EXHIBIT 10.17
SEVERANCE AGREEMENT AND MUTUAL RELEASE
RECITALS
This Severance Agreement and Release ("Agreement") is made by and
between Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx ("Employee") and Gadzoox Networks, Inc. ("Company"),
collectively referred to as the ("Parties"):
WHEREAS, Employee was employed by the Company as Vice President of
Manufacturing;
WHEREAS, upon hire, the Company and Employee have entered into a
Confidential and Proprietary Information Agreement (the "Confidentiality
Agreement");
WHEREAS, the Company and employee have mutually agreed that Employee
shall resign from his position as of August 31st, 2001 ("Resignation Date");
WHEREAS, the Company and Employee desire to mutually release each other
from any and all claims arising from or related to the employment relationship;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises made herein, the
Parties hereby agree as follows:
COVENANTS
1. Consideration.
(a) Severance. The Company agrees to pay Employee a lump sum
equivalent to six (6) months salary, less applicable withholding. The Company
will tender the settlement amount to employee by delivering a check for
Eighty-Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars (82,500.00), less applicable
withholding, made payable to Employee, within ten (10) business days from the
Effective Date of this agreement.
(b) Resignation. Employee shall resign from his position as the Vice
President of Manufacturing effective as of August 31st, 2001.
(c) Accelerated Vesting of Stock. As of Employee's Resignation Date,
Employee is fully vested in 187,709 shares of Company's common stock. As further
consideration for the covenants and releases set forth herein, Company shall
accelerate Employee's vesting in an additional 15,103 shares of Company's common
stock, bringing Employee's total vested shares to 202,812. All other options
shall be cancelled and Employee shall not vest in any additional shares. The
exercise of any stock options shall continue to be subject to the terms and
conditions of the Company's Stock Option Plan and the applicable Stock Option
Agreement between Employee and the Company, under which Employee has 90 days
after the termination of the employment to exercise options.
(d) COBRA Benefits. Employee and each eligible dependent who
constitutes a qualified beneficiary, as defined in Section 4980B(g)(1) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, will be eligible to continue coverage
under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended
("COBRA"), within the time period prescribed pursuant to COBRA. During the six
month severance period set forth in paragraph 1(a), the Company agrees to pay
for any COBRA premiums required to obtain coverage. Employee agrees, however,
that any obligation to provide COBRA benefits or reimbursement pursuant to this
paragraph shall cease upon the date that Employee commences full time employment
with a third party. During the severance period, Employee will not be entitled
to accrual of any other employee benefits, including, without limitation,
vacation benefits or bonuses.
2. Confidential Information. Employee shall continue to maintain the
confidentiality of all confidential and proprietary information of the Company
and shall continue to comply with the terms and conditions of the
Confidentiality Agreement between Employee and the Company. Employee shall
return all of the Company's property and confidential and proprietary
information in his/her possession to the Company on the Effective Date of this
Agreement.
3. Payment of Salary. Employee acknowledges and represents that the
Company has paid all salary, wages, accrued vacation, commissions and any and
all other benefits due to employee except for any payments required to be made
pursuant to this agreement.
4. Release of Claims. Employee agrees that the foregoing consideration
represents settlement in full of all outstanding obligations owed to Employee by
the Company. Employee, on his/her own behalf, and on behalf of his/her
respective heirs, family members, executors, and assigns, hereby fully and
forever releases the Company and its officers, directors, employees, investors,
shareholders, administrators, affiliates, divisions, subsidiaries, predecessor
and successor corporations, and assigns, from, and agree not to xxx concerning,
any claim, duty, obligation or cause of action relating to any matters of any
kind, whether presently known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, that
Employee may possess arising from any omissions, acts or facts that have
occurred up until and including the Effective Date of this Agreement including,
without limitation:
(a) any and all claims relating to or arising from Employee's
employment relationship with the Company and the termination of that
relationship;
(b) any and all claims relating to, or arising from, Employee's right
to purchase, or actual purchase of shares of stock of the Company, including,
without limitation, any claims for fraud, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary
duty, breach of duty under applicable state corporate law, and securities fraud
under any state or federal law;
(c) any and all claims under the law of any jurisdiction including,
but not limited to, wrongful discharge of employment; constructive discharge
from employment; termination in violation of public policy; discrimination;
breach of contract, both express and implied; breach of a covenant of good faith
and fair dealing, both express and implied; promissory estoppel; negligent or
intentional infliction of emotional distress; negligent or intentional
misrepresentation; negligent or intentional interference with contract or
prospective economic advantage; unfair business practices;
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defamation; libel; slander; negligence; personal injury; assault; battery;
invasion of privacy; false imprisonment; and conversion;
(d) any and all claims for violation of any federal, state or
municipal statute, including, but not limited to, Title VII of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Age Discrimination in Employment
Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Fair Labor
Standards Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, The Worker
Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, Older Workers Benefit Protection
Act; the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, and California Labor Code
section 201, et seq. and section 970, et seq.;
(e) any and all claims for violation of the federal, or any state,
constitution;
(f) any and all claims arising out of any other laws and regulations
relating to employment or employment discrimination;
(g) any claim for any loss, cost, damage, or expense arising out of
any dispute over the non-withholding or other tax treatment of any of the
proceeds received by Employee as a result of this Agreement; and
(h) any and all claims for attorneys' fees and costs.
