Exhibit 10.1a
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the
“Agreement”), entered into this 1st day of July, 2009,
by and between BLINDSPOT ALERT, INC., a Nevada corporation (the
“Employer”), and ROWLAND W. DAY II
(“Employee”).
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Employer desires to employ, and Employee
desires to work for Employer;
WHEREAS, the Employer desires to provide fair and
reasonable benefits to Employee on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Employer desires reasonable protection of
their confidential business and customer information which they
will develop over the years at substantial expense and assurance
that Employee will not compete with the Employer for a reasonable
period of time after termination of his employment with the
Employer, except as otherwise provided herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises, the
mutual covenants and undertakings herein contained and other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which are hereby acknowledged, the parties, each intending to be
legally bound, covenant and agree as follows:
1.
Employment . Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Employer employs
Employee as the Employer’s Chief Executive Officer and
Employee accepts such employment.
2.
Position . Employee agrees to serve as the
Employer’s Chief Executive Officer and to perform such duties
as may reasonably be assigned to him by the Employer’s Board
of Directors not inconsistent with the nature of Employee’s
position and such duties which are of the character as those
generally associated with such officer’s
title. Employer agrees that Employee may serve as an
officer and as a director of other companies and ventures and
devote such time as is necessary to fulfill those
duties. Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude
Employee from working in his law firm.
3.
Term . The term of this Agreement shall begin on
the date Employer purchases the software assets of WQN, Inc. as
more fully described in the Asset Purchase Agreement between the
Employer and WQN, Inc. (the “Effective Date”) and shall
end on December 31, 2010; provided, however, that such term shall
be extended automatically for an additional calendar year, unless
either party hereto gives sixty (60) days written notice to the
other party not to extend prior to the end of the calendar year
(such term, including any extension thereof shall herein be
referred to as the “Term”).
4.
Salary . Upon Employer achieving $1,000,000 in
monthly sales from the multilevel marketing sales distribution
channels, Employee shall receive an annual salary of Two Hundred
Forty Thousand Dollars ($240,000.00) (“Base
Compensation”) payable at regular intervals in accordance
with the Employer’s normal payroll practices in effect from
time to time. Employee shall be entitled to receive a
bonus as determined by Employer’s Board of Directors at their
sole discretion. Additionally, Employee will be eligible
to participate in Employer’s stock option plan to the same
extent as other executives, officers and employees of Employer, and
to receive stock options thereunder in such amounts and at such
times as the Board of Directors may determine in its
discretion.
5.
Benefit Programs . During the term of this
Agreement, Employee shall be entitled to participate in or receive
benefits (collectively, the “Benefits”) no less
comparable to the other executive officers of the Employer, if such
benefits are offered by the Employer. The foregoing does
not obligate the Employer to provide benefits of any
type.
6.
General Policies . All matters relating to the
employment of Employee by the Employer not specifically addressed
in this Agreement shall be subject to the general policies
regarding employees of the Employer in effect from time to
time.
7.
Termination . Subject to the respective
continuing obligations of the parties, Employee’s employment
by the Employer may be terminated prior to the expiration of the
Term of this Agreement as follows:
(a)
The Employer, by action of its Board of Directors
and upon written notice to Employee, may terminate Employee’s
employment with the Employer for cause. For purposes of
this subsection 7(a ), “cause” shall be defined
as (i) Employee’s personal dishonesty of a material
nature affecting Employee’s ability to perform his duties
under this Agreement, (ii) Employee’s incompetence in
the performance of his duties and obligations under this Agreement,
(iii) Employee’s willful misconduct or gross negligence,
(iv) Employee’s breach of fiduciary duty involving personal
profit, (v) Employee’s intentional failure to perform
stated duties, (vi) Employee’s conviction of any
criminal offense which involves dishonesty or breach of trust or
conviction of any felony, (vii) any requirement of a
government agency or authority having jurisdiction over the
Employer; or (viii) any material violation by Employee of any
material provision or covenant of this Agreement not cured by
Employee within thirty (30) days of Employee’s receipt of
notice from the Employer of such material violation.
(b)
Employee, by written notice to the
Employer, may terminate his employment with the Employer
immediately for good reason. For purposes of this
subsection 7(b ), “good reason” shall be defined
as any material violation by the Employer of any material provision
or covenant of this Agreement.
