with the Employment Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures (“Rules”) of the American Arbitration Association through a single arbitrator selected in accordance with the Rules. The decision of the arbitrator shall be rendered within thirty (30) days of the close of the arbitration hearing and shall include written findings of fact and conclusions of law reflecting the appropriate substantive law. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof in the State of New York. In reaching his or her decision, the arbitrator shall have no authority (a) to authorize or require the parties to engage in discovery (provided, however, that the arbitrator may schedule the time by which the parties must exchange copies of the exhibits that, and the names of the witnesses whom, the parties intend to present at the hearing), (b) to interpret or enforce Section 7 of the Agreement (for which Section 17 shall provide the sole and exclusive venue), (c) to change or modify any provision of this Agreement, (d) to base any part of his or her decision on the common law principle of constructive termination, or (e) to award punitive damages or any other damages not measured by the prevailing party’s actual damages and may not make any ruling, finding or award that does not conform to this Agreement. Each party shall bear all of his or its own legal fees, costs and expenses of arbitration to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, and one-half (½) of the costs of the arbitrator.
| | 17. | Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without reference to its conflict of law provisions, except that Section 16 and any arbitration proceeding pursuant to Section 16 shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) to the extent it is applicable and by New York law to the extent that the FAA is not applicable. Furthermore, as to Section 7, Executive and the Company each agrees and consents to submit to personal jurisdiction in the state of New York in any state or federal court of competent subject matter jurisdiction situated in New York County, New York. Executive and the Company further agree that the sole and exclusive venue for any suit arising out of, or seeking to enforce, the terms of Section 7 of this Agreement shall be in a state or federal court of competent subject matter jurisdiction situated in New York County, New York. In addition, Executive and the Company waive any right to challenge in another court any judgment entered by such New York County court or to assert that any action instituted by the Company in any such court is in the improper venue or should be transferred to a more convenient forum. Further, Executive and the Company waive any right he may otherwise have to a trial by jury in any action to enforce the terms of this Agreement. The parties hereto irrevocably consent to the service of any and all process in any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement by the mailing of copies of such process to such party at such party’s address specified in Section 25, or such other updated address as has been provided to the other party from time to time in accordance with Section 25. Each party shall bear its own costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in connection with any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement. |
| | 18. | Amendment; No Waiver; 409A |
| | (a) | No provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified, waived or discharged except by a written document signed by Executive and a duly authorized officer of the Company (other than Executive). |
| | (b) | The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver of such party’s rights or deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement. No failure or delay by either party in exercising any right or power hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment of any steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. |
| | (c) | It is the intention of the Company and Executive that this Agreement comply with the requirements of Section 409A, and this Agreement will be interpreted in a manner intended to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A. The Company and Executive agree to negotiate in good faith to make amendments to this Agreement as the parties mutually agree are necessary or desirable to avoid the imposition of taxes or penalties under Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall be solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on or for the account of Executive in connection with this Agreement (including any taxes and penalties under Section 409A), and neither the Company nor any Affiliate shall have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold Executive (or any beneficiary) harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties. |
| | (d) | Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that Executive is deemed to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), no payments hereunder that are “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A shall be made to Executive prior to the date that is six (6) months after the date of Executive’s “separation from service” (as defined in |
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