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SEVERANCE AND
RELEASE
AGREEMENT
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J. RICHARD
SHAFER
and
OXFORD MEDIA
INC.
a Nevada
Corporation
October 30,
2006
SEVERANCE AND RELEASE
AGREEMENT
I
PARTIES
THIS SEVERANCE AND RELEASE
AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into
this 30 th day of October, 2006 (“Effective
Date”), by and between J. RICHARD SHAFER, an individual
residing in the State of California (“Shafer”);
and , OXFORD MEDIA, INC., a Nevada
corporation (“OXMI”). Shafer and OXMI are sometimes
referred to collectively herein as the “Parties”, and
each individually as a “Party”.
II
RECITALS
A.
Shafer was employed by OXMI in order to render services generally
described as Executive Vice President of Sales.
B.
Shafer’s employment with OXMI was subject to a written
Executive Employment Agreement dated 20 March 2006 (the
“Employment Agreement”), providing terms for
termination of Shafer’s employment with OXMI for both cause
and without cause. A true and correct copy of the Employment
Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit “A”.
C.
The Parties mutually desire to terminate Shafer’s employment
relationship without dispute, effective as of the Effective Date of
this Agreement. OXMI conditionally offers to do so, provided Shafer
enters into and complies with all of the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, including but not limited to the provision of
assurances to OXMI that he will not assert any claims of any kind
against OXMI and specifically identified related parties, whether
arising out of (i) Shafer’s employment with OXMI, (ii)
Shafer’s status as a shareholder of OXMI, or any other
relationship or claim of right whatsoever arising out of or any
manner or form related to the relationship between the Parties, and
that Shafer will continue to abide by and honor his obligations to
maintain and protect OXMI’s, and OXMI’s affiliates,
subsidiaries, predecessors, parents, related businesses and
entities’ Trade Secret and Confidential Information, in
exchange for the valid consideration to be transferred by OXMI
hereunder.
D.
The Parties recognize and acknowledge the existence, validity, and
application of (i) that certain convertible note (the
“Convertible Note”) of OXMI dated 30 September 2004 in
favor of Shafer in the original principal amount of Four Hundred
Twenty Thousand Dollars ($420,000); and, (ii) the Supplemental
Agreement dated 30 March 2005 between the Parties (the
“Supplemental Agreement”).
E.
This Agreement shall specifically encompass all claims and related
factual and legal circumstances noted above (collectively, the
“Claims”). As such, it is the intent of the Parties
that their respective rights and obligations to each other from
this day forward shall be determined exclusively under the terms of
this Agreement, and that this Agreement supersedes, amends and
restates any other employment agreements between the Parties.
INITIALS:
_________________
Page 1 of 12
F.
All Parties are desirous of settling the Claims and releasing each
other from all future liability.
G. NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual
covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby
agree as follows:
III
RELEASE
3.1
Exchange . In consideration of the
execution of this Agreement, the payments and obligations described
below to be made by OXMI, the satisfaction of the obligations of
each of the respective Parties hereunder, the actions of the
Parties provided below with regard to the Supplemental Agreement,
and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and value of
which is hereby confirmed, Shafer on the one hand, and OXMI on the
other hand, shall hereby fully, finally and forever settle and
release each other from any and all claims, losses, fines,
penalties, damages, demands, judgments, debts, obligations,
interests, liabilities, causes of action, breaches of duty, costs,
expenses, judgments and injunctions of any nature whatsoever,
whether known or unknown, arising out of or related to the
relationships between the Parties prior to the Effective Date,
specifically including, but not limited to, the Claims
(cumulatively referred to as the “Released
Claims”).
3.2
Payments by OXMI . As full, complete, and
final payment in settlement of all Released Claims under this
Agreement, OXMI shall pay Shafer as follows:
3.2.1.
Convertible Note Accrued Interest . Upon
execution of this Agreement, OXMI shall pay to Shafer the sum of
Sixteen Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($16,800) as full and final
payment of all any and all accrued and owing interest under the
Convertible Note.
3.2.2.
Severance Payment . OXMI shall pay to
Shafer the sums and benefits identified in, and in accordance with,
Section 6.6 of the Employment Agreement, entitled
“Termination by Employer without Cause” which
states,
“6.6
Termination
By Employer Without Cause.”
