6.4. No Assignment. Executive represents and warrants that he has made no assignment, and will make no assignment, of any claim, chose in action, right of action or any right of any kind whatsoever, embodied in any of the claims and allegations referred to herein, and that no other person or entity of any kind had or has any interest in any of the demands, obligations, actions, causes of action, debts, liabilities, rights, contracts, damages, attorneys' fees, costs, expenses, losses or claims referred to herein.
7. Withholding of Taxes; Tax Reporting. The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement all such federal, state, city and other taxes, and may file with appropriate governmental authorities all such information, returns or other reports with respect to the tax consequences of any amounts payable under this Agreement, as may, in its judgment, be required by law.
8. Internal Revenue Code Section 409A. This Agreement is intended to be exempt to the extent possible from the requirements of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A, including current and future guidance and regulations interpreting such provisions. To the extent that any provision of this Agreement fails to satisfy a requirement for such an exemption, the provision shall automatically be modified in a manner that, in the good-faith opinion of the Company, brings the provisions into compliance with such requirement while preserving as closely as possible the original intent of the provision and this Agreement. If it is determined by the Company that any payment under this Agreement is subject to the requirements of Code Section 409A notwithstanding the preceding sentences, then the provisions of the Agreement shall be automatically modified in such manner as brings the Agreement into compliance with such requirements. In particular, and without limiting the preceding sentence, while any stock of the Company is or is treated as publicly traded and Executive is a "specified employee" under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), then any payment under this Agreement that is treated as deferred compensation under Code Section 409A shall be delayed until the date which is six months after the date of separation from service (without interest or earnings).
9. Assignment of Agreement. Executive may not assign this Agreement. The Company shall be entitled to assign this Agreement to any successor in interest to its business. The Company will obtain an assumption of this Agreement by any successor or assign to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company (whether direct or indirect, by acquisition, merger, consolidation or otherwise), but the failure to obtain such assumption shall not prevent or delay such acquisition, merger, consolidation or other transaction or relieve the Company of its obligations under the Agreement. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the Company's successors and assigns, as well as Executive's heirs, executors, administrators, and legal representatives.
10. Severability. Should any portion, word, clause, phrase, sentence or paragraph of this Agreement be declared void or unenforceable, such portion shall be considered independent and severable from the remainder, the validity of which shall remain unaffected.
11. No Waiver. Failure to insist on compliance with any term, covenant or condition contained in this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of that term, covenant or condition, nor shall any waiver or relinquishment of any right or power contained in this Agreement at any one time or more times be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of any right or power at any other time or times.
12. Mutual Arbitration Agreement. To the fullest extent allowed by law, any controversy, claim or dispute between Executive and the Company (and/or any of its affiliated, subsidiary, or related entities, owners, directors, officers, employees, volunteers or agents) relating to or arising out of this Agreement or Executive's employment (or the cessation thereof), will be submitted to final and binding arbitration in Orange County, California, for determination in accordance with the American Arbitration Association's ("AAA") Employment Arbitration Rules as the exclusive remedy for such controversy, claim or dispute. In any such arbitration, the parties may conduct discovery to the same extent as would be
permitted in a court of law. The arbitrator shall issue a reasoned, written decision, and shall have full authority to award all remedies which would be available in court. The Company shall pay the arbitrator's fees and any AAA administrative expenses. Any judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Possible disputes covered by the above include (but are not limited to) unpaid wages, breach of contract (including this Agreement), torts, violation of public policy, discrimination, harassment, or any other employment-related claims under laws including, but not limited to, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans With Disabilities Act, the California Labor Code, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and any other statutes or laws relating to Executive's relationship with the Company regardless of whether such dispute is initiated by Executive or the Company. Thus, this bilateral arbitration agreement fully applies to any and all claims that the Company may have against Executive, including but not limited to claims for misappropriation of Company property, disclosure of proprietary information or trade secrets, interference with contracts, trade libel, gross negligence, or any other claim for alleged wrongful conduct or breach of the duty of loyalty. However, claims for workers' compensation benefits, unemployment insurance and those arising under the National Labor Relations Act (or any other claims where mandatory arbitration is prohibited by law) are not covered by this arbitration agreement, and such claims may be presented to the appropriate court or government agency. BY AGREEING TO THIS BINDING ARBITRATION PROVISION, BOTH EXECUTIVE AND THE COMPANY GIVE UP ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY. This arbitration agreement is to be construed as broadly as is permissible under applicable law.
13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and the counterparts signed in the aggregate shall constitute a single, original instrument.
14. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the documents referenced herein, contains the entire integrated agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and it supersedes any and all other agreements, either oral or in writing, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. Each party to this Agreement acknowledges that no representations, inducements, promises or agreements, written, oral or otherwise, have been made by any party, or anyone acting on behalf of any party, which are not embodied herein, and that no other agreement, statement or promise not contained in this Agreement shall be valid or binding, including but not limited to the parties' Severance Agreement dated May 15, 2007. This Agreement may not be modified or amended by oral agreement, but only by an agreement in writing signed by the Chairman of the Board of the Company and Executive.
15. Attorneys' Fees. In the event of any arbitration arising out of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the non-prevailing party its costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred in such arbitration.
16. Older Workers Benefit Protection Act Provisions. The Company advises Executive as follows: (a) this Agreement does not waive rights or claims that may arise after Executive executes it; (b) Executive has twenty-one (21) days to consider this Agreement and whether he will enter into it, although he may sign it sooner than that if he so desires; (c) Executive may revoke this Agreement at any time within seven (7) days after executing it; and (d) Executive should consult an attorney prior to executing this Agreement. This Agreement shall not become effective or enforceable until after the seven (7)-day revocation period has expired, without revocation by Executive ("Effective Date").
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Separation Agreement and General Release of Claims on the dates set forth hereinafter.
Dated: September 24, 2007 | /s/ Marc H. Nussbaum |
| MARC H. NUSSBAUM |
| |
| LANTRONIX, INC. |
| |
Dated: September 24, 2007 | By: /s/ H.K. Desai |
| H.K. DESAI |
| Chairman of the Board of Directors |
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