Executive Employment Agreement by and between Axon Enterprise, Inc. and James C. Zito
EXHIBIT 10.1
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made effective as of May 9, 2022 ("Effective Date") and entered into as of the date of last signature below ("Execution Date") by and between AXON ENTERPRISE, INC., a Delaware corporation, ("Company") and JAMES C. ZITO, an individual ("Executive"), also referred to herein each individually as "Party" or collectively as "Parties."
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Executive desires to be assured of certain minimum compensation from Company for Executive’s services during the term of this Agreement and to be protected, and compensated, in the event of any Change in Control (as defined in Section 10(a) below) affecting Company; and
WHEREAS, Company desires to provide for the reasonable protection of Company’s confidential business and technical information which has been developed by Company in recent years and will be developed in the future at substantial expense.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, Company and Executive each intend to be legally bound, covenant and agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
Executive acknowledges that Executive’s continued employment with Company and the payments specified in this Agreement are sufficient consideration for this covenant not to compete. Executive further acknowledges that Company is engaged in marketing and selling its products throughout the world and that this Covenant Not to Compete is necessary and reasonable to protect Company and that Company will suffer irreparable harm and other damages in the event of a breach of this provision. Executive acknowledges that Executive’s training and experience have prepared him/her for employment or other business opportunities to sell product and perform services for businesses other than those in the Company Business. Accordingly, Executive acknowledges that the restrictions contained in this covenant not to compete will not unduly prevent him from obtaining employment or business opportunities other than in the Company Business. Executive also acknowledges that the time, scope and the geographic area of this Covenant Not to Compete are reasonable and necessary to protect the interests of Company and the Company Business.
The covenants contained in subsections (a) through (e) above shall be construed as a series of separate covenants, one for each city, county and state of any geographic area in which Company sold products or services. In the event that the provisions of subsections (a) through (e) above are deemed to exceed the time, geographic or scope limitations permitted by applicable law, then such provisions shall be reformed to the maximum time, geographic or scope limitations, as the case may be, then permitted by such law. In the event that the court does not exercise the power granted to it in the prior sentence, Executive and Company agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such invalid or unenforceable term.
(i) | In the case of Company shall be: |
Axon Enterprise, Inc.
17800 North 85th Street
Scottsdale, Arizona 85255
(ii) | In the case of Executive shall be: |
Executive’s current address or email address on file with Company
Either party may, by notice hereunder, designate a change of address. Any notice, if mailed properly addressed, postage prepaid, registered or certified mail, shall be deemed dispatched on the registered date or that stamped on the certified mail receipt, and shall be deemed received within the fifth business day thereafter, or when it is actually received, whichever is sooner.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the Execution Date.
COMPANY | EXECUTIVE: | |
AXON ENTERPRISE, INC., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, U.S.A. | JAMES C. ZITO, an individual | |
By: /s/ Isaiah Fields | By: /s/ James C. Zito | |
Name: Isaiah Fields | ||
Title: EVP, General Counsel, & Corporate Secretary |
Exhibit A
Form of Release Agreement
This Confidential Severance Agreement and General Release ("Release") is made and entered into by and between JAMES C. ZITO, an individual, ("Employee") and AXON ENTERPRISE, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Axon" or the "Company") (Employee and Axon are collectively referred to as the "Parties" and separately as a "Party"). This Release is intended to settle and dispose of all liability, rights, claims, demands, actions or causes of action that Employee may have against Axon and/or its current or former shareholders, principals, parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliated companies, divisions, directors, officers, employees, staff, agents, contractors, assigns, affiliates, attorneys, predecessors, successors, indemnitors, insurers, and all those for whom the above referenced parties may have legal responsibility (collectively referred to as the "Released Parties").
RECITALS
A.Employee and Axon mutually agree that Employee’s employment with Company will terminate effective __________________.
B.In consideration for the severance benefits described in Executive Employment Agreement entered into by and between Axon and Employee dated _______________ (the "Employment Agreement"), Employee agrees as follows:
COVENANTS
NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the covenants, agreements, recitals and promises provided and identified herein, the sufficiency of which is expressly acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
1.Severance. Provided that Employee signs and complies with this Release and has not exercised Executive’s right of revocation pursuant to section 2(b)(ii), Axon agrees to pay to Employee the severance and benefits described in the Employment Agreement (the "Severance Benefits"), at the times, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Employment Agreement. Employee acknowledges and agrees that Executive would not otherwise have been entitled to the Severance Benefits had Executive not elected to sign this Release. Employee acknowledges that Executive has been paid all of Executive’s salary, wages, bonuses, accrued vacation and paid time off (if applicable), commissions, referral fees, penalties, benefits, or any other monies owed to Employee by or from any of the Released Parties, Executive is owed (and shall be owed in the future) nothing further from any of the Released Parties.