(c)
Employee’s employment with Employer shall terminate in the
event of Employee’s death or disability. For purposes hereof,
“disability” shall mean the physical or mental
inability of Employee to perform his obligations hereunder,
provided that notice of any termination by the Employer because of
Employee’s “disability” shall have been given to
Employee prior to the full resumption by him of the performance of
such duties.
(d)
Nothing contained in this Agreement shall impair,
affect or change any requirements otherwise imposed upon the
Employer or Employee by applicable statute, law, rule, regulation
or other legal requirement, including, without limitation,
Employee’s COBRA rights upon termination of
employment.
8.
Termination Payments . In the event of
termination of Employee’s employment pursuant to Section
7 hereof, compensation shall continue to be paid to Employee as
follows:
(a)
In the event of termination pursuant to subsection
7(a) , compensation provided for herein (including Base
Compensation) shall continue to be paid, and Employee shall
continue to participate in the benefit, retirement, and
compensation plans and other perquisites as provided in Sections
5 and 6 hereof, for the lesser of (i) for a period of 3 months
after the date set forth in the notice of termination, or (ii) for
a period up to the remaining Term. Any benefits payable
under insurance, health, retirement and bonus plans as a result of
Employee’s participation in such plans through such date
shall be paid when due under those plans.
(b)
In the event of termination pursuant to subsection
7(b) , compensation provided for herein (including Base
Compensation) at the rate in effect at the time of termination
shall continue to be paid to Employee and Employee shall continue
to participate in the benefit, retirement and compensation plans
and other perquisites as provided in Sections 5 and 6
hereof, through the date of termination. Throughout the
period during which Employee’s compensation shall continue
hereunder, the Employer shall continue to contribute the employer
portion toward the cost of such benefits and other perquisites in a
manner consistent with the applicable terms of the governing plan
documents and if applicable, insurance contracts, and otherwise in
accordance with the procedures and policies in place prior to such
termination through the date such payments, benefit coverages and
perquisites are to be continued hereunder. Payment of
compensation during this period, including Base Compensation, shall
be made pursuant to the applicable payroll practices then utilized
by the Employer, and shall terminate on the first payroll payment
date occurring after the date of termination of Employee’s
employment.
(c)
In the event of termination pursuant to subsection
7(c ), compensation provided for herein (including Base
Compensation) shall continue to be paid and Employee shall continue
to participate in the benefit, retirement, and compensation plans
and other perquisites as provided in Sections 5 and 6 hereof
in a manner consistent with the applicable terms of the governing
plan documents, (i) in the event of Employee’s death, through
the date of death, or (ii) in the event of Employee’s
disability, through the date of proper notice of disability as
required by subsection 7(c ). Any benefits
payable under insurance, health, retirement and bonus plans as a
result of the Employer’s participation in such plans through
such date shall be paid when due under those plans.
9.
Notice of Termination . Any termination of
Employee’s employment with Employer as contemplated by
Section 7 hereof, except in the circumstances of
Employee’s death, shall be communicated by written
“Notice of Termination” by the terminating party to the
other party hereto. Any “Notice of
Termination” pursuant to subsections 7(a), 7(b) or
7(c) shall indicate the specific provisions of this Agreement
relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for such
termination.
10.
Regulatory Oversight . All obligations under this
Agreement may be terminated except to the extent determined that
the continuation of the Agreement is necessary for the continued
operation of the Employer by order of any state or federal
regulatory agency with supervision of the Employer, unless stayed
by appropriate proceedings, and the Employer shall be under no
obligation to perform any of its obligations hereunder if it is
informed in writing by any state or federal regulatory agency with
supervision of the Employer that performance of its obligations
would constitute an unsafe or unsound business practice.
11.
Death . Should Employee die after termination of
his employment with the Employer while any amounts are payable to
him hereunder, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by Employee’s executors, administrators, heirs,
distributees, devisees and legatees and all amounts payable
hereunder shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement to Employee’s devisee, legatee or other designee
or, if there is no such designee, to his estate.
12.
