:
|
(a)
|
To
rule on motions regarding discovery, procedural, and evidentiary issues
arising during the arbitration.
|
(b)
|
To
rule on motions to dismiss and/or motions for summary judgment applying
the standards governing such motions under the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure.
|
(c)
|
To
issue protective orders on the motion of any party or third-party witness.
Such protective orders may include, but are not limited to, sealing the
record of the arbitration, in whole or in part (including discovery
proceedings and motions, transcripts, and the decision and award), to
protect the privacy or other constitutional or statutory rights of parties
and/or witnesses.
|
(d)
|
To
determine only the issue(s) submitted to him/her. The issue(s) must be
identifiable in the “Request for Arbitration” or counterclaim(s). Except
as required by law, any issue(s) not identifiable in those documents is
outside the scope of the Arbitrator’s jurisdiction and any award involving
such issue(s), upon motion by a party, shall be
vacated.
|
2.5.
|
Discovery. The
discovery process shall proceed and be governed, consistent with the
standards of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as
follows:
|
(a)
|
Unless
otherwise required by law, the parties may obtain discovery by any of the
methods allowed under the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure.
|
(b)
|
To
the extent permitted by the Federal Arbitration Act or applicable
California law, each party shall have the right to subpoena witnesses and
documents during discovery and for the
arbitration.
|
(c)
|
All
discovery requests shall be submitted no less than sixty (60) days
before the hearing date.
|
ADR
Policy and Agreement: Page 2
(d)
|
The
scope of discoverable evidence shall be in accordance with Federal Rule of
Civil Procedure 26(b)(1).
|
(e)
|
The
Arbitrator shall have the power to enforce the aforementioned discovery
rights and obligations by the imposition of the same terms, conditions,
consequences, liabilities, sanctions and penalties as can or may be
imposed in like circumstances in a civil action by a federal court under
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, except the power to order the arrest
or imprisonment of a person.
|
2.6.
|
Hearing
Procedure. The hearing shall be held at a location
mutually agreed upon by the parties, or as determined by the Arbitrator in
the absence of an agreement, and shall proceed according to the American
Arbitration Association’s “National Rules for the Resolution of Employment
Disputes” in effect at the time of the arbitration, with the following
amendments:
|
(a)
|
The
Arbitrator shall rule at the outset of the arbitration on procedural
issues that bear on whether the arbitration is allowed to
proceed.
|
(b)
|
Each
party has the burden of proving each element of its claims or
counterclaims, and each party has the burden of proving any of its
affirmative defenses.
|
(c)
|
In
addition to, or in lieu of, closing argument, either party shall have the
right to present a post-hearing brief, and the deadline for exchanging any
post-hearing briefs shall be mutually agreed on by the parties and the
Arbitrator, or determined by the Arbitrator in the absence of
agreement.
|
2.7.
|
Substantive
Law.
|
(a)
|
The
parties agree that they will be afforded the identical legal, equitable,
and statutory remedies as would be afforded them were they to bring an
action in a court of competent
jurisdiction.
|
(b)
|
The
applicable substantive law shall be the law of the State of California or
federal law. Choice of substantive law in no way affects the procedural
aspects of the arbitration, which are exclusively governed by the
provisions of this ADR Agreement.
|
2.8.
|
Opinion and
Award. The Arbitrator shall issue a written opinion and
award, in conformance with the following
requirements:
|
(a)
|
The
opinion and award must be signed and dated by the
Arbitrator.
|
(b)
|
The
Arbitrator’s opinion and award shall decide all issues
submitted.
|
(c)
|
The
Arbitrator’s opinion and award shall set forth the legal principles
supporting each part of the
opinion.
|
(d)
|
The
Arbitrator shall have the same authority to award remedies, damages and
costs as provided to a judge and/or jury under parallel
circumstances.
|
2.9.
|
Enforcement of
Arbitrator’s Award. Following the issuance of the
Arbitrator’s decision, any party may petition a court to confirm, enforce,
correct or vacate the Arbitrator’s opinion and award under the Federal
Arbitration Act, and/or applicable California
law.
|
2.10.
|
Fees and Costs.
Unless
otherwise required by law, fees and costs shall be allocated in the
following manner:
|
(a)
|
Each
party shall be responsible for its own attorneys’ fees, except as
otherwise provided by law for the particular claim(s) at
issue.
|
(b)
|
The
parties shall share equally the cost of the arbitrator’s services, the
facility in which the arbitration is to be held, and any similar
costs.
|
(c)
|
The
parties shall share equally the cost of a court reporter to transcribe the
arbitration proceedings. Each party shall advance the cost for said
party’s transcript of the
proceedings.
|
ADR
Policy and Agreement: Page 3
(d)
|
Each
party shall advance its own costs for witness fees, service and subpoena
charges, copying, or other incidental costs that each party would bear
during the course of a civil
lawsuit.
|
(e)
|
Each
party shall be responsible for its costs associated with discovery, except
as required by law or court order.
|
3.
|
Severability.
Each term, clause and provision of this ADR Agreement is separate and
independent, and should any term, clause or provision of this ADR
Agreement be found to be invalid or unenforceable, the validity of the
remaining terms, clauses, and provisions shall not be affected. As to
those terms, clauses and provisions found to be invalid or unenforceable,
they shall be replaced with valid and enforceable terms, clauses or
provisions or shall be modified, in order to achieve, to the fullest
extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of the invalid
or unenforceable terms, clauses or
provisions.
|
EMPLOYEE
|
||
By:
|
||
Signature
|
Signature
|
|
Print
Name
|
Print
Title
|
|
Date
|
Date
|
ADR
Policy and Agreement: Page 4