Knowing and Voluntary Waiver Employee, by Employee’s free and voluntary act of signing below, (i) acknowledges that Employee has been given a period of twenty-one (21) days to consider whether to agree to the terms contained herein, (ii) acknowledges that Employee has been advised to consult with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement, (iii) acknowledges that Employee understands that this Agreement specifically releases and waives all rights and claims Employee may have under the ADEA, prior to the date on which Employee signs this Agreement, and (iv) agrees to all of the terms of this Agreement and intends to be legally bound thereby. The Parties acknowledge and agree that each Party has reviewed and negotiated the terms and provisions of this Agreement and has contributed to its preparation (with advice of counsel). Accordingly, the rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement. Rather, the terms of this Agreement shall be construed fairly as to both Parties and not in favor of or against either Party, regardless of which Party generally was responsible for the preparation of this Agreement. This Agreement will become effective, enforceable and irrevocable on the eighth day after the date on which it is executed by Employee (the “Effective Date”). During the seven-day period prior to the Effective Date, Employee may revoke Employee’s agreement to accept the terms hereof by giving notice to Matador of Employee’s intention to revoke. If Employee exercises Employee’s right to revoke hereunder, Employee shall not be entitled, except as required by applicable wage payment laws, including but not limited to the Accrued Obligations, to any payment hereunder until Employee executes and does not revoke a comparable release of claims, and to the extent such payments or benefits have already been made, Employee agrees that Employee will immediately reimburse Matador for the amounts of such payments and benefits to which he is not entitled.
Knowing and Voluntary Execution Each of the parties hereto has carefully read and considered all of the terms of this Agreement. Each of the parties has freely, willing and knowingly entered into this Agreement with the intent to be bound by it.
Knowing and Voluntary Agreement Employee represents and agrees that he has read this Agreement, understands its terms, and that he has the right to consult counsel of choice and has either done so or knowingly waives the right to do so. Employee also represents that he has had ample time to read and understand the Agreement before executing it and that he enters into this Agreement without duress or coercion from any source. * * * * *
Execution Knowing and Voluntary In executing this Agreement, the parties severally acknowledge and represent that each: (a) has fully and carefully read and considered this Agreement; (b) has been or has had the opportunity to be fully apprized by its attorneys of the legal effect and meaning of this document and all terms and conditions hereof; (c) is executing this Agreement voluntarily, free from any influence, coercion or duress of any kind.
General Waiver and Release For and in consideration of the agreement of the Company to provide Executive the Severance Payment described in the Amended and Restated Change in Control Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2008, among Executive and the Company (the “Agreement”), Executive, with the intention of binding himself and all of his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, does hereby release, remise, acquit and forever discharge the Company, and all of its respective past and present officers, directors, stockholders, employees, agents, parent corporations, predecessors, subsidiaries, affiliates, estates, successors, assigns and attorneys (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Released Parties”) from any and all claims, charges, actions, causes of action, sums of money due, suits, debts, covenants, contracts, agreements, rights, damages, promises, demands or liabilities (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Claims”) whatsoever, in law or in equity, whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, which Executive, individually or as a member of any class, now has, owns or holds or has at any time heretofore ever had, owned or held against the Released Parties including, but not limited to, Claims arising out of or in any way connected with Executive’s employment with the Company or any of the Released Parties or the termination of any such employment relationship, including, but not limited to, Claims pursuant to Federal, state or local statute, regulation, ordinance or common-law for (i) employment discrimination; (ii) wrongful discharge; (iii) breach of contract; (iv) tort actions of any type, including those for intentional or negligent infliction of emotional harm; and (v) unpaid benefits, wages, compensation, commissions, bonuses or incentive payments of any type (excluding amounts which have been earned but have not been paid on the release date), except as follows:
Severance and Validity The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
Knowing and Voluntary Executive represents and agrees that, prior to signing this Agreement, Executive had the opportunity to discuss the terms of this Agreement with legal counsel of Executive’s choosing. Executive further represents and agrees that Executive is entering into this Agreement knowingly and voluntarily. Executive affirms that no promise was made to cause Executive to enter into this Agreement, other than what is promised in this Agreement. Executive further confirms that Executive has not relied upon any other statement or representation by anyone other than what is in this Agreement as a basis for Executive’s agreement.
