SEVERANCE AGREEMENT AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS David Steichen
EXHIBIT
10.1
SEVERANCE
AGREEMENT AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
I. Definitions. You
and I intend all words used in this Severance Agreement and Release of Claims
(“Agreement”) to have their plain meanings in ordinary
English. Specific terms that you and I use in this Agreement have the
following meanings:
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A.
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I,
me,
and my
include both
me (Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx) and anyone who has or obtains any legal rights
or
claims through me.
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B.
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Analysts
International means Analysts International Corporation and any
related or affiliated business entities in the present or past, including
without limitation, its or their predecessors, successors, parents,
subsidiaries, affiliates, joint venture partners, and divisions.
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C.
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Company
means
Analysts International; the present and past Board of Directors,
shareholders, officers and employees of Analysts International; Analysts
International’s insurers; and anyone who acted on behalf of Analysts
International or on instructions from Analysts International.
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D.
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My
Claims means
any and all claims, actions, rights, causes of action and demands,
known
or unknown, arising at law, in equity, or otherwise, from the beginning
of
time and continuing through and up to the date on which I sign this
Agreement, which I have or may have against the Company, including
without
limitation:
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1.
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all
claims arising out of or relating to my employment with Analysts
International or the termination of that employment;
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2.
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all
claims arising out of or relating to the statements, actions or omissions
of the Company;
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3.
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all
claims for any alleged unlawful discrimination, harassment, retaliation
or
reprisal, or other alleged unlawful practices arising under any federal,
state, or local statute, ordinance, or regulation, including without
limitation claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended by the Older Workers
Benefit
Protection Act of 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C.
§
1981, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (except for any
vested
claim for benefits under a qualified retirement plan that may be
brought
pursuant to 502(a)(1)(B) of ERISA), the Worker Adjustment and Retraining
Notification Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Minnesota Human Rights Act,
and
any applicable local human rights ordinance;
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4.
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all
claims for alleged wrongful discharge; breach of contract; breach
of
implied contract; failure to keep any promise; breach of a covenant
of
good faith and fair dealing; breach of fiduciary duty; estoppel;
my
activities, if any, as a “whistleblower”; defamation; infliction of
emotional distress; fraud; misrepresentation; negligence; harassment;
retaliation or reprisal; constructive discharge; assault; battery;
false
imprisonment; invasion of privacy; interference with contractual
or
business relationships; any other wrongful employment practices;
and
violation of any other principle of common law;
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5.
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all
claims for compensation of any kind, including without limitation,
salary,
wages, bonuses, commissions, stock-based compensation, vacation pay,
paid
time off, fringe benefits and expense reimbursements;
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6.
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all
claims for reinstatement or other equitable relief; back pay, front
pay,
compensatory damages, damages for alleged personal injury, liquidated
damages and punitive damages; and
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7.
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all
claims for attorneys’ fees, costs and interest.
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However,
My Claims does
not include any claims that the law does not allow to be waived or any claims
that may arise after the date on which I sign this Agreement.
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E.
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You
and your
include Analysts International and anyone who has or obtains any
legal
rights or claims through Analysts International.
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F.
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Your
Claims
means any and all claims, actions, rights, causes of action and demands,
known or unknown, arising at law, in equity, or otherwise, from the
beginning of time and continuing through and up to the date on which
you
sign this Agreement, which you have or may have against me, including
without limitation:
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1
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all
claims arising out of or relating to my employment with Analysts
International;
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2.
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all
claims for expense reimbursements;
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3.
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all
claims for any equitable relief; compensatory damages, damages for
alleged
personal injury, liquidated damages and punitive damages; and
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4.
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all
claims for attorneys’ fees, costs and interest.
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However,
Your Claims
does not include any claims that the law does not allow to be waived or any
claims that may arise after the date on which you sign this
Agreement.
II. Termination
of Employment
and Agreement to Release My Claims.
A.
