Exhibit 10.1
SEVERANCE AGREEMENT, WAIVER AND
RELEASE
COLORADO
This Severance Agreement, Waiver and Release (the
“Agreement”) is entered into between Evergreen Energy
Inc. (the “Company”), and Steve Wolff (the
“Employee”). The “Effective
Date” of this Agreement is as defined below in Paragraph
7.
In
consideration of the conditions, covenants and agreements set forth
below, for good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of
which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Employee
(collectively called the “Parties”) agree as
follows:
1. The
Employee was employed by the Company as Executive Vice President of
Engineering until his separation from employment on May 31,
2009. The purpose of this Agreement is to settle all
issues relating to his employment and separation from
employment.
2. The
Company and the Employee, each without admitting any liability or
wrongdoing, desire to resolve amicably, and in the spirit of
compromise, all issues and differences between them in accordance
with and in consideration of the terms of this Agreement.
3. The
Employee understands and acknowledges that whether or not he signs
this agreement, he is entitled to and has received any earned but
unpaid salary through May 31, 2009, commissions, vacation pay, paid
time off, expenses, or other amounts to which the Employee already
is entitled in accordance with the terms of the Company’s
established policy. If the Employee has any remaining
expenses for which he has not yet been reimbursed, he agrees to
submit his claim, if any, for such expenses by June 30, 2009, and
the Company agrees to pay such expenses within one calendar week of
the date the claim is received, subject to approval of the amount
and appropriateness of such expenses in accordance with established
company policy.
4.
Severance Payment . Pursuant to Employee’s
Terms of Employment, dated July 3, 2007, Company agrees to pay the
Employee a “Severance Payment” as follows:
a. Commencing
on June 1, 2009, an amount equivalent to twelve (12) months of
salary at his regular salary rate, less applicable withholding for
federal and state taxes and other deductions required by
law. The Company will pay this part of the Severance
Payment in the same manner as a regular employee through the
regularly scheduled payroll process.
b. Employee
will continue to receive health insurance through the earlier of
(i) May 31, 2010; or (ii) the start date of new employment by
Employee which provides him, at the cost of the hiring
company’s other employees, health
insurance. Employee shall immediately notify Company
(notice to the attention of the CEO) if and when (ii)
occurs. Employee will not earn any fringe benefits
during the payment period of this Agreement.
Severance Agreement, Waiver and
Release
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c. Employee
will receive, by June 30, 2009, a payment of thirty thousand
dollars ($30,000.00), being an amount equal to the last bonus paid
to Employee by the Company.
5.
Mutual Waiver and Release of Claims . In exchange for this
Agreement and in consideration of the Severance Payment provided by
Paragraph 4 above, which is in addition to anything of value
to which the Employee already is entitled, the Employee hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally releases and forever discharges the
Company and its officers, members, agents, directors, shareholders,
supervisors, employees, representatives, affiliates, and their
successors and assigns, and all persons acting by, through, under,
or in concert with any of them, from any and all charges,
complaints, demands, damages, costs, expenses, causes of action,
action, rights, benefits, complaints, claims and liabilities of any
kind or nature whatsoever, known or unknown, suspected or
unsuspected, certain or contingent, which the Employee at any time
had or claimed to have regarding events that occurred up to and
including the Effective Date of this Agreement, including but not
limited to any and all such claims arising out of, related to, or
in any manner incidental to the Employee’s employment with
the Company or his separation from employment.
Similarly, in
consideration of the rights and obligations created by this
Agreement, the Company, and its officers, members, agents,
directors, shareholders, supervisors, employees, representatives,
affiliates, and their successors and assigns, and all persons
acting by, through, under, or in concert with the Company, hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally release and forever discharge the
Employee and his heirs, successors, and assigns from any and all
charges, complaints, demands, damages, costs, expenses, causes of
action, action, rights, benefits, complaints, claims and
liabilities of any kind or nature whatsoever, known or unknown,
suspected or unsuspected, certain or contingent, which the Company
at any time had or claimed to have regarding events that occurred
up to and including the Effective Date of this Agreement.
6.
Specific Claims Released . This release includes,
but is not limited to, all claims arising under any federal, state
or municipal law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act,
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Equal Pay Act, Fair
Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, Age
Discrimination in Employment Act, National Labor Relations Act,
Occupational Safety and Health Act, Employee Retirement Income
Security Act (except as specified below in this section), Colorado
Wage Claim Act, the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, and other
statutes and the common law of the state of Colorado, including
claims for tort, breach of express or implied employment contract,
wrongful discharge, intentional infliction of emotional distress,
and defamation or injuries incurred on the job or upon separation
from employment. The Parties understand and agree that
they are waiving and releasing any and all claims that they now
have or might claim to have against each other based on events up
to the Effective Date of this Agreement, regardless of their nature
or origin, and the fact that such claim is not listed above does
not mean it is not included in this release.
Severance Agreement, Waiver and
Release
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This release does
not preclude an action by either party to enforce the specific
terms of this Agreement. It does not preclude workers’
compensation claims, if any, that have already been filed or that
pertain to on-the-job injuries that have already been
reported. This release does not preclude claims for
benefits in which the Employee has become vested under the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act.
7.
ADEA Release; Effective Date . The Employee
acknowledges, understands, and agrees as follows:
a. He
has carefully read and fully understands all of the provisions of
this Agreement, including the release provisions.
b. He
knowingly and voluntarily agrees to all of the terms set forth in
this Agreement, and he intends to be legally bound by them.
c. Through
this Agreement, he is releasing the Company from any and all
claims, including claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment
Act (ADEA) and all other claims described above in
Paragraphs 5 and 6 that he may have against the Company
and the other persons described above.
d. He/she
understands that rights or claims under the ADEA that may arise
after the Effective Date of this Agreement are not waived.
e. He
has been advised to, and has had the opportunity to, consult with
an attorney before executing this Agreement.
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