nonoccurrence from the beginning of time to the date you sign this Agreement, including but not limited to claims that arise out of or in any way relate to your hiring, employment and/or separation from employment with the Company. You agree that this general release includes but is not limited to: claims for salary, bonuses, compensation, severance and separation pay, wages, penalties, premiums, vacation pay, or any benefits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; claims for breach of implied or express employment contracts or covenants, defamation, wrongful separation, public policy violations, emotional distress and related matters, attorney’s fees, discrimination or harassment under federal, state or local laws; and claims based on any federal, state or other statute, regulation or ordinance, including but not limited to 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 (“ADEA”), as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. You expressly acknowledge that this Agreement resolves all legal claims you may have against the Company and the Releasees as of the date you sign this Agreement, including but not limited to claims that you did not know or suspect to exist in your favor at the time you sign this Agreement.
Excluded from the general release above are any claims or rights which cannot be waived by law, including but not limited to, claims arising after the date you sign this Agreement and the right to file a charge of discrimination with, or participate in an investigation conducted by, a government agency such as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”). You understand and agree, however, that you are waiving your right to recover money or other relief in connection with such a charge, whether filed by you or any other individual or entity. You and the Company otherwise intend the general release above to be general and comprehensive in nature and to release all claims and potential claims by you to the maximum extent permitted by law.
5. Covenant Not to Sue. You represent and warrant that you have not filed or otherwise initiated any lawsuit, arbitration proceeding, or other action in any forum with any court or entity or forum relating to any claims released by you under this Agreement, and that you shall never file or initiate any such lawsuit, arbitration proceeding or other action in any form or forum relating to any claims released herein. However, this paragraph shall not apply to any claim or action by you to enforce this Agreement or to challenge its validity under the ADEA. If you violate this paragraph, you shall pay all legal expenses and costs, including reasonable attorney’s fees, incurred by any Releasee in defending against your suit. Alternatively, if you violate this paragraph, the Company at its option, may require you to return all monies and other benefits and consideration provided to you under this Agreement, except for $1,000. In that event, the Company shall be excused from making any further payments, continuing any other benefits, or providing other consideration otherwise owed under this Agreement.
6. Restrictive Covenants.
(a) Continuing Obligations. You acknowledge and re-affirm your continuing obligations under any non- disclosure, confidentiality, intellectual property, non-solicitation and/or noncompetition agreement you previously signed pertaining to the Company’s interests, which agreement is hereby incorporated and made a part of this Agreement as Attachment A (if any).
7. Return of Company Property. You agree to return to the Company in good working order and no later than your Separation Date all keys, files, records (and copies thereof), equipment (including but not limited to computer hardware, software and printers, wireless handheld devices, cellular phones, SIM cards, external media devices and pagers), Company identification, Company vehicles, Company confidential and proprietary information, and any other Company- owned property in your possession or control. You represent and agree that you have left and will leave intact all electronic Company documents, including, but not limited to any that you developed or helped to develop during your employment. You further represent and warrant that you have returned any and all Company proprietary, trade secret and confidential information, whether in hard copy or electronic form and that you have cancelled any accounts for your benefit in the Company’s name, including but not limited to credit cards, telephone charge cards, cellular phone and/or pager accounts.
8. Non-Disparagement. You agree that as a condition of the consideration provided in this Agreement, you shall not make any false, disparaging or derogatory statements to any media outlet, industry group, financial institution, current or former employee, consultant, client, supplier, investor or customer of the Company or any other entity or third person regarding the Company or any other Releasee about the business affairs or financial condition of the Company or any
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