My employment with Analysts International will terminate as of the close of
business on February 19, 2008. Provided I perform all of my obligations under
this Agreement and do not revoke this Agreement within the fifteen day
revocation period below, I will receive “Special Consideration” from Analysts
International in the form of:
i.
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a
single lump sum severance payment equal to one year’s salary (at my
current rate of pay and subject to normal
withholdings);
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ii.
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a
bonus of $25,000, equivalent to the fourth quarter management incentive
bonus opportunity, which the Company will pay whether or not I actually
qualify for such bonus;
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iii.
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a
$20,000 stay bonus if, in the reasonable judgment of the Company’s CEO, I
satisfactorily perform the transition of my duties through February
19,
2008;
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iv.
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if
I choose to extend my employment through February 29, 2008, a $25,000
“extra effort” bonus if in the reasonable judgment and sole discretion of
the Company’s CEO, I have exerted all reasonable efforts to enable the
filing of the Company’s Form 10-K for fiscal year 2007 with the SEC on or
before February 29, 2008 and such Form 10-K is signed by me in my
capacity
as the Company’s CFO (it being understood, however, that nothing herein
creates any obligation or expectation that I act in any way that
is
inconsistent with, or would require me to violate, any applicable
code of
professional conduct, and further understood that if, in the reasonable
judgment of both me and the Company’s CEO, it would be imprudent or
inadvisable to file the Form 10-K on or before February 29, 2008,
but in
the CEO’s reasonable judgment and sole discretion I have made every
reasonable effort to accomplish the filing by such date, this payment
will
nevertheless be made);
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v.
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an
additional payment in the amount of $27,000.00, to compensate me
for the
loss of use of the leased vehicle the Company has previously provided
for
me;
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vi.
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payment
of 100% of the monthly premiums for health, dental and life insurance
coverage through February 19, 2009 or until I become eligible for
comparable health, dental, and life insurance through another employer,
whichever occurs sooner;
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vii.
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twelve
months of outplacement services (which may begin any time after execution
and delivery of this agreement and expiration of the revocation period
set
forth herein) in accordance with the Company’s arrangement with Xxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, LLC; and
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viii.
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reimbursement
of my out-of-pocket expenses in becoming recertified as a public
accountant, including the cost of obtaining CPE credits, in an amount
not
to exceed $5,000.00.
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For
the
avoidance of doubt, I will be eligible to receive each of the items of the
Special Consideration set forth in items i-iii and v-viii if I continue my
employment through February 19, 2008, perform all of my obligations under this
Agreement with respect to each such item, do not revoke this Agreement within
the fifteen day revocation period, and the remaining terms and conditions set
forth in the Agreement have been met. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
I will be eligible to receive the Special Consideration set for in item iv
above
only if I have met and satisfied the terms and conditions of such item
iv.
B.
My Special Consideration is contingent upon me signing and not revoking this
Agreement as provided below. I understand and acknowledge that the Special
Consideration is in addition to anything of value that I would be entitled
to
receive from Analysts International if I did not sign this Agreement or if
I
revoked this Agreement.
C.
In exchange for the Special Consideration, I give up, settle
and
release all of My Claims and I agree to abide by this Agreement in all
respects. I understand and agree that through this release I
am extinguishing all of My Claims occurring up to the date on which I sign
this
Agreement. The Special Consideration that I am receiving is a fair
compromise for my undertakings in this Agreement.
D.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, I understand that nothing contained in this
Agreement purports to limit any right I may have to file a charge with Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission or other administrative agency or to
participate in an investigation or proceeding conducted by the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission or other investigative agency. This Agreement does,
however, waive and release any right to recover monetary damages resulting
from
such investigation or litigation.
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E.
Likewise, in exchange for my release of My Claims and other consideration,
you give up, settle
and
release all of Your Claims and you agree to abide by this Agreement in all
respects. You understand and agree that through this release
you are extinguishing all of Your Claims occurring up to the date on which
you
sign this Agreement
F.
