Article 16.Resolution of Disputes.
Any disputes arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be resolved by third party mediation of the dispute and, failing that, by binding arbitration, to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, in accordance with the rules and procedures of the American Arbitration Association. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The Company will pay the direct costs and expenses of such arbitration. The Company will also reimburse the Executive for reasonable fees and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, incurred by the Executive in connection with such arbitration, such reimbursement to be made monthly as such fees and expenses are incurred. In the event the Executive does not prevail at arbitration, however, the Executive willre-pay to the Company any and all expenses and fees previously reimbursed by the Company under this Article 16.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article 16, the Parties agree that in the event of any dispute between the Executive and the Company as to any of the Executive’s obligations under Articles 12, 13, or 14, then the arbitration requirements of this Article 16 shall not apply, and that instead, the Parties must seek relief as to that dispute in a court of general jurisdiction in the State of Nevada to be docketed, if available, on the commercial docket of that court. The Parties hereby consent to the exclusive specific and general jurisdiction of such court. The Executive hereby agrees that, by virtue of his work for the Company, he has purposely availed himself of the benefits and protections of the laws of the State of Nevada. In addition, in connection with any such court action, the Executive acknowledges and agrees that the remedy at law available to the Company for breach by the Executive of any of his obligations under Articles 12, 13, or 14 of this Agreement would be inadequate and that damages flowing from such a breach would not readily be susceptible to being measured in monetary terms. Accordingly, the Executive acknowledges, consents and agrees that, in addition to any other rights or remedies which the Company may have at law, in equity or under this Agreement, upon adequate proof of the Executive’s violation of any provision of Articles 12, 13, or 14 of this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to immediate injunctive relief and may obtain a temporary order restraining any threatened or further breach, without the necessity of proof of actual damage. For purposes of clarity, each Party shall bear his or its own costs and expenses in connection with any such litigation, unless such costs and expenses are awarded to a Party by the court in such litigation.
Article 17.Assignability; Binding Nature.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor to the Company, including without limitation any persons acquiring directly or indirectly all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise (and such successor shall thereafter be deemed the “Company” for the purposes of this Agreement), but shall not otherwise be assignable, transferable or delegable by the Company.
The Company shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. No rights or obligations of the Executive under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by the Executive other than his rights to compensation and benefits, which may be transferred only by will or operation of law. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees and/or legatees. This Agreement is personal in nature and neither of the parties hereto shall, without the consent of the other, assign, transfer or delegate this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder except as expressly provided in Article 17 hereof. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Executive’s right to receive payments hereunder shall not be assignable, transferable or delegable, whether by pledge, creation of a security interest or otherwise, other than by a transfer by his will or by the laws of descent and distribution and, in the event of any attempted assignment or transfer contrary to this Article 17, the Company shall have no liability to pay any amount so attempted to be assigned, transferred or delegated.
12