The Company and Employee agree that the release set forth in this
section shall be and remain in effect in all respects as a complete general
release as to the matters released. This release does not extend to any
obligations incurred under this Agreement.
5. Acknowledgement of Waiver of Claims Under ADEA. Employee acknowledges
that he/she is waiving and releasing any rights he/she may have under the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 ("ADEA") and that this waiver and
release is knowing and voluntary. Employee and the Company agree that this
waiver and release does not apply to any rights or claims that may arise under
ADEA after the Effective Date of this Agreement. Employee acknowledges that the
consideration given for this waiver and release Agreement is in addition to
anything of value to which Employee was already entitled. Employee further
acknowledges that he/she has been advised by this writing that
(a) he/she should consult with an attorney prior to executing this
Agreement;
(b) he/she has up to twenty-one (21) days within which to consider
this Agreement;
(c) he/she has seven (7) days following his/her execution of this
Agreement to revoke the Agreement;
(d) this Agreement shall not be effective until the revocation period
has expired; and
(e) nothing in this Agreement prevents or precludes Employee from
challenging or seeking a determination in good faith of the validity of this
waiver under ADEA, nor does it impose
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any condition precedent, penalties or costs for doing so, unless specifically
authorized by federal law.
6. Civil Code Section 1542. The Parties represent that they are not
aware of any claim by either of them other than the claims that are released by
this Agreement. Employee and the Company acknowledge that they have been advised
by legal counsel and are familiar with the provisions of California Civil Code
Section 1542, 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.
Employee and the Company, being aware of said code section,
agree to expressly waive any rights they may have thereunder, as well
as under any other statute or common law principles of similar effect.
7. No Pending or Future Lawsuits. Employee represents that
he/she has no lawsuits, claims, or actions pending in his/her name, or
on behalf of any other person or entity, against the Company or any
other person or entity referred to herein. Employee also represents
that he/she does not intend to bring any claims on his/her own behalf
or on behalf of any other person or entity against the Company or any
other person or entity referred to herein.
8. Confidentiality. The Parties acknowledge that Employee's agreement to
keep the terms and conditions of this Agreement confidential was a material
factor on which all parties relied in entering into this Agreement. Employee
hereto agrees to use his/her best efforts to maintain in confidence the
existence of this Agreement, the contents and terms of this Agreement, the
consideration for this Agreement, and any allegations relating to the Company or
his/her employment with the Company except as otherwise provided for in this
Agreement (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Severance Information").
Employee agrees to take every reasonable precaution to prevent disclosure of any
Settlement Information to third parties, and agrees that there will be no
publicity, directly or indirectly, concerning any Severance Information.
Employee agrees to take every precaution to disclose Severance Information only
to those attorneys, accountants, governmental entities, and family members who
have a reasonable need to know of such Severance Information.
9. No Cooperation. Employee agrees he/she will not act in any manner
that might damage the business of the Company. Employee agrees that he will not
counsel or assist any attorneys or their clients in the presentation or
prosecution of any disputes, differences, grievances, claims, charges, or
complaints by any third party against the Company and/or any officer, director,
employee, agent, representative, shareholder or attorney of the Company, unless
under a subpoena or other court order to do so. Employee further agrees both to
immediately notify the Company upon receipt of any court order, subpoena, or any
legal discovery device that seeks or might require the
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disclosure or production of the existence or terms of this Agreement, and to
furnish, within three (3) business days of its receipt, a copy of such subpoena
or legal discovery device to the Company.
10. Non-Disparagement. Employee agrees to refrain from any defamation,
libel or slander of the Company or tortious interference with the contracts and
relationships of the Company.
11. Non-Solicitation. Employee agrees that for a period of twelve (12)
months immediately following the Effective Date of this Agreement, Employee
shall not either directly or indirectly solicit, induce, recruit or encourage
any of the Company's employees to leave their employment, or take away such
employees, or attempt to solicit, induce, recruit, encourage, take away or hire
employees of the Company, either for him/herself or any other person or entity.
12. No Admission of Liability. The Parties understand and acknowledge
that this Agreement constitutes a compromise and settlement of disputed claims.