For the avoidance of doubt,
the
Company acknowledges that nothing in this Agreement
is intended to diminish or alter
any rights I may have under the Company’s Restated Special Executive
Retirement Plan as adopted December 27, 2006 and amended September 1, 2007
(the
“Plan”), which rights are as stated in the Plan. The Company has advised me that
as of
December
29, 2007 the accrued balance in
my deferred compensation account is $121,000. Between
December 30, 2007 and the
distribution of my deferred compensation, the Company acknowledges
that my balance will continue
to accumulate and
accrue
interest in
accordance with the terms of the Plan as administered under the direction of
the
Company’s
Board of Directors. I
will be paid the full amount in my deferred compensation account
within
ten (10) business days of when
such payment is allowed
under section 409A of the Internal Revenue
Code
of 1986, as amended.
G.
To the extent I am presently
covered by the Company’s D&O policies for acts or omissions
that occurred within the scope of
my employment, the Company agrees that it will continue to maintain reasonable
levels of such coverage for not less than two (2) years after the termination
of
my employment.
III. No
Admission of Liability. Even though
Analysts International will provide Special Consideration for me to settle
and
release My Claims and to otherwise abide by this Agreement, the Company does
not
admit that it is responsible or legally obligated to me. In fact, the
Company denies that it is responsible or legally obligated to me for My Claims,
denies that it engaged in any unlawful or improper conduct toward me, and denies
that it treated me unfairly or acted wrongfully.
IV. Acknowledgement
of Risk of Change in Facts or Law. I acknowledge that the
facts and the law material to this Agreement may turn out to be different from
or contrary to my present belief, and I assume the risk that such differences
may arise. I acknowledge and represent that I have not relied on any
representations of the Company or the Company’s counsel in entering into this
Agreement. Once the fifteen day revocation period below has expired,
I intend that the release granted herein shall be final, complete, irrevocable
and binding in all events and circumstances whatsoever.
V. Advice
to
Consult with an Attorney. I understand
and
acknowledge that I am hereby being advised by the Company to consult with an
attorney prior to signing this Agreement. My decision whether to sign
this Agreement is my own voluntary decision made with full knowledge that the
Company has advised me to consult with an attorney.
VI. Period
to
Consider this Agreement. I understand that I have 45 days from
the day that I receive this Agreement (not counting the day upon which I receive
it), or through March 5, 2008, or whichever is later, to consider whether I
wish
to sign this Agreement. I understand Analysts International will
accept this Agreement and pay to me the Special Consideration described above
if
I sign and return this Agreement and if I do not revoke this Agreement as
provided below. I understand that if I sign this Agreement on or
before March 5, 2008, or choose to forego the advice of legal counsel, I do
so
freely and knowingly, and I waive any and all further claims that such action
or
actions would affect the validity of this Agreement. I understand
that any changes to this Agreement, whether material or not material, do not
restart the period of time I have to consider whether or not to sign this
Agreement.
If
I
elect not to execute and return this Agreement on or before March 5, 2008,
I
further understand that the offer contained herein shall terminate and Analysts
International shall be under no obligation to provide the severance compensation
and the benefits provided herein.
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VII. My
Right
to Revoke this Agreement. I understand
that
I may revoke this Agreement at any time within fifteen days after I sign it,
not
counting the day upon which I sign it. This Agreement will not become
effective or enforceable unless and until the fifteen-day revocation period
has
expired without my revoking it. I understand that if I rescind or
revoke this Agreement, all of Analysts International’s obligations to me under
this Agreement will immediately cease and terminate, and Analysts International
will owe me no amounts hereunder. If I do not revoke or rescind this
Agreement within said fifteen-day period, I understand that the Company will
pay
the Special Consideration to me on my termination date or when that fifteen-day
period expires, whichever is later.
