EXHIBIT 10.2
Published on July 24, 2007
Exhibit 10.2
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is entered into as of July 18, 2007, by and
between Save the World Air, Inc, a Nevada corporation (the Company), whose address is 5125
Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, California 91601, and Charles Blum (Executive), an
individual, whose address is 1505 Upland Hills Drive North, Upland, California 91784, with
reference to the following:
RECITALS
A. Executive has certain technical knowledge, skills and abilities pertaining to the business
in which the Company engages.
B. The Company wishes to employ Executive as its President and Chief Executive Officer, and
Executive wishes to accept employment with the Company, all on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
Accordingly, the parties agree as follows:
1. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM. Unless sooner terminated as provided in this Agreement,
including as a result of the Companys early termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 4
below, the Company shall employ Executive for an initial term commencing on a date to be agreed
between the parties but not later than August 1, 2007 (the Effective Date) and continuing
thereafter until the close of business on the day immediately preceding the first anniversary of
the Effective Date. Thereafter, this Agreement shall be renewed for successive one year periods
unless either party shall give written notice to the other, not later than April 30 of the
then-current year of the Term that this Agreement shall not be renewed (the Expiration Date).
This Agreement shall in all respects terminate on the Expiration Date, except for those obligations
of either party that are expressly stated to continue after such time or by nature will continue
after such time. The period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the earlier of the
Expiration Date or the date Executives employment under this Agreement actually terminates is
referred to as the Term.
2. POSITION AND DUTIES.
2.1 General Duties. Executive shall serve as the Companys President and Chief
Executive Officer, and in such capacity shall be one of the Companys senior executive officers.
Executives duties shall be consistent with such position. In carrying out his duties, Executive
shall use Executives best efforts, skills, judgment and abilities, and shall at all times promote
the Companys interests and perform and discharge well and faithfully, those duties. Executive
shall report directly to the Companys Board of Directors. In acting on the Companys behalf,
Executive shall observe and be governed by all of the Companys rules and policies, In addition,
Executive shall abide by all of the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and
adhere to the policies and requests of the Company with respect thereto, as the same may exist from
time to time, applicable to executive officers of public companies.
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2.2 Full-Time Employment. At all times during the Term, Executive shall devote
Executives entire business time, attention and energies to the Companys business, and shall
furnish services for the Company and for its subsidiaries, affiliates and divisions. During the
Term, Executive shall not engage in any activity that would materially interfere with or adversely
affect Executives performance of Executives duties under this Agreement or which could reasonably
be expected to be competitive with or adverse to the business of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, affiliates or divisions.
2.3 Place of Performance. In connection with Executives employment under this
Agreement, Executive shall be based at the Companys offices where the same are from time to time
located during the term of this Agreement, and which are, on the date hereof, in North Hollywood,
California.
3. COMPENSATION.
3.1 Compensation. Compensation means the Base Salary (as defined below) and bonus,
if any, pursuant to this Section 3.
3.2 Base Salary. For all services rendered pursuant to this Agreement to the Company
and any of its subsidiaries and affiliates, commencing on the Effective Date Executive shall
receive a base salary (as may be adjusted from time to time, the Base Salary) of $200,000 per
year. On or prior to each anniversary of the Effective Date, the Companys Board of Directors, or
the appropriate committee thereof, shall review the performance of the Executive hereunder and
shall consider whether or not to alter the Base Salary; provided that the Base Salary shall not be
reduced unless such reduction is in proportion to, and on all of the other terms and conditions
promulgated in connection with, a reduction in salaries paid to other senior executives of the
Company generally.
3.3 Bonus. Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual cash bonus in an amount
equal to 2% of the Companys net profit, if any, for its most recently completed fiscal year,
computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied consistently with
prior periods. The bonus shall be payable, if at all, on the anniversary date of employment of
each year of the term; provided that no bonus shall be payable if the Executive is not, on such
payment date, in the employ of the Company.