(a) | Full Release and Waiver. Employee, on behalf of himself/herself, Executive’s marital community, if any, and Executive’s heirs and assigns, irrevocably, unconditionally, and expressly releases, waives, acquits, and forever discharges the Released Parties from any and all claims, complaints, causes of action, liabilities, obligations, agreements, controversies, damages, suits, rights, costs, losses, debts, expenses, and demands of any kind (including attorneys’ fees and costs actually incurred) of any nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected which Employee has, ever has had, or may have and which are based on acts or omissions which Employee knew or should have known about at the time of the signing of this Release. This FULL RELEASE AND WAIVER includes, without limitation and to the fullest extent permitted by law, all rights |
and claims arising under the following laws, as amended: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; Civil Rights Act of 1866 (Section 1981); Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act; Fair Credit Reporting Act; Labor Management Relations Act; Equal Pay Act; Americans with Disabilities Act; Age Discrimination in Employment Act; Fair Labor Standards Act; Older Workers Benefits Protection Act; Family Medical Leave Act; Rehabilitation Act; Occupational Safety and Health Act and its state equivalent; Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act; Pregnancy Discrimination Act; False Claims Act; Sarbanes-Oxley Act; Employment Retirement Income Security Act; National Labor Relations Act; Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; Arizona Civil Rights Act; Arizona Drug Testing of Employees Act; Arizona Medical Marijuana Act; the anti-retaliation provisions of Arizona workers’ compensation; Arizona Employment Protection Act; Arizona state wage payment laws including the Arizona Wage Act, Arizona Minimum Wage Act, and Arizona Equal Pay Act; wage claims of all types, including, but not limited to, those for non-payment, late payment, overtime, rest periods, meal periods, bonuses, deductions, wage statements, and/or penalties; wrongful termination in violation of public policy; unfair business practices; any other local, state, or federal statute, regulation, or ordinance; any contract, express or implied; any covenant of good faith and fair dealing, express or implied; any state or federal whistleblower statute or regulation; any tort; any legal restriction on Axon’s right to terminate Employee; and/or other common law or statutory causes of action Employee may now have, has had, or could have been alleged as of the Effective Date. Employee understands that Employee is not releasing or giving up any claims for any events or actions that happen after Executive signs this Release. |
(i) | Employee promises and covenants not to file, commence, or initiate any suits, grievances, demands, or causes of action against the Released Parties on the basis of any claim released herein. |
(ii) | This Release includes any claims that Employee’s spouse, agents, heirs, or assigns, if any, may have against the Released Parties, including those arising from or in any way related to Employee’s work and/or employment with Axon and/or the Released Parties. |
(iii) | It is understood and agreed that this is a full, complete and final general release of any and all claims, as described herein, and that Employee and Axon agree that it shall apply to all unknown, unanticipated, unsuspected and undisclosed claims, demands, liabilities, actions or causes of action, in law, equity or otherwise, as well as those which are now known, anticipated, suspected or disclosed. |
(iv) | This Release does not apply to any claim Employee may have under the workers’ compensation or unemployment compensation statutes or any other claim, which, as a matter of law, cannot be released by private agreement. |
(1) | This Release does not limit Employee’s ability to communicate with any applicable government agencies or otherwise participate in any manner in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by any government agency. This Release is not intended to affect the rights and responsibilities of government agencies to enforce the laws within their jurisdiction, including but not limited to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC"), the National Labor Relations Board ("NLRB"), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ("OSHA"), the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health |
("ADOSH"), the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), the Civil Rights Division of the Arizona Attorney General Office ("ACRD"), or any other applicable local, state, or federal agency. This means that by signing this Release, Employee may still exercise Executive’s protected right to file an administrative charge with, or participate in an investigation or proceeding conducted by, a local, state, or federal government agency. However, if a government agency commences an investigation or other legal action against the Released Parties on Employee’s behalf, Employee specifically waives and releases Executive’s right to recover monetary damages or other benefits or remedies of any sort whatsoever arising from the governmental action (including any legal action, agency charge, lawsuit, claim, proceeding, or investigation against the Released Parties). The aforementioned waiver of monetary damages and other benefits or remedies does not apply to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, if applicable. Employee acknowledges that this Release may be used by the Released Parties as a defense to any actions taken by Employee that may be in violation of this Release. |
(v) | Employee represents that Executive has not filed any charge or complaint with, or participated in, an investigation or proceeding conducted by the EEOC, NLRB, OSHA/ADOSH, SEC, ACRD or any other local, state, or federal government entity or agency. Employee specifically acknowledges and represents that Executive has already disclosed to Company any and all information, if any, regarding any action or inaction that Executive reasonably believes, or believed to be, taken by the Released Parties and in violation of law. To the extent Employee has not made such disclosures to date, Employee represents such information, if any, does not or did not exist to disclose now or in the future. |
