| | 2. | Except as provided in paragraph 4 below, I knowingly and voluntarily release and forever discharge Employer and the other Released Parties of and from any and all claims, controversies, suits, rights, interests, losses, debts, actions, causes of action, claims, counter-claims, demands, charges, debts, obligations, compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive or exemplary damages, other damages, claims for costs and attorneys’ fees, or liabilities of any nature whatsoever in law and in equity, both past and present (through the date of this General Release) and whether known, unknown, suspected or unsuspected, or whether or not heretofore brought before any state or federal court or before any state or federal agency or other governmental entity, which I, my spouse, or any of my heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, has or may have against Employer or any of the Released Parties, by reason of any and all acts, omissions, events or facts occurring or existing prior to or on the date I sign this General Release. The claims in the preceding sentence include, without limitation, all claims relating to or arising out of my service with Employer or the termination thereof; any and all claims arising under any contract of employment or service, whether express or implied; and any and all claims arising under any provision of the Constitutions of the United States, the State of Louisiana or of any other state; any and all claims arising under any anti-discrimination statute including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (including the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act) and any state laws that prohibit discrimination in employment based on certain protected categories including race, color, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, age or sex; any claims arising under other statutes and laws including the Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Civil Rights Act of 1866, as amended; the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974; the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Fair Credit Reporting Act; the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; any applicable Executive Order Programs; or their state or local counterparts; or under any other federal, state or local civil or human rights law whether based on statute, regulation, ordinance, or otherwise; or under any public policy, contract or tort, or under common law, in equity or otherwise; or arising under any policies, practices or procedures of Employer; or any claim for wrongful discharge, breach of contract, physical or personal injury, infliction of emotional distress, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, libel, slander, defamation, other torts; or any claim for interests, penalties, costs, fees, or other expenses, including attorneys’ fees incurred in these matters) (all of the foregoing in this paragraph 2 collectively referred to herein as the “Released Claims”). |