3.4 Benefits. Executive shall be eligible to receive employee benefits
during the Term, at such times and on such terms and conditions as such benefits are made available
to the senior employees of the Company generally. In addition, Executive shall receive paid
vacation of four weeks per year. Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Companys stock
option plan as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the
Compensation Committee) in its sole, full and absolute discretion, such participation to be in
addition to the stock option grant provided for pursuant to Section 3.7 below. The Company shall
provide to the Executive an unaccountable monthly automobile allowance of $900.00, which amount
shall be payable on the last day of each month during the Term. Notwithstanding the provisions of
the first sentence of this Section 3.4, the Executive may elect not to participate in any group
health insurance plan which may be offered to employees of the Company. If the
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Executive elects not to participate in such group health insurance plan, the Executive shall be
paid on the last day of each month during the Term the lesser of (i) the premium the Company would
have paid to include the Executive as a participant in the Companys group health insurance plan
and (ii) the sums paid by the Executive in connection with maintaining private health insurance for
the Executive.
3.5 Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable and ordinary
expenses determined in the Companys sole discretion that Executive incurs or pays during the Term
in performing Executives services under this Agreement. Ordinary expenses reimbursable to the
Executive pursuant to this Section 3.5 shall include the reasonable costs paid by the Executive for
maintaining dsl Internet access and other direct costs of maintaining an office at the home of the
Executive, but only until such time as the Company shall provide to the Executive an office at a
location reasonably acceptable to the Executive. The Company shall, however, be required to make
any such reimbursement only after Executive presents appropriate written expense statements,
vouchers or such other supporting information in accordance with the Companys reimbursement
policies, as the Company may adopt from time to time. The Company shall notify Executive of any
dispute with respect to any such expenses within three months of any request for reimbursement or
the expense shall be classified as non-recoverable. Reimbursements shall be in arrears unless other
arrangements are made in advance.
3.6 Payment of Compensation. All Compensation and other amounts payable to Executive
under this Agreement, whether for a period during or after the Term, shall be paid in such
installments and on such schedule as the Company may from time to time implement for general
payroll purposes, provided that the Base Salary shall be paid at least monthly. Any Base Salary
required to be paid to Executive upon a termination of Executives employment in excess of amounts
accrued through the Date of Termination (as defined in Section 4.1.1 below) shall be paid in the
same manner that Base Salary is paid during the Term, but not more than 30 days from the Date of
Termination. Any payments made by the Company shall be designated by the Company as applied towards
base compensation, bonus payment or other remuneration as the case may be. Any payments made prior
to the effective date of this Agreement shall not be applied to any calculations called for in this
Agreement.
3.7
Stock Option Grant. Subject to the final decision of
the Compensation Committee and on terms and subject to conditions
provided for by the Companys then-current Stock Option Plan,
the Company will use its reasonable efforts to cause to be granted to Executive:
(i) an option (the Initial Option) to purchase a number of shares (the Initial Option
Shares) of the Companys common stock equal to the result of (A) 100,000 divided by (B) the
closing bid price per share of the Companys Common Stock on the Effective Date. The Initial Option shall be an incentive stock option, shall be
exercisable at the closing price per share on the Effective Date, shall be exercisable for
ten years from the date of grant and shall vest on the first anniversary of the Effective Date; and
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(ii) an option (the Supplemental Option) to purchase a number of shares (the Supplemental
Option Shares) of the Companys common stock equal to the result of (A) 100,000 divided by (B) the
closing price per share of the Companys Common Stock first
anniversary of the Effective Date. The Supplemental Option shall be an incentive stock option,
shall be exercisable at the closing price per share on the first anniversary of the Effective Date,
shall be exercisable for ten years from the date of grant and shall vest on the second anniversary
of the Effective Date.
Consistent with the foregoing, the precise terms and conditions of the agreements evidencing
the Initial Option and the Supplemental Option (each, a Stock Option Agreement) to be entered
into between the Company and the Executive shall be as determined by the Board of Directors and/or
the Compensation Committee. Each Stock Option Agreement and each stock certificate evidencing any
Initial Option Shares or any Supplemental Option Shares shall bear a legend substantially in the
following form:
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED,
OR QUALIFIED FOR SALE UNDER ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS (COLLECTIVELY, SECURITIES LAWS)
AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS
REGISTERED OR QUALIFIED FOR SALE UNDER ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OR UNLESS, IN THE
OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER, IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE
ISSUER, ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR OTHER TRANSFER IS EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION OR
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH SECURITIES LAWS.
