SEVERANCE AGREEMENT AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS Colleen M. Davenport
EXHIBIT
10.4
SEVERANCE
AGREEMENT AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxx
I.
Definitions. 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 I use in this Agreement have the
following meanings:
|
A.
|
I,
me,
and my
include both
me (Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx) and anyone who has or obtains any legal rights
or
claims through me.
|
|
B.
|
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.
|
|
C.
|
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.
|
|
D.
|
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:
|
|
1.
|
all
claims arising out of or relating to my employment with Analysts
International or the termination of that employment;
|
|
2.
|
all
claims arising out of or relating to the statements, actions or omissions
of the Company;
|
|
3.
|
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;
|
|
4.
|
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;
|
|
5.
|
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;
|
|
6.
|
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
|
|
7.
|
all
claims for attorneys’ fees, costs and interest.
|
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.
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 January 31, 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.
|
a
single lump sum severance payment equal to one year’s salary (at my
current rate of pay and subject to normal
withholdings);
|
ii.
|
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;
|
iii.
|
a
$20,000 stay bonus if, in the reasonable judgment of the Company’s CEO, I
satisfactorily perform the transition of my duties through January
31,
2008;
|
iv.
|
an
additional payment in the amount of $27,000.00, provided I arrange
the
safe return to the Company, on or before January 31, 2008 and at
the
Company’s expense, of the leased vehicle the Company has provided for me,
in good and resalable condition, excepting only normal wear and
tear;
|
v.
|
payment
of 100% of the monthly premiums for health, dental and life insurance
coverage through January 31, 2009 or until I become eligible for
comparable health, dental, and life insurance through another employer,
whichever occurs sooner; and
|
vi.
|
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).
|
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.
2
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.
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
February
18, 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
February 18, 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 February 18, 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.
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.
3
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 February 18, 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:
|
1.
|
postmarked
within the period stated above; and
|
|
2.
|
properly
addressed to Xxxx Dose, Analysts International, at the address stated
above.
|
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.
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. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Company agrees that I may keep work product for re-use of
forms, etc. in future work without company identifying information, subject
to
the attorney-client privilege and my professional obligations as an
attorney.
4
XIII. Return
of
Property. I agree that
I
will not retain any copies of Company property or documents. 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. I represent that I have delivered and returned 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 the laptop computer I
currently use for Company business. 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 and the Notice Letter from the Company dated January
4, 2008 (the “Notice Letter”), has been made to me by the Company with regard to
my separation from employment with the Company. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Company hereby acknowledges its continuing deferred compensation
obligations to me as set forth in the Notice Letter and under the Company’s
Restated Special Executive Retirement Plan as adopted December 27, 2006 and
amended September 1, 2007.
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
5
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.
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.
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxx
|
Analysts
International Corporation
|
_______________________________
|
By:
___________________________
|
Title:
__________________________
|
|
Date
signed: ____________________
|
Date
signed: ____________________
|
6