No action taken by the Parties hereto, or either of them, either previously or
in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed or construed to be:
(a) an admission of the truth or falsity of any claims heretofore
made or
(b) an acknowledgment or admission by either party of any fault or
liability whatsoever to the other party or to any third party.
13. Costs. The Parties shall each bear their own costs, expert fees,
attorneys' fees and other fees incurred in connection with this Agreement.
14. Indemnification. Employee agreed to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company from and against any and all loss, costs, damages or expenses,
including, without limitation, attorneys' fees or expenses incurred by the
Company arising out of the breach of this Agreement by Employee, or from any
false representation made herein by Employee, or from any action or proceeding
which may be commenced, prosecuted or threatened by Employee or for Employee's
benefit, upon Employee's initiative, or with Employee's aid or approval,
contrary to the provisions of this Agreement. Employee further agrees that in
any such action or proceeding, this Agreement may be pled by the Company as a
complete defense, or may be asserted by way of counterclaim or cross-claim.
15. Arbitration. The Parties agree that any and all disputes arising out
of the terms of this Agreement, their interpretation, and any of the matters
herein released, shall be subject to binding arbitration in Santa Xxxxx County,
California, before the American Arbitration Association under its Employment
Dispute Resolution Rules, or by a judge to be mutually agreed upon. The Parties
agree that the prevailing party in any arbitration shall be entitled to
injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the
arbitration award. The Parties agree that the prevailing party in any
arbitration shall be awarded its reasonable attorneys' fees and costs. THE
PARTIES HEREBY AGREE TO WAIVE THEIR RIGHT TO HAVE ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN THEM
RESOLVED IN A COURT OF LAW BY A JUDGE OR JURY.
16. Authority. The Company represents and warrants that the undersigned
has the authority to act on behalf of the Company and to bind the Company and
all who may claim through it to the
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terms and conditions of this Agreement. Employee represents and warrants that
he/she has the capacity to act on his/her own behalf and on behalf of all who
might claim through him/her to bind them to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement. Each party warrants and represents that there are no liens or claims
of lien or assignments in law or equity or otherwise of or against any of the
claims or causes of action released herein.
17. No Representations. Each party represents that it has had the
opportunity to consult with an attorney, and has carefully read and understands
the scope and effect of the provisions of this Agreement. Neither party has
relied upon any representations or statements made by the other party hereto
which are not specifically set forth in this Agreement.
18. Severability. In the event that any provision hereof becomes or is
declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or
void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without said
provision so long as the remaining provisions remain intelligible and continue
to reflect the original intent of the Parties.
19. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Stock Option Agreement as
modified by Paragraph 1 of this Agreement, and the Confidentiality Agreement
constitute the entire agreement and understanding between the Parties concerning
the subject matter of this Agreement and all prior representations,
understandings, and agreements concerning the subject matter of this Agreement
have been superseded by the terms of this Agreement.
20. No Waiver. The failure of any party to insist upon the performance
of any of the terms and conditions in this Agreement, or the failure to
prosecute any breach of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, shall
not be construed thereafter as a waiver of any such terms or conditions. This
entire Agreement shall remain in full force and effect as if no such forbearance
or failure of performance had occurred.
21. No Oral Modification. Any modification or amendment of this
Agreement, or additional obligation assumed by either party in connection with
this Agreement, shall be effective only if placed in writing and signed by both
Parties or by authorized representatives of each party. No provision of this
Agreement can be changed, altered, modified, or waived except by an executed
writing by the Parties.
22. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to have been executed
and delivered within the State of California, and it shall be construed,
interpreted, governed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of
California.
23. Attorneys' Fees. In the event that either Party brings an action to
enforce or effect its rights under this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be
entitled to recover its costs and expenses, including the costs of mediation,
arbitration, litigation, court fees, plus reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred
in connection with such an action.
24. Effective Date. This Agreement is effective eight (8) days after it
has been signed by both parties, unless revoked by Employee within seven (7)
days of execution.
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25. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, and
each counterpart shall have the same force and effect as an original and shall
constitute an effective, binding agreement on the part of each of the
undersigned.
26. Voluntary Execution of Agreement. This Agreement is executed
voluntarily and without any duress or undue influence on the part or behalf of
the Parties hereto, with the full intent of releasing all claims. The Parties
acknowledge that:
(a) They have read this Agreement;
(b) They have been represented in the preparation, negotiation, and
execution of this Agreement by legal counsel of their own choice or that they
have voluntarily declined to seek such counsel;
(c) They understand the terms and consequences of this Agreement and
of the releases it contains; and
(d) They are fully aware of the legal and binding effect of this
Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on the
respective dates set forth below.
Gadzoox Networks, Inc.
Dated: By
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Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
CEO
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, an individual
Dated:
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Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
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