4. TERMINATION AND COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION.
4.1 Definitions.
4.1.1 Date of Termination has the following meaning: (a) in the case of a termination of
Executives employment pursuant to this Agreement due to Executives death or Disability (as
defined below), the date Executive dies or the date on which it is determined that Executive has
suffered a Disability, as applicable; and (b) in the case of any other termination of Executives
employment pursuant to this Agreement, the date specified for termination of Executives employment
in the Notice of Termination (as defined below), provided that the date specified shall be no
earlier than the time the Notice of Termination is delivered.
4.1.2 Notice of Termination means a written document delivered by the party terminating this
Agreement to the other party that specifies (i) the section of this Agreement pursuant to which
termination is being made and (ii) (the Date of Termination.
4.2 Effectiveness of Termination. Termination of Executives employment, for any
reason, shall be effective upon the Date of Termination.
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4.3 Death. Upon Executives death, this Agreement shall automatically forever
terminate.
4.4 Disability. The Company may, acting in its sole and absolute discretion, terminate
Executives employment under this Agreement because of Executives Disability by delivering to
Executive of a Notice of Termination, which termination shall be effective 30 days after delivery
of such Notice of Termination. For purposes of this Agreement, Disability means Executives
physical or mental incapacity or illness rendering Executive unable to perform Executives duties
under this Agreement on a long-term basis (i) as evidenced by Executives failure or inability to
perform Executives duties under this Agreement for a total of 90 days in any 360 day period, or
(ii) as determined by an independent and licensed physician whom the Company selects, or (iii) as
determined without recourse by the Companys disability insurance carrier, if any.
4.5 Termination by Company Without Cause. The Company may, acting in its sole and
absolute discretion, at any time terminate Executives employment under this Agreement, upon no
notice without Cause (as defined below), or for any reason whatsoever or for no reason, by
delivering to Executive a Notice of Termination.
4.6 Termination for Cause. The Company may at any time terminate Executives
employment for Cause by delivering to Executive a Notice of Termination. For purposes of this
Agreement, Cause means that the Company, reasonably and in good faith, forms the belief that
Executive has (i) committed any act or omission constituting a material breach of this Agreement;
(ii) engaged in gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with the Companys business;
(iii) been convicted of, or plead guilty or nolo contendre in connection with, fraud or any crime
that constitutes a felony or that involves moral turpitude or theft; or (iv) undertaken any act
injurious to the Companys business, including insubordination or failure to follow a directive of
any of Executives superiors.
4.7 Voluntary Termination. Executive may terminate Executives employment with the
Company at any time, for any reason whatsoever, by giving the Company a Notice of Termination,
which termination shall be effective on the sooner of (i) 30 days after delivery of such Notice of
Termination or (ii) the Companys notice to the Executive that it has accepted the Notice of
Termination delivered by the Executive.
4.8 Involuntary Termination. The Company may terminate this Agreement in conjunction
with a Change of Control, merger, acquisition, bankruptcy or dissolution of the Company. The
Company shall pay Executive the amounts provided for in Section 4.9 below upon any termination
pursuant to this Section 4.8. For purposes of this Agreement, Change of Control means the
occurrence of one or more of the following events:
(i) the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another
entity or any other corporate reorganization, if more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined
voting power of the continuing or surviving entitys securities outstanding immediately after
such merger, consolidation or other reorganization is owned by persons who were not
stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or other
reorganization; or
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(ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Companys
assets.
4.9 Payment Upon Termination. If Executives employment under this Agreement is
terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 4.8, Executive shall be entitled to receive (i) all
Compensation that has accrued through the Date of Termination, plus (ii) a severance payment equal
to one years Compensation, plus the Executive shall be entitled to continue to participate in the
Companys employee benefit programs offered to other senior management employees of the Company for
a period of 12 months following the Date of Termination; provided, however, that if
at any time while the Company is required to pay severance to Executive pursuant to clause (ii) of
this paragraph any event occurs that would cause the termination of Executives employment (for
example, Executive dies) or give rise to the right of the Company to terminate this Agreement for
Cause or due to Executives Disability were Executive still employed pursuant to this Agreement,
then the Companys obligation to pay such severance shall thereupon immediately terminate. If
Executives employment under this Agreement is terminated for any other reason except for
termination pursuant to Section 4.8, Executive (or in the case of Executives death, Executives
estate or other legal representative) shall only be entitled to receive the Compensation accrued
through the Date of Termination.