General Release of Claims by Executive (a) Executive, on behalf of himself or herself and his or her executors, heirs, administrators, representatives and assigns, hereby agrees to release and forever discharge the Company and all predecessors, successors and their respective parent corporations, affiliates, related, and/or subsidiary entities, and all of their past and present investors, directors, shareholders, officers, general or limited partners, employees, attorneys, agents and representatives, and the employee benefit plans in which Executive is or has been a participant by virtue of his or her employment with or service to the Company (collectively, the “Company Releasees”), from any and all claims, debts, demands, accounts, judgments, rights, causes of action, equitable relief, damages, costs, charges, complaints, obligations, promises, agreements, controversies, suits, expenses, compensation, responsibility and liability of every kind and character whatsoever (including attorneys’ fees and costs), whether in law or equity, known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, suspected or unsuspected (collectively, “Claims”), which Executive has or may have had against such entities based on any events or circumstances arising or occurring on or prior to the date hereof or on or prior to the date hereof, arising directly or indirectly out of, relating to, or in any other way involving in any manner whatsoever Executive’s employment by or service to the Company or the termination thereof, including any and all claims arising under federal, state, or local laws relating to employment, including without limitation claims of wrongful discharge, breach of express or implied contract, fraud, misrepresentation, defamation, or liability in tort, and claims of any kind that may be brought in any court or administrative agency including, without limitation, claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 2000, et seq.; the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq.; the Civil Rights Act of 1866, and the Civil Rights Act of 1991; 42 U.S.C. Section 1981, et seq.; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C. Section 621, et seq. (the “ADEA”); the Equal Pay Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C. Section 206(d); regulations of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance, 41 C.F.R. Section 60, et seq.; the Family and Medical Leave Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.; the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq.; and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, California Government Code Section 12940, et seq. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, Executive does not release the following claims:
Release of Claims by Executive (a) Pursuant to Section 11(h) of the Employment Agreement, Executive, with the intention of binding himself and his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns (collectively, and together with Executive, the “Executive Releasors”), hereby releases, remises, acquits and forever discharges the Company and each of its subsidiaries and affiliates (the “Company Affiliated Group”), and their past and present directors, employees, agents, attorneys, accountants, representatives, plan fiduciaries, and the successors, predecessors and assigns of each of the foregoing (collectively, and together with the members of the Company Affiliated Group, the “Company Released Parties”), of and from any and all claims, actions, causes of action, complaints, charges, demands, rights, damages, debts, sums of money, accounts, financial obligations, suits, expenses, attorneys’ fees and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in law, equity or otherwise, whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise and whether now known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, that arise out of, or relate in any way to, events occurring on or before the date hereof relating to Executive’s employment or the termination of such employment (collectively, “Released Claims”) and that Executive, individually or as a member of a class, now has, owns or holds, or has at any time heretofore had, owned or held, against any Company Released Party in any capacity, including any and all Released Claims (i) arising out of or in any way connected with Executive’s service to any member of the Company Affiliated Group (or the predecessors thereof) in any capacity (including as an employee, officer or director), or the termination of such service in any such capacity, (ii) for severance or vacation benefits, unpaid wages, salary or incentive payments, (iii) for breach of contract, wrongful discharge, impairment of economic opportunity, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional harm or other tort, (iv) for any violation of applicable federal, state and local labor and employment laws (including all laws concerning unlawful and unfair labor and employment practices) and (v) for employment discrimination under any applicable federal, state or local statute, provision, order or regulation, and including, without limitation, any claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) and any similar or analogous state statute, excepting only that no claim in respect of any of the following rights shall constitute a Released Claim:
Complete and Voluntary Agreement This Agreement, together with Exhibit A hereto and the Stock Option Agreements, constitute the entire agreement between you and Releasees with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior negotiations and agreements, whether written or oral, relating to such subject matter. You acknowledge that neither Releasees nor their agents or attorneys have made any promise, representation or warranty whatsoever, either express or implied, written or oral, which is not contained in this Agreement for the purpose of inducing you to execute the Agreement, and you acknowledge that you have executed this Agreement in reliance only upon such promises, representations and warranties as are contained herein, and that you are executing this Agreement voluntarily, free of any duress or coercion.
