Exhibit 10.37
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
THIS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT(the “Agreement”), made on this 19th day of November 2009, by and between Armistead Mechanical, Inc. (“Armistead”), its predecessors, successors, assigns, parents, subsidiaries, divisions, and/or affiliates (whether incorporated or unincorporated), and all of the past and present directors, officers, shareholders, trustees, attorneys, employees, and agents or each, and Converted Organics, Inc., its predecessors, successors, assigns, parents, subsidiaries, divisions, and/or affiliates (whether incorporated or unincorporated), and all of the past and present directors, officers, shareholders, trustees, attorneys, employees, and agents or each and Converted Organics of Woodbridge, LLC its predecessors, successors, assigns, parents, subsidiaries, divisions, and/or affiliates (whether incorporated or unincorporated), and all of the past and present directors, officers, shareholders, trustees, attorneys, employees, and agents or each (Converted Organics, Inc. and Converted Organics of Woodbridge, LLC are collectively referred to as “COI”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS,Armistead is a New Jersey corporation with its principal place of business at 168 Hopper Ave., Waldwick, New Jersey and
WHEREAS,Converted Organics, Inc. is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts having an address at 7A Commercial Wharf West, Boston, Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS,Converted Organics of Woodbridge, LLC is a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Jersey maintaining an address at 99 Madison Ave., Fanwood, New Jersey, and having a principal place of business located at 75 Crows Mill Road, Keasbey, New Jersey; and
WHEREAS,Armistead and COI entered into an agreement captioned “Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Contractor Dated November 30, 2006 AIA A101/CMa (1992 Edition) Between Armistead Mechanical, Inc. and Converted Organics of Woodbridge, LLC” and the “Rider and Supplementary Conditions” dated January 10, 2007 (collectively hereinafter referred to as the “Contract”), for Armistead to perform certain work including the process equipment, piping and infrastructure work at 75 Crows Mill Road, Keasbey, New Jersey (the “Property”); and
WHEREAS,on or about February 26, 2009, Armistead filed a Construction Lien Claim (the “Lien Claim”) against the leasehold interest of COI with references to the above obligations and the subject Property in the amount of $2,295,463.60. The lien was duly recorded by the Middlesex County Clerk in Book 36, page 651; and
WHEREAS,Armistead and COI engaged in a litigation captionedArmistead Mechanical, Inc. v. Converted Organics, Inc., et al, bearing the docket number MID-L-4504-09 (the “Litigation”) regarding certain work, services, materials or equipment provided by Armistead for the benefit of COI; and
WHEREAS,Armistead filed a Demand for Arbitration with the American Arbitration
Association on or about May 26, 2009, and an Amended Demand for Arbitration on or about August 6, 2009 (collectively the “AAA Demand”) regarding the contract balance due and owing under the Contract; and
WHEREAS,it is agreed that Armistead and COI (the “Parties”) have acted in a good faith, honest, fair and reasonable manner in resolving the Litigation; and
WHEREAS,the Parties, without making any admissions of any kind, desire to settle, and compromise all claims that were or could have been asserted by them with regard to the Litigation; and
WHEREAS,by doing so, the Parties seek to avoid further legal expense and the possibility of protracted legal proceedings with respect to the Litigation; and
NOW, THEREFORE,the Parties, for good and sufficient consideration, the sufficiency of which is acknowledged, hereby agree as follows:
| 1. | | COI unconditionally accepts Armistead’s work under the Contract and acknowledges and confirms herein its $2,029,000.00 obligation (the “Obligation”) owed to Armistead, and that defenses to the payment of same are hereby waived. The Parties agree that payment of the Obligation shall be as follows: |
| a. | | $1,000,000.00 (the “First Payment”) of the Obligation will be paid in cash forthwith at closing. Payment of this sum is not subject to any other conditions. Within ten (10) days of Armistead’s receipt of the First Payment it will cause to be filed and recorded an amendment to the Lien Claim reducing the amount of the Lien Claim to $1,029,000.00. |
|
| b. | | The sum of $1,029,000.00 shall be payable to Armistead in eighteen (18) level monthly payments of principal and interest calculated at 6% per annum in accordance with the amortization table attached hereto as Exhibit “A” and made a part hereof. The initial monthly payment shall be due on or before January 1, 2010, and the remaining monthly payments shall be due on the first of every month thereafter until same is paid in full. |
| 2. | | COI shall make all of the payments to Armistead as set forth in this agreement by wire transfer or check payable to “Armistead Mechanical, Inc.” and mailing or delivering same, in sufficient time to be received on or before the due dates thereof to: Armistead Mechanical, Inc., 168 Hopper Ave., Waldwick, New Jersey 07463, Attn: Robert P. Armistead, Chief Financial Officer. |
|
| 3. | | COI agrees to execute and consents to the entry of a Consent Judgment in favor of Armistead and against COI in the sum of $1,029,000.00 in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit “B”. The Parties agree that the amount due pursuant to the Consent Judgment at any time shall be calculated in accordance with Exhibit “A” and that interest shall accrue at 6% per annum on the unpaid principal indicated on Exhibit “A” at such time as Armistead shall enforce the Consent Judgment. |