4.10 Effect of Termination. The amounts payable to Executive pursuant to Section 4.9
upon a termination of Executives employment shall upon payment constitute full and complete
satisfaction of the Companys obligations to Executive in connection with this Agreement and the
Companys employment of Executive. Executive shall have no further rights or remedies with respect
to or against the Company in connection with this Agreement or the Companys employment of
Executive. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Executives representations,
warranties, covenants, duties and other obligations set forth under Sections 5, 6, 7, 10 and 11 of
this Agreement shall survive and continue after any termination of this Agreement, regardless of
the reason for the termination.
5. WORK MADE FOR HIRE
5.1 Assignment. Executive and/or designates of the Executive shall promptly and fully
inform the Company of, and disclose to the Company, any and all ideas, processes, trademarks, trade
names, service marks, service mark applications, copyrights, mask work rights, fictitious business
names, technology, patents, know-how, trade secrets, computer programs, original works of
authorship, formulae, concepts, themes, inventions, designs, creations, new works, derivative works
and discoveries, and all applications, improvements, rights and claims related to any the
foregoing, and all other intellectual property, proprietary rights and work product, whether or not
patentable or copyrightable, registered or unregistered or domestic or foreign, and whether or not
relating to a published work, that Executive develops, makes, creates, conceives or reduces to
practice during the Term, whether alone or in collaboration with others (collectively, Invention
Ideas). Executive hereby assigns to the Company exclusively in perpetuity throughout the world all
right, title and interest (choate or inchoate) in (i) the Invention Ideas, (ii) all precursors,
portions and work in progress with respect thereto and all inventions, works of authorship, mask
works, technology, information, know-how, materials and tools relating thereto or to the
development, support or maintenance thereof
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and (iii) all copyrights, patent rights, trade secret rights, trademark rights, mask works
rights, sui generis database rights and all other intellectual and industrial property rights of
any sort and all business, contract rights, causes of action, and goodwill in, incorporated or
embodied in, used to develop, or related to any of the foregoing (collectively Intellectual
Property). All copyrightable Invention Ideas are intended by Executive to be a
work-made-for-hire by Executive for the Company and owned by the Company pursuant to Section 201
(b) of Title 17 of the United States Code. Executive shall do and perform, or cause to be done and
performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other
agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the Company may reasonably request in order
to obtain patent or copyright registration on all Invention Ideas and Intellectual Property, and
shall execute and deliver all documents, instruments and agreements, including the formal execution
of an assignment of copyright and/or patent application or issued patent, and do all things
necessary or requested by the Company, in order to enable the Company to ultimately and finally
obtain and enforce full and exclusive title to all Invention Ideas and Intellectual Property and
all rights assigned pursuant to this Section 5. Executive hereby appoints the Company as
Executives irrevocable attorney-in-fact for the purpose of executing and delivering all such
documents, instruments and agreements, and performing all such acts, with the same legal force and
effect as if executed and delivered and taken by Executive.
5.2 License. If for any reason the foregoing assignment is determined to be
unenforceable Executive grants to the Company a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free,
exclusive, sub-licensable right and license to exploit and exercise all such Invention Ideas and
Intellectual Property.
5.3 Presumptions. Because of the difficulty of establishing when Executive first
conceives of or develops Intellectual Property, proprietary rights or work product or whether such
Intellectual Property, proprietary rights or work product results from access to the Companys
confidential and proprietary information or equipment, facilities or data, Executive agrees that
any Intellectual Property, proprietary rights and work product shall be presumed to be an Invention
Idea if it is conceived, developed, used, sold, exploited or reduced to practice by Executive or
with the aid of Executive within one year after the normal termination of Executives employment
with the Company. Executive can rebut that presumption if Executive proves that the intellectual
property, proprietary rights and work product (i) was first conceived or developed after
termination of Executives employment with and by the Company; (ii) was conceived or developed
entirely on Executives own time without using the Companys equipment, supplies, facilities or
confidential and proprietary information; and (iii) did not result from any work performed by
Executive for or on behalf of the Company.
5.4 Exclusions. Executive acknowledges that there is no intellectual property,
proprietary right or work product that Executive desires not to be deemed Invention Ideas or
Intellectual Property and thus to exclude from the above provisions of this Agreement. To the best
of Executives knowledge, there is no other existing contract in conflict with this Agreement or
any other contract to assign ideas, processes, trademarks, service marks, inventions, technology,
computer programs, original works of authorship, designs,
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formulas, discoveries, patents or copyrights that is now in existence between Executive and
any other person or entity.
