2. General Release of Claims.
(a) For good and valuable consideration, including the consideration set forth in Section 1(b) hereof, Executive knowingly and voluntarily (for and on behalf of Executive, Executive’s family, and Executive’s heirs, executors, administrators and assigns) hereby releases and forever discharges the Company and its affiliates, predecessors, successors and subsidiaries, and the foregoing entities’ respective equity-holders, officers, directors, managers, members, partners, employees, agents, representatives, and other affiliated persons, and the Company’s and its affiliates’ benefit plans (and the fiduciaries and trustees of such plans) (collectively, the “Company Parties”), from liability for, and Executive hereby waives, any and all claims, damages, or causes of action of any kind related to Executive’s employment with any Company Party and any other acts or omissions related to any matter occurring on or prior to the date that Executive executes this Agreement, including (i) any alleged violation through such time of: (A) any federal, state or local anti-discrimination or anti-retaliation law, regulation or ordinance, including the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (including as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, Sections 1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United States Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; (B) the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”); (C) the Immigration Reform Control Act; (D) the National Labor Relations Act; (E) the Occupational Safety and Health Act; (F) the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; (G) California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Pregnancy Disability Leave law, the California Family Rights Act, the Healthy Workplace Healthy Family Act of 2014, the California Labor Code, the Private Attorneys’ General Act (Labor Code§ 2698 et seq.), any Wage Orders issued by the California Industrial Welfare Commission and the California Business and Professionals Code; (H) any federal, state or local wage and hour law; (I) any other local, state or federal law, regulation or ordinance; or (J) any public policy, contract, tort, or common law claim; (ii) any allegation for costs, fees, or other expenses including attorneys’ fees incurred in or with respect to a Released Claim (as defined below); and (iii) any claim for compensation or benefits of any kind not expressly set forth in this Agreement (collectively, the “Released Claims”). This Agreement is not intended to indicate that any such claims exist or that, if they do exist, they are meritorious. Rather, Executive is simply agreeing that, in exchange for the consideration received by Executive pursuant to this Agreement, any and all potential claims of this nature that Executive may have against the Company Parties, regardless of whether they actually exist, are expressly settled, compromised and waived. THIS RELEASE INCLUDES MATTERS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE SOLE OR PARTIAL NEGLIGENCE (WHETHER GROSS OR SIMPLE) OR OTHER FAULT, INCLUDING STRICT LIABILITY, OF ANY OF THE COMPANY PARTIES.
(b) Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California (“Section 1542”) provides:
A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS THAT THE CREDITOR OR RELEASING PARTY DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE AND THAT, IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER, WOULD HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR OR RELEASED PARTY.
Executive waives all rights under Section 1542 or any other law or statute of similar effect in any jurisdiction with respect to the Released Claims. Executive acknowledges that Executive understands the significance and specifically assumes the risk regarding the consequences of such release and such specific waiver of Section 1542.
(c) In no event shall the Released Claims include (i) any claim that arises after the date that Executive signs this Agreement; (ii) any claim to vested benefits under an employee benefit plan; (iii) any claim for breach of, or otherwise arising out of, this Agreement; or (iv) any claim for indemnification, advancement of expenses or D&O liability insurance coverage under any indemnification agreement with the Company or the Company’s governing documents or the Company’s D&O insurance policies under applicable state law. Further notwithstanding this release of liability, nothing in this Agreement prevents Executive from filing any non-legally waivable claim (including a challenge to the validity of this Agreement) with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) or comparable federal, state or local agency or participating in (or cooperating with) any investigation or proceeding conducted by the EEOC or comparable federal, state or local agency or cooperating in any such investigation or proceeding; however, Executive understands and agrees that Executive is waiving any and all rights to recover any monetary or personal relief from a Company Party as a result of such EEOC or comparable federal, state or local agency or proceeding or subsequent legal actions. Further, nothing in this Agreement prohibits or restricts Executive from filing a charge or complaint with, or cooperating in any investigation with, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or any other governmental agency, entity or authority (each, a “Government Agency”). This Agreement does not limit Executive’s right to receive an award for information provided to a Government Agency. Nothing herein shall prevent Executive from discussing or disclosing information regarding unlawful acts in the workplace, such as harassment, discrimination or any other conduct that Executive has reason to believe is unlawful.
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