Notices . For purposes of this Agreement, notices
and all other communications provided for herein shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered or
mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as
follows:
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If to
Employee:
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Rowland W. Day
II
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1 Hampshire
Court
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Newport Beach,
CA 92660
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Facsimile: (949) 642-1274
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rday@rdaylaw.com
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If to the
Employer:
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Rowland W. Day
II
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Chief Executive
Officer
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Blindspot
Alert, Inc.
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1 Hampshire
Court
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Newport Beach,
CA 92660
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Facsimile:
(949) 642-7816
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rday@rdaylaw.com
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or to such
other address as either party hereto may have furnished to the
other party in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices
of change of address shall be effective only upon
receipt.
13.
Noncompetition . Employee covenants that,
commencing on Employee’s termination of employment and ending
on the date that is two years after Employee ceases to be an
employee or consultant to Employer or any of its subsidiaries (the
“ Noncompetion Period ”), Employee shall not,
nor shall Employee’s affiliates, in any state in which the
Employer or any of its subsidiaries currently conducts or conducted
its business (the “ Territory ”), engage, either
directly or indirectly, as a principal or for such Employee’s
own account or solely or jointly with others, or as a stockholder
in any corporation or joint sock association, in any business that
directly with the same telecom services or products, competes with
the businesses of the Employer or any of its subsidiaries (“
Compete ”). The foregoing shall not be
breached as result of (i) such Employee ownership or other right to
acquire by Employee (or any of its affiliates) of not more than an
aggregate of one percent (1%) of any class of stock or other
securities which are listed on a nationally or internationally
recognized stock exchange or NASDAQ of a person engaged, directly
or indirectly, in a business that competes with the businesses of
the Employer or any of its subsidiaries.
14.
Nonsolicitation . Employee covenants that,
commencing on Employee’s Termination of Employment and ending
on the date that is two years after Employee ceases to be an
employee or consultant to the Employer, or any of its Subsidiaries,
such Employee shall not, and shall cause its affiliates not to,
directly or indirectly, (i) induce or attempt to induce any
employee of the Employer or any of its subsidiaries, or in any way
interfere with the relationship between the Employer or any of its
subsidiaries and any employee thereof; (ii) hire any person who was
an employee, independent contractor or consultant of the Employer
or any of its subsidiaries within 180 days after such person ceased
to be an employee, independent contractor or consultant of the
Employer or any of its subsidiaries; (iii) induce or attempt to
induce any referral source or other business relation of the
Employer or any of its subsidiaries to cease doing business with
the Employer, or (iv) directly or indirectly acquire or attempt to
acquire an interest in any business relating to the business of the
Employer or any of its subsidiaries and with which the Employer or
any of its subsidiaries has entered into discussions or has
requested and received information relating to the acquisition of
such business by the Employer or any of its subsidiaries in the
two-year period immediately preceding the date of termination of
such Employee’s employment with Employer.
15.
Non-Disparagement . Employee covenants that such
Employee shall not, and shall cause its affiliates not to disparage
or encourage or induce others to disparage the Employer or any of
its subsidiaries or affiliates or any of its or their past and
present employees, directors, products or services. For
the purpose of this Agreement, the term “disparage”
includes, without limitation, comments or statements to the press,
media or to any third party with the intent to harm the character
or reputation of Employer, its affiliates, or any employee,
consultant, agent, director, distributor, independent contractor or
multilevel participant.
16.
Cooperation . Upon the receipt of reasonable
notice by Employee (including notice on behalf of the Employer by
its outside counsel), Employee agrees that he will respond and
provide information with regard to matters in which he has
knowledge as a result of his ownership of and, or, and employment
with Employer, and will provide reasonable assistance to Employer
and its subsidiaries and affiliates and their respective
representatives in defense of any claims that may be made against
the Employer or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.
17.
Governing Law . The validity, interpretation, and
performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the
State of California, without reference to the choice of law
principles or rules thereof, except to the extent that federal law
shall be deemed to apply.
18.
Employee Confidentiality and Invention Assignment Agreement
. Employee shall execute the attached Employee
Confidentiality and Invention Assignment Agreement which is
incorporated into this Agreement as Exhibit A.
19.
Modification . No provision of this agreement may
be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, mo
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