5.5 Labor Code. This Section 5 shall not operate to require Executive to assign to
the Company any of Executives rights to inventions, intellectual properties or work products that
would not be assignable under the provisions of California Labor Code Section 2870. Executive
represents and warrants to the Company that this paragraph constitutes the Companys written
notification to Executive of the provisions of Section 2870 of the California Labor Code, and
Executive represents and warrants to the Company that Executive has reviewed Section 2870 of the
California Labor Code.
6. UNFAIR COMPETITION AND PROTECTION OF PROPRIETARY INFORMATION.
6.1 Proprietary Information. Executive shall not at any time (including after
Executives employment with the Company terminates) divulge, furnish or make accessible to anyone
any of the Companys Proprietary Information, or use in any way any of the Companys Proprietary
Information other than as reasonably required to perform Executives duties under this Agreement.
Executive shall not undertake any other acts or omissions that would reduce the value to the
Company of the Companys Proprietary Information. The restrictions on Executives use of the
Companys Proprietary Information shall not apply to knowledge or information that Executive can
prove is part of the public domain through no fault of Executive. Executive agrees that such
restrictions are fair and reasonable.
6.2 Injunctive Relief. Executive agrees that the Companys Proprietary Information
constitutes a unique and valuable asset of the Company that the Company acquired at great time and
expense, and which is secret and confidential and will only be available to or communicated to
Executive in confidence in the course of Executives provision of services to the Company.
Executive also agrees that any disclosure or other use of the Companys Proprietary Information
other than for the Companys sole benefit would be wrongful, would constitute unfair competition
and will cause irreparable and incalculable harm to the Company and to its subsidiaries, affiliates
and divisions. In addition to all other remedies the Company may have, it shall have the right to
seek and obtain appropriate injunctive and other equitable relief, including emergency relief, to
prevent any violations of this Section 6.
6.3 Non-Solicitation. Executive agrees that the Companys employees constitute a
valuable asset of the Company. Executive agrees that Executive shall not, during the Term and for a
period of two years thereafter, directly or indirectly, for Executive or on behalf of any other
person or entity, solicit any person who was an employee of or consultant to the Company (at any
time while Executive is performing any services for the Company, or at any time within twelve
months prior to or after such solicitation) for a competing business or otherwise induce or attempt
to induce any such persons to terminate their employment or relationship with the Company or
otherwise to disrupt or interfere, or attempt to disrupt or interfere, with the Companys
employment or relationships with such persons. Executive agrees that any such solicitation,
inducement or interference would be wrongful and would constitute unfair competition, and will
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cause irreparable and incalculable harm to the Company. Further, Executive shall not engage in
any other unfair competition with the Company. Executive agrees that such restrictions are fair and
reasonable.
6.4 Privacy. Executive recognizes and agrees that Executive has no expectation of
privacy with respect to Companys telecommunications, networking or information processing systems
(including stored computer files, e-mail messages and voice messages), and that Executives
activity, and any files or messages, on or using any of those systems may be monitored at any time
without notice.
6.5 Definition. As used in this Agreement, Companys Proprietary Information means
any knowledge, trade secrets (including trade secrets as defined in Section 3426.1 of the
California Civil Code), Invention Ideas, proprietary rights or proprietary information, intangible
assets or property, and other intellectual property (whether or not copyrighted or copyrightable or
patented or patentable), information and materials (including processes, trademarks, trade names,
service marks, service mark applications, copyrights, mask work rights, technology, patents, patent
applications and works of authorship), in whatever form, including electronic form, and all
goodwill relating or appurtenant thereto, owned or licensed by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, affiliates or divisions, or directly or indirectly useful in any aspect of the
business of the Company or its subsidiaries, affiliates or divisions, whether or not marked as
confidential or proprietary and whether developed by Executive, by the Company or its subsidiaries,
affiliates or divisions or by others. Without limiting the foregoing, the Companys Proprietary
Information includes (a) the names, locations, practices and requirements of any of the Companys
customers, prospective customers, vendors, suppliers and personnel and any other persons having a
business relationship with the Company; (b) confidential or secret development or research work of
the Company or its subsidiaries, affiliates or divisions, including information concerning any
future or proposed services or products; (c) the Companys accounting, cost, revenue and other
financial records and documents and the contents thereof; (d) the Companys documents, contracts,
agreements, correspondence and other similar business records; (e) confidential or secret designs,
software code, know how, processes, formulae, plans and devices; and (f) any other confidential or
secret aspect of the business of the Company or its subsidiaries, affiliates or divisions.
