Denial of Wrongdoing. The parties understand and agree that this Agreement shall not be considered an admission of liability or wrongdoing by any party, and that the parties deny any liability, and nothing in this Agreement can or shall be used, by or against any party with respect to claims, defenses or issues in any litigation or proceeding, except to enforce this Agreement itself. The Companies deny committing any wrongdoing or violating any legal duty with respect to Executive's employment or the termination of his employment.

DENIAL OF WRONGDOING: Neither party, by signing this Agreement, admits any wrongdoing or liability to the other. Both the Company and [[Ms. Petryszyn:Person]] deny any such wrongdoing or liability.

Nonadmission of Wrongdoing. Employee agrees that neither this Agreement nor the furnishing of the consideration for this Agreement shall be deemed or construed at anytime for any purpose as an admission by Employer of any liability or unlawful conduct of any kind.

Appeal of Claims that Are Denied or Partially Denied. 16

No Admission of Wrongdoing. It is understood and agreed by the Parties that the promises, payments and consideration of this Agreement shall not be construed as an admission of any liability or obligation by either party to the other party or any other person.

Denial or Partial Denial of Benefit Claims. If the Claims Administrator denies a claim for benefits in whole or part, the Claims Administrator shall notify the claimant in writing of the decision within ninety (90) days after the claim has been received by the Claims Administrator. In the Claim Administrator's sole discretion, the Claims Administrator may extend the time to decide the claim for an additional ninety (90) days, by giving written notice of the need for such an extension any time prior to the expiration of the initial ninety (90) day period. The Claims Administrator, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to request specific information from the claimant, and reserves the right to have the claimant examined or tested by person(s) employed or compensated by the Employer. If the claim is denied or partially denied, the Claims Administrator shall provide the claimant with written notice stating:

Denial of Claims. In the event that any application for benefits is denied in whole or in part, the Plan Administrator must provide the applicant with written or electronic notice of the denial of the application, and of the applicant’s right to review the denial. Any electronic notice will comply with the regulations of the U.S. Department of Labor. The notice of denial will be set forth in a manner designed to be understood by the applicant and will include the following:

In the event that any application for benefits is denied in whole or in part, the Company shall notify the applicant in writing of his right to an independent review of the denial. Such written notice shall set forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the applicant, specific reasons for the denial, specific references to the Plan provisions on which the denial is based, a description of any information or material necessary to perfect the application, an explanation of why such material is necessary, an explanation of the Plan’s review procedure, (including an explanation of the applicant’s right to initiate a lawsuit under [section 502(a)] of ERISA if the applicant’s appeal is denied), and, in the case of a Disability Claim (defined below), each specific internal rule, guideline, protocol or other similar criteria relied upon in making such denial (or a statement that such criteria were relied upon and will be provided free of charge to the applicant upon request), if any. An application shall be granted, or written notice of a denial shall be given to the applicant, within 90 days (45 days in the case of a Disability Claim) after the Company receives a proper application, unless special circumstances (which are matters beyond the control of the Plan in the case of a Disability Claim) require an extension of time for processing the application. In no event shall such an extension exceed a period of 90 days (30 days in the case of a Disability Claim) from the end of the initial 90-day period (45-day period in the case of a Disability Claim). If such an extension is required, written notice thereof shall be furnished to the applicant before the end of the initial 90-day period (45-day period in the case of a Disability Claim) indicating the circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the Company expects to render a decision. If the Company determines that a decision on a Disability Claim cannot be rendered within the initial 30-day extension period due to matters beyond the control of the Plan, the period for making a determination may be extended for an additional 30 days, provided that written notice is furnished to the applicant before the end of the initial 30-day extension period indicating the circumstances requiring an additional extension of time and the date by which the Company expects to render a decision. In the case of any extension with respect to a Disability Claim, the notice of extension shall specifically explain the standards on which benefit entitlement is based, the unresolved issues

report to the Board your own wrongdoing and any wrongdoing or proposed wrongdoing of any other employee, director or contractor of the Group immediately on becoming aware of it.

No Admission of Liability. Nothing herein shall be construed to be an admission by the Parties of any wrongdoing or noncompliance with any federal, state, city, or local rule, ordinance, constitution, statute, contract, regulation, public policy, tort law, common law, or of any other kind or sort of unlawful conduct, liability, wrongdoing, or breach of any duty whatsoever. The Parties specifically disclaim and deny any wrongdoing or liability to each other.