Exhibit 5.55
FIRST AMENDMENT TO
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This agreement, dated as of May 1, 2004, amends the Executive
Employment Agreement (the "Executive Agreement") made as of July 13, 1998,
between Fluent Inc., a Delaware corporation (formerly a New Hampshire
corporation), and Peter L. Christie. Except as otherwise provided, capitalized
terms have the meaning given to them in the Executive Agreement.
The parties desire to amend the Executive Agreement to extend the
Employment Period, subject to the provisions for early termination of the
Employment Period set forth in the Executive Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Amendment. The parties agree that:
(a) Paragraph 2 of the Executive Agreement shall be amended to read in its
entirety as follows:
2. TERM and COMMENCEMENT OF EMPLOYMENT. The term of employment under
the Agreement shall continue through and up to July 1, 2007 (the
"Term"), subject to prior termination in accordance with the terms
hereof.
(b) Paragraph 4 of the Executive Agreement shall be amended to add
subparagraph 4.3 as follows:
4.3 Without Cause or for Good Reason. For purposes of this agreement,
"good reason" means the occurrence, without Executive's consent, of
any of the following: (i) unless corrected within 15 days of written
notice by Executive to the Company's Board of Directors of Executive's
objection thereto, the assignment to the Executive of any significant
duties materially inconsistent with the Executive's status as an
officer of the Company or a substantial diminution in the nature of
the Executive's responsibilities or Executive's status; or (ii) a
reduction in the Executive's annual base salary as in effect on the
date of this Agreement, except for across-the-board salary reductions
similarly affecting all executives. In the event that Executive's
employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by Executive
for good reason, following such termination and upon execution by
Executive of a general release on employment matters in favor of the
Company, in form satisfactory to the Company, releasing any and all
claims, including claims for payments (other than those payments which
may be due under subparagraph 4.1 and 4.2) due to
Executive arising under or pursuant to this Agreement against the
Company as of the termination date, the Company shall pay Executive
his annual base salary (as in effect on the Termination Date until the
earlier of (i) the one year anniversary of the termination date and
(ii) July 1,2007. Each severance payment under this Agreement shall be
payable in accordance with the Company's normal payroll procedures and
cycles and shall be subject to withholding of applicable taxes and
governmental charges in accordance with federal and state law. After
payment of the severance amounts described in this subparagraph 4.3,
the Company shall have no obligation to make any further severance or
other payment to or on behalf of Executive except as otherwise
expressly contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the event that Executive shall breach any of Executive's
obligations under paragraphs 5 or 6 of this Agreement, then in
addition to any other rights that the Company may have under this
Agreement or otherwise, the Company shall be relieved from and shall
have no further obligation to pay Executive any amounts to which
Executive would otherwise be entitled pursuant to this paragraph 4.
2. General Provisions.
(a) Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this agreement shall
be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law,
but if any provision of this agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect
any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this agreement shall be
reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
(b) Complete Agreement. This agreement and those documents expressly
referred to herein embody the complete agreement and understanding among the
parties and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or
representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related
to the subject matter hereof in any way. The parties agree that all terms,
conditions and provisions of the Executive Agreement are hereby reaffirmed and
continued in full force and effect and shall remain unaffected and unchanged,
except as specifically amended by this agreement.
(c) Counterparts. This agreement may be executed in separate counterparts,
each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together
constitute one and the same agreement.
(d) Governing Law. All questions concerning the constriction, validity and
interpretation of this agreement will be governed by the internal law, and not
the law of conflicts, of the State of New Hampshire.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this agreement on the
date first written above.
FLUENT INC.
/s/ John W. Mitchell
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By: John W. Mitchell
Its: Vice President
/s/ Peter L. Christie
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Peter L. Christie
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