to submit additional information in connection with an appeal from the denial (or deemed denial) of benefits to do so at the applicant’s own expense.
(f)Exhaustion of Remedies. No legal action for benefits under this Plan may be brought until the claimant (i) has submitted a written application for benefits in accordance with the procedures described by Section 15(a) above, (ii) has been notified by the Plan Administrator that the application is denied (or the application is deemed denied due to the Plan Administrator’s failure to act on it within the established time period), (iii) has filed a written request for a review of the application in accordance with the appeal procedure described in Section 15(c) above and (iv) has been notified in writing that the Plan Administrator has denied the appeal (or the appeal is deemed to be denied due to the Plan Administrator’s failure to take any action on the claim within the time prescribed by Section 15(d) above).
16.Indemnification. To the extent permitted by law, the Plan Administrator and all employees, officers, directors, agents and representatives of the Company shall be indemnified by the Company and held harmless against any claims and all associated expenses of defending against such claims, resulting from any action or conduct relating to the administration of this Plan, whether as a member of the Committee or otherwise, except to the extent that such claims arise from gross negligence, willful neglect, or willful misconduct. The Company shall advance all expenses for which a party is indemnified under this Section 17 to such indemnified party or shall arrange for direct payment of any such expenses by the Company.
17.Plan Not an Employment Contract. This Plan is not a contract between the Company and any employee, nor is it a condition of employment of any employee. Nothing contained in this Plan gives, or is intended to give, any employee the right to be retained in the service of the Company, or to interfere with the right of the Company to discharge or terminate the employment of any employee at any time and for any reason. No employee shall have the right or claim to benefits beyond those expressly provided in this Plan, if any. All rights and claims are limited as set forth in this Plan.
18.Severability. In case any one or more of the provisions of this Plan (or part thereof) shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the other provisions hereof, and this Plan shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions (or part thereof) never had been contained herein.
19.Non Assignability. No right or interest of any Participant in this Plan shall be assignable or transferable in whole or in part either directly or by operation of law or otherwise, including, but not limited to, execution, levy, garnishment, attachment, pledge or bankruptcy.
20.Integration With Other Pay or Benefits Requirements. The severance payments and benefits provided for in this Plan are the maximum benefits that the Company will pay to Participants on a termination of employment, except to the extent otherwise required by applicable law. To the extent that any federal, state or local law, including, without limitation, so called “plant closing” laws, requires the Company to give advance notice or make a payment of any kind to an employee because of that employee’s involuntary termination due to a layoff, reduction in force, plant or facility closing, sale of business, or similar event, the benefits provided under this Plan or the other arrangement shall either be reduced or eliminated to avoid any duplication of payment. The Company intends for the benefits provided under this Plan to partially or fully satisfy any and all statutory obligations that may arise out of an employee’s involuntary termination for the foregoing reasons and the Company shall so construe and implement the terms of this Plan.
21.Amendment or Termination. The Board may amend, modify, or terminate this Plan at any time in its sole discretion; provided, however, that: (a) no such amendment, modification or termination