6.6.1. Termination
Event. The employment of
executive shall terminate immediately upon delivery to Executive of
written notice of termination by Employer, which shall be deemed to
be ‘without cause’ unless termination is expressly
stated to be pursuant to Sections 6.1 or 6.2.
6.6.2. Result of
Termination. Upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 6.6, Employer shall pay to Executive, on the Termination
Date, an amount equal to (i) all accrued and unpaid salary and
other compensation payable to Executive by Employer with respect to
services rendered by Executive to Employer through the Termination
Date; and, (ii) an amount equal to twelve (12) months salary based
upon the then existing salary of Executive, payable in the same
manner as salary would have been paid to Executive had he continued
to work for Employer hereunder. In addition to the foregoing, and
notwithstanding the provisions of any other agreement to the
contrary, Employer shall continue to provide to Executive all other
benefits that would otherwise be payable to Executive pursuant to
Section 5.1 hereof for the twelve (12) months following the
Termination Date.”
INITIALS:
_________________
Page 2 of 12
The severance payment
under said Section 6.6 will be paid to Shafer in equal installments
in accordance with the normal payroll practices of OXMI and
consistent with the manner in which Shafer was paid while employed
with OXMI. OXMI will withhold required deductions from the payments
hereunder, including deductions for applicable state and federal
taxes, social security, all other standard deductions, and/or any
specific deductions applicable to Shafer.
3.3
Conversion of Convertible Note .
Immediately upon execution of this Agreement, and with no further
action required of Shafer, the Convertible Note shall be deemed
converted in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
Supplemental Agreement. OXMI shall issue to Shafer a share
certificate for two hundred ten thousand (210,000) shares of OXMI
common stock, free and clear of any Rule 144 restrictions, with the
Convertible Note thereafter being deemed converted and of no
further force and effect.
3.4
Complete Release and Hold Harmless . All
Parties, for themselves, itself, their heirs, executors,
administrators, successors, and assigns, hereby agree to release,
discharge and hold harmless each other and the other’s
directors, employees, shareholders, managers, officers, members,
affiliates, subsidiaries, predecessors, parents, related businesses
and entities, attorneys and each of their successors and assigns
from any and all known and unknown claims of every nature and kind
whatsoever which they now or hereafter may have with respect to
each other and/or the Claims, notwithstanding Section 1542 of the
California Civil Code, which provides that:
"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, AND WHICH IF KNOWN BY
HIM, MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS SETTLEMENT WITH THE
DEBTOR."
All rights under §1542 of the California
Civil Code, as well as under any other statutes or common law
principles of similar effect, are hereby expressly, fully,
knowingly, intentionally and forever waived and relinquished by the
Parties. Each Party hereby acknowledges that each understands the
significance and consequences of such waiver under §1542 of
the California Civil Code, and that each had the opportunity to
seek the advice of legal counsel of its choice.
3.5 Scope
of Shafer’s Release . Shafer further expressly
understands that the rights being waived hereunder specifically
include, but are not limited to, any and all claims under (as any
of the same may be amended from time to time) Title VII of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964; Sections 1981 and 1983 of the Civil
Rights Act of 1866; Equal Pay Act; Americans with Disabilities Act;
Age Discrimination in Employment Act; Employee Retirement Income
Security Act; Fair Labor Standards Act; Family and Medical Leave
Act; WARN Act; the United States and California Constitutions;
California Fair Employment and Housing Act; California Family
Rights Act; California Labor Code; any applicable California
Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Order; with respect to the
foregoing constitutional and statutory references, any comparable
constitution, statute or regulation of any other state; all claims
of discrimination or harassment on account of race, sex, sexual
orientation, national origin, religion, disability, age, pregnancy,
veteran’s status, or any other protected status under any
federal or state statute; any federal, state or local law enforcing
express or implied employment contracts or covenants of good faith
and fair dealing; any federal, state or local laws providing
recourse for alleged wrongful discharge or constructive discharge,
termination in violation of public policy, tort, physical or
personal injury, emotional distress, fraud, negligent
misrepresentation, defamation, and any similar or related claim;
together with any claim under any other local, state or federal law
or constitution governing employment, discrimination or harassment
in employment, or the payment of wages or benefits, whether or not
now known, suspected or claimed, which Shafer ever had, now has, or
may claim to have in the future as of the date of this Agreement.