7. RESTRICTION OF EXECUTIVES ACTIVITIES. During the Term, including any period during
which the Company is making any payments to Executive pursuant to this Agreement, neither Executive
nor any person or entity acting with or on Executives behalf, nor any person or entity under the
control of or affiliated with Executive, shall, directly or indirectly, in any way Compete with the
Company. Executive agrees that, if Executive has any business to transact on Executives own
account that is similar to the business entrusted to Executive by the Company, Executive shall
notify the Company and always give preference to the Companys business. Executive agrees that such
restrictions are fair and reasonable. For purposes of this Agreement, Compete means doing any of
the following: (i) selling products or services to any person or entity that was or is (at any
time, including during the Term and the period when the provisions of this paragraph are in effect)
a client or customer of the Company (or its subsidiaries, affiliates or divisions) or on a list of
prospective clients or customers of the Company, or
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calling on, soliciting, taking away or accepting any such person or entity as a client or
customer, or any attempt or offer to do any of the foregoing; (ii) entering into, or any attempt or
offer to enter into, any business, enterprise or activity that is in any way similar to or
otherwise competitive with the business that the Company (or its subsidiaries, affiliates or
divisions) conducted at any time during the Term or any time the provisions of this paragraph are
in effect, or (iii) directly or indirectly assisting any person or entity to take or attempt or
offer to take any of the actions described in the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii).
8. NOTICES. Any notice, statement, request or consent made hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be given as follows: (a) to Executive by Federal Express, or any other nationally
recognized overnight carrier, addressed to Executive at his address stated as set forth in the
preamble paragraph of this Agreement or at such other address as Executive may designate by notice
to the Company as provided herein, and (b) to the Company by Federal Express or any other
nationally recognized overnight carrier to the Companys s address stated as set forth in the
preamble paragraph of this Agreement or to such other address as the Company may designate by
notice to Executive as provided herein. Any such communication shall be deemed to have been given
to Executive or the Company on the first business day following that mailing. In addition, any such
communication may also be given by (i) personal delivery which shall be deemed to have been given
upon delivery; (ii) facsimile which shall be deemed to have been given upon telephonic confirmation
of successful transmission; or (iii) first class certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid, addressed to the party to whom that notice is to be given and when notice is given in this
manner it shall be deemed received on the third day after that notice was deposited with the United
States Postal Service.
9. ASSIGNMENT; SUCCESSORS
9.1 By Company. This Agreement is fully assignable by the Company to any person or
entity, including any successor entity; provided, however, that any such person or
entity shall assume the Companys obligations under this Agreement in accordance with its terms.
9.2 By Executive. Executive may not assign this Agreement or any part of this
Agreement without the Companys prior written consent, which consent may be given or withheld by
the Company acting in its sole and absolute discretion.
10. REMEDIES.
10.1 Uniform Trade Secrets Act. If Executive breaches any provision of Section 6 of
this Agreement, the Company shall have the right to invoke any and all remedies provided under the
California Uniform Trade Secrets Act (California Civil Code §§3426, et seq.) or other statutes or
common law remedies of similar effect.
10.2 Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided to the Company in this Section 10
are cumulative, and not exclusive, of any other remedies that may be available to the Company.
10.3 Arbitration. Any controversy, dispute or claim between the parties to this
Agreement, including any claim arising out of, in connection with, or in relation to the
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formation, interpretation, performance or breach of this Agreement or Executives employment
with the Company, shall be settled exclusively by arbitration, before a single arbitrator, in
accordance with this Section and the then most applicable rules of the American Arbitration
Association, except as modified by this Section 10.3, but only if one (or both) of the parties
requests such arbitration. The arbitrator shall be bound by the express provisions of this
Agreement and by the laws of the jurisdiction chosen by the parties to be the law governing the
interpretation of this Agreement. The arbitrator shall permit such discovery as required by
applicable law and as sufficient to adequately arbitrate Executives statutory claims (if any have
been asserted), including access to essential documents and witnesses where required by applicable
law. Judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered by any state or federal
court having jurisdiction thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by
applicable law either party may in an appropriate manner apply to a court pursuant to California
Code of Civil Procedure Section 1281.8, or any comparable provision, for provisional relief,
including a temporary restraining order or a preliminary or permanent injunction (such as specified
in Section 10.1 of this Agreement), on the ground that the award to which the applicant may be
entitled in arbitration may be rendered ineffectual without provisional relief. Nor shall anything
in this Section 10 (to the extent permitted by applicable law) prevent any party from (i) joining
any party as a defendant in any action brought by or against a third party; (ii) bringing an action
in court to effect any attachment or garnishment; or (iii) bringing an action in court to compel
arbitration as required by this Section 10.