VIII. Procedure
for Accepting or Revoking this Agreement. To accept the
terms of this
Agreement, I must deliver the Agreement, after I have signed and dated it,
to
Analysts International by hand or by certified mail, return receipt requested,
on or before March 5, 2008. To revoke my acceptance, I must deliver a
written, signed statement that I revoke my acceptance to Analysts International
by hand or by certified mail within the fifteen-day revocation
period. All certified mailings and hand deliveries must be made to
Analysts International at the following address:
Xxxx
Dose
Analysts
International Corporation
0000
Xxxx 00xx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx,
XX 00000
If
I
choose to deliver my acceptance or the revocation of my acceptance by mail,
it
must be:
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postmarked
within the period stated above; and
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2.
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properly
addressed to Xxxx Dose, Analysts International, at the address stated
above.
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IX. Non-disparagement. Both
I and the
Company agree not to make negative or disparaging remarks or comments about
each
other, including, in the case of the Company, about its officers, directors,
management, employees, products or services.
X. Non-solicitation. I
will not
solicit, either directly or indirectly, or accept, for my own account or for
anyone else, business for services or products similar in use or application
to
Analysts International’s services or products of any Analysts International
customer or prospective customer: (i) which at any time during the last 12
months of my employment with Analysts International was a customer of the
office, business group or unit, practice or reporting unit to which I was
assigned; or (ii) to whom, during the last 12 months of my employment the
Analysts International office, business group or unit, practice or reporting
unit which I was assigned, submitted a proposal or proposals for Analysts
International’s services or products; or (iii) with whom, during the last 12
months of my employment, I otherwise dealt or about whom I received business
information. I will also refrain from participating in or giving
information or other assistance to anyone else in soliciting such business
from
these Analysts International customers and prospective customers. I
agree that I will refrain from this form of unfair competition for a period
of
12 months after my employment with Analysts International.
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XI. Non-interference,
Cooperation. Recognizing
that
Analysts International incurs significant expense in recruiting its personnel
and has the right to expect their continued service, I will not interfere with
Analysts International’s relationships with its employees and
subcontractors. Specifically, I will not participate or give
assistance in any effort of any other business, including any business that
I
may own or operate to hire or engage the services of an Analysts International
employee or subcontractor; nor will I encourage any Analysts International
employee or subcontractor to leave the employment or service of Analysts
International. I agree that I will not engage in this form of unfair
competition for a period of 12 months after my employment with Analysts
International. In addition, for not less than one (1) year following
termination of my employment, I will cooperate with the Company in any matters
involving the transition of my responsibilities or other matters involving
the
business of the Company.
XII. Confidentiality. I
agree that
following the termination of my employment, I will keep confidential, and will
not use for my benefit for the benefit of any other company or person,
confidential Analysts International business information, including but not
limited to the identity of Analysts International customers and prospective
customers and their requirements for IT consulting and other services provided
by Analysts International, salary information, contract rates in contract
expiration dates, details of Analysts International projects, business,
marketing and strategic plans and company or office financial
information. I recognize that the Company has furnished any
information of this type to me in confidence on the understanding that I would
not disclose any such confidential information or use it for the advantage
of
myself or anyone other than Analysts International.