This Agreement and the scope of the release by Shafer
hereunder expressly includes any statutory claims, including, but
not limited to, claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment
Act (the “ADEA”) and the Older Workers’ Benefit
Protection Act (“OWBPA”), except that this Agreement
does not waive rights or claims under the ADEA which may arise
after the Effective Date of this Agreement.
INITIALS:
_________________
Page 3 of 12
3.6
After Acquired Information . The Parties
acknowledge that they may hereafter discover information, facts, or
circumstances different from or in addition to those which they now
know or believe to be true. Except as otherwise provided herein to
the contrary, this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect
in all respects notwithstanding such discovery, and the Parties
expressly accept and assume the risk of such possible additions to
or differences from those facts now known or believed to be
true.
3.7
Enforceability . The enforceability of this
Agreement is conditioned upon each respective Party satisfying its
respective obligations hereunder.
3.8
Assignment of Released Claims . The Parties
hereby covenant that none of the Released Claims has been assigned
to any other person, and that no other person has any interest in
any of the Released Claims. In the event any other person asserts
any interest with respect to the Released Claims, then the Party
breaching this covenant shall fully defend and indemnify the Party
against whom such claim is asserted for any and all damages, costs,
and fees of any kind.
3.9
Specific Exclusion . It is expressly
understood that the release contained in this Agreement does not
encompass or include any of the following:
(a) The promises and
obligations of the Parties under this Agreement, specifically
including but not limited to the provisions of Article V,
below.
(b) The
promises and obligations of Shafer under the Employment Agreement
intended to survive termination, as further reflected in Section
5.5, below.
(c) The
intentionally willful, tortious, or criminal acts of either Party
after the execution of this Agreement.
INITIALS:
_________________
Page 4 of 12
3.10 No Admission
of Liability . Notwithstanding the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, execution hereof shall in no manner
or form constitute the admission of liability or responsibility of
either Party in respect to the Claims.
IV
EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP
4.1
Voluntary Termination . The Parties agree
that Shafer voluntarily accepted termination of his employment with
OXMI, and that his last day of employment by and with OXMI shall be
deemed to be the 26 th day of October, 2006 (the
“Termination Date”). As of the Termination Date and as
additional consideration hereunder, Shafer voluntarily resigned any
and all positions he held in and with OXMI, and the Employment
Agreement shall be deemed to be terminated, except for those
provisions contained therein which specifically are to survive
termination.
4.2
Payment of Amounts Owed . The payments to
be made by OXMI pursuant to Section 3.2.2. hereunder shall
represent all amounts due Shafer for unpaid and accrued wages and
benefits, if applicable, including but not limited to sick leave,
vacation time, severance, and all other amounts which may be due to
Shafer from OXMI hereafter, and Shafer shall neither make, nor be
entitled to any other amounts. Group medical plan coverage of
Shafer, if applicable, will be maintained by OXMI and terminate
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, unless Shafer makes a
proper election to continue such coverage under COBRA, in which
case all such benefits shall be at his sole cost and expense. Any
and all other coverage of any kind extending beyond the terms and
conditions of this Agreement will be solely at the expense of
Shafer and subject to the terms and conditions of the documents
governing the medical plan. It is the sole responsibility of Shafer
to comply with said terms and conditions, and OXMI will have no
liability for the future failure of Shafer to acquire COBRA
coverage.
4.3
Express Waiver of Any Other Amounts .
Shafer hereby acknowledges that he is not entitled to receive, and
will not claim, any damages, rights, benefits, or compensation
other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement. Specifically,
no vacation, benefits, earned or paid time off, or other
accrual-based benefits of any kind (“Post Termination
Benefits) will accrue, vest or otherwise be credited to Shafer
after the Effective Date. Shafer expressly waives, foregoes and
denies any right or claim to such Post Termination Benefits and
acknowledges that no compensation, remuneration or other form of
payment or benefit is forthcoming based thereon.
V
CONFIDENTIALITY AND BUSINESS RELATED
PROVISIONS
5.1
Non-Disclosure of Business Information .
Shafer shall not at any time, either directly or indirectly use,
divulge, disclose or communicate to any person, firm, or
corporation, in any manner whatsoever, any confidential information
concerning any matters affecting or relating to the business of
OXMI, including, but not limited to, the names, buying habits, or
pr
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