If the parties are unable to agree upon an arbitrator, the parties shall select a single
arbitrator from a list of nine arbitrators drawn by the parties at random from the Independent
(or Gold Card) list of retired judges. If the parties are unable to agree upon an arbitrator from
the list so drawn, then the parties shall each strike names alternately from the list, with the
first strike being determined by lot. After each party has used four strikes, the remaining name on
the list shall be the arbitrator. If such person is unable to serve for any reason, the parties
shall repeat this process until an arbitrator is selected.
This agreement to resolve any disputes by binding arbitration shall extend to claims against
any parent, subsidiary or affiliate of each party, and, when acting within such capacity, any
officer, director, shareholder, employee or agent of each party, or of any of the above, and shall
apply as well to claims arising out of state and federal statutes and local ordinances as well as
to claims arising under the common law. In the event of a dispute subject to this Section 10 the
parties shall be entitled to reasonable discovery subject to the discretion of the arbitrator. The
remedial authority of the arbitrator shall be the same as, but no greater than, would be the
remedial power of a court having jurisdiction over the parties and their dispute. The arbitrator
shall, upon an appropriate motion, dismiss any claim without an evidentiary hearing if the party
bringing the motion establishes that he or she would be entitled to summary judgment if the matter
had been pursued in court litigation.
To the extent permitted by law, the initial fees and costs of the arbitrator shall be borne by
the Company, with the Company being responsible for the costs and fees of
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the arbitration and the prevailing party shall be entitled to reimbursement for legal fees and
costs incurred by the other.
The arbitrator shall render an award and written opinion, and the award shall be final and
binding upon the parties.
Any arbitration shall take place in the county of Los Angeles, California.
THE PARTIES UNDERSTAND THAT BY AGREEING TO ARBITRATE IN THE MANNER REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION
10, THEY ARE WAIVING THEIR RIGHTS TO HAVE ANY DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR EXECUTIVES
EMPLOYMENT BY THE COMPANY TRIED BEFORE AND ADJUDICATED BY A JURY, INCLUDING DISPUTES RELATING TO
ANY CLAIM EXECUTIVE MAY HAVE FOR UNLAWFUL TERMINATION OF HER EMPLOYMENT OR FOR A VIOLATION OF ANY
FEDERAL, STATE OR OTHER LAW OR STATUTORILY PROTECTED RIGHTS, (SUCH AS, WITHOUT LIMITATION, AGE
DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT, AS AMENDED, 29 U.S.C. §§ 621634; OLDER WORKERS BENEFIT
PROTECTION ACT, AS AMENDED, 29 U.S. §§ 621, 623; TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, AS
AMENDED, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000E2000E-17; THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT OF 1938 AS AMENDED; THE EQUAL
PAY ACT OF 1963, AS AMENDED, 29 U.S.C. §§ 206(D); THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF
1974, AS AMENDED, 29 U.S.C. §§ 10011461; THE WORKER ADJUSTMENT AND RETRAINING NOTIFICATION ACT,
AS AMENDED, 29 U.S.C. § 2101 ET SEQ.; THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT, AS AMENDED, 29 U.S.C. §§ 151-169; FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT OF 1993, AS AMENDED, 29 U.S.C. § 825 ET SEQ. AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITY ACT OF 1990, AS AMENDED, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 ET. SEQ.; INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS,
DEFAMATION, PERSONAL INJURY AND BREACH OF CONTRACT, WHICH INCLUDE DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF
AGE, RACE, GENDER, DISABILITY, ETHNIC ORIGIN OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION). NEVERTHELESS, BOTH PARTIES
AGREE TO WAIVE ALL SUCH RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE TO A JURY TRIAL AND TO SUBMIT ALL SUCH DISPUTES TO
BINDING ARBITRATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THIS SECTION 10.