XIII. Return
of
Property. I agree that
I
will not retain any copies of Company property or documents except to the extent
required to perform my obligations under the Consulting Agreement between me
and
the Company having an effective date of March 3, 2008. I agree that
this obligation is ongoing and that if I subsequently discover any additional
company property that I will promptly return it to Analysts International upon
the termination of said Consulting Agreement. I represent that upon
the termination of any said Consulting Agreement I will deliver and return
to
the Company (a) all materials of any kind in my possession (or under my control)
incorporating Confidential Information (as such term is defined in any
applicable agreement between me and the Company) or otherwise relating to the
Company’s business (including but not limited to all such materials and/or
information stored on any computer or other storage device owned or used by
me),
and (b) all Company property in my possession (or under my control), including
(but not limited to) computers, computer software applications, cellular
telephones, pagers, credit cards, keys, records, files, manuals, books, forms,
documents, letters, memoranda, data, tables, photographs, video tapes, audio
tapes, computer disks and other computer storage media, all materials that
include trade secrets, and all copies, summaries or notes of any of the
foregoing.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Company agrees that I may keep as my own the following
Company property: one Dell Latitude D600 laptop computer; one Dell
Latitude D620 laptop computer and one Linksys router. I will promptly
and permanently remove all Company information on such computer. I
acknowledge and agree that from and after the effective date of termination
of
my employment with the Company, I will be solely responsible for any and all
maintenance and support with respect to such computer, which is being furnished
to me “AS IS” and without warranty of any kind (other than the warranty of clear
title).
XIV. No
Other
Promises or Representations. I agree that
no
promise or representation, other than the promises and representations expressly
contained in this Agreement, has been made to me by the Company with regard
to
my separation from employment with the Company.
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XV. Interpretation
of this Agreement. This Agreement
should be interpreted as broadly as possible to achieve my intention to resolve
all of My Claims against the Company and to otherwise fulfill my obligations
under this Agreement. If any provision of this Agreement is found to
be illegal and/or unenforceable, such provision shall be severed and modified
to
the extent necessary to make it enforceable; and as so severed or modified,
the
remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and
enforceable with respect to the release of all the remainder of My
Claims.
XVI. Voluntary
Release. I have read
this
Agreement carefully. I understand all of its terms. In
signing this Agreement, I have not relied on any statements or explanations
made
by the Company except as specifically set forth in this Agreement. I
am voluntarily releasing My Claims against the Company without coercion, duress
or reliance on any representations by any Analysts International employee,
agent
or attorney and I am voluntarily undertaking my other obligations under this
Agreement without coercion, duress or reliance on any representations by any
Analysts International employee, agent or attorney. I intend this
Agreement to be legally binding.
XVII. Non-Disclosure
of this Agreement. I agree that
the
terms of this Agreement are confidential. I will not, directly or
indirectly, disclose any of the terms of this Agreement to anyone other than
my
immediate family or counsel, except as such disclosure may be required for
accounting or tax reporting purposes or as otherwise may be required by law
(for
example, by subpoena or other compulsory legal process).
XVIII. Governing
Law; Jurisdiction and Venue. This Agreement is governed by and
shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota and
any
dispute related thereto shall be exclusively venued in the state courts of
Minnesota located in Hennepin County, Minnesota. In the event
litigation results involving this Agreement, the unsuccessful party agrees
to
pay the prevailing party’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
XIX. Other
Agreements. I understand
that
this Severance Agreement and Release of Claims and the employee benefit plans
of
the Company in which I am a participant (including the Company’s Restated
Special Executive Retirement Plan as adopted December 27, 2006 and amended
September 1, 2007) contain all of the agreements between the Company and
me. These agreements supersede all other written and oral agreements
we may have. Any additions or changes to this Agreement must be in
writing and signed by both parties.
XX. Survival. I
understand that the provisions of this Agreement that, by their nature and
content, must survive the completion, rescission, termination or expiration
of
this Agreement in order to achieve the fundamental purposes of this Agreement
(including but not limited to the provisions of paragraphs II(C), IX, X, XI,
XII
& XIII of this Agreement) will survive the termination of my employment and
the termination, for any reason, of this Agreement.
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XXI. Release
as Evidence. I understand
and
agree that in the event that any claim, suit or action shall be commenced by
me
against Analysts International, including, but not limited to, claims, suits
or
actions relating to my employment with Analysts International through this
date,
this Agreement shall constitute a complete defense to any such claims, suits
or
actions so instituted.
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
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Analysts
International Corporation
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_______________________________________ |
By:
______________________________
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Title:
_____________________________
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Date
signed: _________________________
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Date
signed: ________________________
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