(b) | Waiver of Age Discrimination in Employment Claims. As noted above, this Release is intended to release and discharge all claims Employee may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act ("ADEA"). To satisfy the requirements of the Older Workers’ Benefits Protection Act ("OWBPA"), Employee acknowledges the following: |
(i) | Employee has read and understands the terms of this Release. Employee acknowledges that Executive has 21 calendar days from receipt of this Release to consider whether to sign this Release and that Employee may sign the Release any time within this time period. If Employee signs before the 21-day period expires, Employee does so to expedite the Release and waives the right to take the remaining days to consider the Release. Employee understands and agrees that the Release will be automatically revoked and withdrawn if not accepted and delivered to Human Resources at Company’s address with a copy to ***@*** within 21 calendar days after receipt. |
(ii) | Employee can revoke Employee’s signature any time within seven (7) calendar days after signing it. To revoke Employee’s signature pursuant to the OWBPA, Employee must do so in writing, sent to Human Resources at Company’s address with a copy to ***@*** before the expiration of the seven-day period. If Employee’s signature is not revoked at the expiration of the seven days, this Release will be enforceable and irrevocable. |
(iii) | Employee agrees that this Release is not effective and no money will be paid or owed towards the Severance Benefits until all of the following have occurred: (1) Employee signs the Severance Release in the time period identified in this section above; and (2) the 7-day revocation period contained in this section has passed; and (3) Employee has not revoked Employee’s signature during this time period (hereinafter the "Effective Date"). If Employee does not timely sign and/or revokes this Release, then this Release shall be null and void, and no payments shall be made and/or due under this Release. |
(iv) | Employee understands that this waiver and release does not apply to any rights or claims that may arise after execution date of this Release. Employee has been advised hereby that Employee has the right to consult with an attorney, if desired, prior to executing this Release and acknowledges that Executive has received all advice Employee deems necessary concerning this Release. |
9. No Reapply. Employee acknowledges that the relationship with Company has been severed and, therefore, agrees not to apply for, seek employment, seek work, nor accept employment with, Company or any of its affiliated companies. Employee further acknowledges Executive will not seek work as a consultant, independent contractor, or temporary worker with Company.
10.Assignment. The rights and obligations of the Released Parties and/or Axon shall inure to the benefit of their successors and assigns. Employee’s rights and obligations under this Release may not be assigned by Employee without prior written consent by the CEO of Axon. Employee affirms Executive has not assigned any of Executive’s rights or obligations under this Release as of the Effective Date.
11.Governing Law and Jurisdiction. The rights, obligations, and remedies, as specified under this Release, shall be interpreted and governed in all respects by the laws of the State of Arizona. The Parties agree that any action or proceeding initiated to enforce this Release shall be brought solely in the state or federal district court within Maricopa County in the State of Arizona, and the Parties hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of these courts. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS RELEASE IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES AND, THEREFORE, EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS RELEASE.
12.Attorneys’ Fees and Costs. Both Parties will bear their own costs, attorneys’ fees and other expenses incurred in connection with the preparation and/or review of this Release. Should Employee or the Released Parties (which specifically includes Axon) employ an attorney to enforce any of the provisions of this Release, or to recover damages for the breach of any terms of this Release, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover all reasonable costs, damages and expenses, including attorneys’ fees incurred or expended in connection therewith. The phrase "prevailing party" shall mean the party who is determined in the proceeding to have prevailed or who prevails by dismissal, default, judgment, or otherwise.
13.No Admission of Liability. This Release is not to be construed as an admission of liability by the Released Parties. Employee agrees, admits, and acknowledges that no representation of fact or opinion has been made by any Released Party or such representative, either jointly, individually, or collectively, to induce this Release. Employee agrees that the Released Parties have not admitted liability or wrongdoing of any sort, and that the Released Parties have not made any representation as to liability or wrongdoing of any sort.
14.Severability. If any provision of this Release is held illegal, invalid, or unenforceable, such holding shall not affect any other provisions hereof. In the event that any provision is held illegal, invalid, or
unenforceable, such provision shall be limited, deleted, or severed so as to affect the intent of the Parties to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected.
15.Cooperation. The Parties agree to cooperate fully, execute any supplementary documents, and take all additional actions that might be necessary or appropriate to give full force and effect to the basic terms and intent of this Release.
16.Counterparts. This Release may be executed in counterparts, one or more of which may be facsimiles or PDFs, but all of which shall constitute one and the same Release.
EMPLOYEE HAS CAREFULLY READ THE FOREGOING RELEASE, HAS BEEN ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY, KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS THE CONTENTS OF THIS RELEASE, AND SIGNS THIS RELEASE VOLUNTARILY AND AGREES TO ABIDE BY ITS TERMS.
[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have hereby approved and executed this Release as of _____________________, ______.
AXON ENTERPRISE, INC.
______________________________________
[________________]
Its: [________________]
EXECUTIVE
_______________________________________
JAMES C. ZITO