Company
|
/s/ EEE | Executive | /s/ CB | |||||
(initials) | (initials) |
11. NO CONFLICT. Executive represents and warrants that neither his execution of this
Agreement nor his performance under this Agreement will (i) violate, conflict with or result in a
breach of any provision of, or constitute a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of
time, or both, would constitute a default) under, any contract or other obligation to which
Executive is a party or by which he is bound; or (ii) violate any judgment or other order
applicable to Executive. Executive shall indemnify, defend and
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hold harmless the Company from and against any and all claims, liabilities, lawsuits,
judgments, losses, costs, fees and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees, costs and
expenses) that the Company or any of its agents, affiliates, employees, shareholders, officers or
directors may suffer or incur as a result of Executives breach or alleged or threatened breach of
any of the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph.
12. GENERAL.
12.1 Captions. The section headings contained in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
12.2 Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and
understanding of the parties with regard to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
agreements, arrangements and understandings, written or oral, between the parties.
12.3 Amendments; Waivers. This Agreement may be amended, modified, superseded,
canceled, renewed or extended, and the terms or covenants of this Agreement may be waived, only by
a written instrument executed by both of the parties hereto, or in the case of a waiver, by the
party waiving compliance. The failure of either party at any time or times to require performance
of any provision of this Agreement shall in no manner affect such partys right at a later time to
enforce such performance. No waiver by either party of the breach of any term or covenant contained
in this Agreement, whether by conduct or otherwise, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed
to be, or construed as, a further or continuing waiver of any such breach, or a waiver of the
breach of any other term or covenant contained in this Agreement.
12.4 No Other Representations. No representation, promise or inducement has been made
by either party that is not embodied in this Agreement, and neither party shall be bound by or be
liable for any alleged representation, promise or inducement not so set forth.
12.5 Severability. If any of the provisions of this Agreement (including Section 10)
are determined to be unlawful or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, such determination
shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be
reformed to the extent necessary to carry out its provisions to the greatest extent possible and,
with respect to reformation of any provision of Section 10, to ensure that the resolution of all
conflicts between the parties (including those arising out of statutory claims) shall be resolved
by neutral, binding arbitration. If a court should find that any provision set forth in Section 10
is not absolutely binding, the parties intend that any arbitration decision and award with respect
to this Agreement be fully admissible in evidence in any subsequent action, given great weight by
any finder of fact, and treated as determinative to the maximum extent permitted by law.
12.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, and it shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement,
to produce or account for more than one such counterpart.
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12.7 Withholding. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, all
payments that the Company is required to make under this Agreement to Executive or Executives
estate or beneficiaries shall be subject to the withholding of such amounts relating to taxes as
the Company may reasonably determine it should withhold pursuant to any applicable law or
regulation.
12.8 Tax Consequences. The Company shall have no obligation to any person entitled to
the benefits of this Agreement with respect to any tax obligation any such person incurs as a
result of or attributable to this Agreement, including any supplemental agreements, stock option
plans or employee benefit plans, or arising from any payments made or to be made under this
Agreement or thereunder.
12.9 Consent to Jurisdiction. The parties to this Agreement agree that all actions or
proceedings arising directly or indirectly from this Agreement shall be arbitrated or litigated
before arbitrators or in courts having a situs within Loa Angeles, California; hereby consent to
the jurisdiction of any local, state or federal court in which such an action or proceeding is
commenced that is located in Los Angeles County, California; agree not to disturb such choice of
forum (including waiving any argument that venue in any such forum is not convenient); agree that
any litigation initiated by any party hereto in connection with this Agreement may be venued in
either the state or federal courts located in Orange County, California; agree that a final
judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other
jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law; and waive the
personal service of any and all process upon them and consent that all such service of process may
be made by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the respective
parties at the address set forth above.
12.10 Gender References. References in this Agreement to any gender shall include the
masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
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12.11 Construction. In all instances when appearing in this Agreement, the terms
including, include and includes shall be deemed to be followed by without limitation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first above
written.
SAVE THE WORLD AIR, INC. |
||||
By: | /s/ Eugene E. Eichler | |||
EUGENE E. EICHLER | ||||
Title: | Acting Chief Executive Officer | |||
|
||||
EXECUTIVE: |
||||
/s/ Charles Blum | ||||
CHARLES BLUM | ||||
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