Example ContractsClausesgeneral release of claimsVariants
General Release of Claims
General Release of Claims contract clause examples

General Release. In consideration of the Severance Benefits and the Company’s promises hereunder, the Executive, on behalf of himself and on behalf of his dependents, heirs, representatives, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Executive Releasors”) does hereby voluntarily, knowingly, irrevocably and unconditionally release, waive, and forever discharge the Company and each of its current and former subsidiaries, affiliates, and each of their respective directors, predecessors, successors, assigns, employees, agents, and representatives (collectively, the “Company Releasees”) from any and all charges, complaints, claims, liabilities, obligations, promises, agreements, controversies, damages, remedies, actions, causes of action, suits, rights, demands, costs, losses, debts and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and costs) of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, whether in law or equity and whether arising under contract or under federal, state or local law and including any claim for discrimination based upon race, color, ethnicity, sex, age, national origin, religion, disability, or any other unlawful criterion or circumstance, which the Executive Releasors had, now have, or may in the future have, against each or any of the Company Releasees arising up to and including the date this Agreement is executed (including any claims in connection with the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company and its affiliates and any claim for any compensation that has accrued or is or may be accruable based on any action or service taken or provided on or prior to the date this Agreement is executed). The Executive acknowledges that the release set forth in the preceding sentence includes claims # for wrongful dismissal or termination of services, # arising under federal, state or local laws, statutes, orders or regulations that relate to the employment relationship and/or prohibiting employment discrimination, including claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Rehabilitation Act, Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the New York State Human Rights Law and the Administrative Code of the City of New York, and in each case any amendments thereto, # under any other federal, state or local statute law, rule, or regulation, # based on contract, tort or common law, or for damages, including punitive or compensatory damages, or for attorneys’ fees, expenses, costs, compensation of any kind, injunctive or equitable relief, and # under the Company’s compensatory plans and agreements, including the Severance Plan, the Company’s Change in Control Severance Plan, the Company’s 2013 Stock Incentive Plan and the Company’s 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Stock Incentive Plans”), the Executive Severance Agreement between the Company and the Executive, dated December 8, 2008 (the “2008 Agreement”), and the 2007 Agreement, in each case as amended. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing in this Section 3(a) releases any claims # arising under this Agreement and/or # with respect to the Retirement Plans, the Vested Options and the Indemnification Rights.

General Release. In consideration of the Executive’s promises hereunder, the Company, on behalf of itself and each of its current and former subsidiaries, affiliates, and their respective predecessors, successors, assigns, and representatives (collectively, the “Company Releasors”) does hereby voluntarily, knowingly, irrevocably and unconditionally release, waive, and forever discharge the Executive and each of his dependents, heirs, representatives, agents, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Executive Releasees”) from any and all charges, complaints, claims, liabilities, obligations, promises, agreements, controversies, damages, remedies, actions, causes of action, suits, rights, demands, costs, losses, debts and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and costs) of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, whether in law or equity and whether arising under contract or under federal, state or local law, which the Company Releasors had, now have, or may in the future have, against each or any of the Executive Releasees arising up to and including the date this Agreement is executed, other than claims arising # out of the Executive’s bad faith misconduct # which serves as the basis for criminal charges brought against, or civil penalties imposed on, the Company or the Executive and # for which the Executive is not indemnified under the Indemnification Rights or # under this Agreement or the Restrictive Covenants (as defined below). The Company acknowledges that the release set forth in the preceding sentence includes but is not limited to claims # under any other federal, state or local statute, law, rule, or regulation, # based on contract, tort or common law, or for damages, including punitive or compensatory damages, or for attorneys’ fees, expenses, costs, compensation of any kind, injunctive or equitable relief, and # under the Company’s compensatory plans and agreements, to the extent waivable under applicable laws.

In consideration for the Separation Benefits, Executive hereby releases and discharges the Company, and each of its past and present parents, subsidiaries, predecessors, successors, assigns, related companies, affiliates, entities or divisions, and their past and present employee benefits plans, trustees, fiduciaries, and administrators, and any and all of their respective past and present stockholders, officers, directors, employees, representatives, agents and attorneys (collectively, “Releasees”) from any and all claims, demands, causes of action, or liabilities, known or unknown, of any kind which Executive, or Executive’s heirs, executors, administrators, agents, attorneys, representatives or assigns (all collectively included in the term “Executive” for purposes of this [Section 5]) have, had, or may have against the Releasees, based on any events or circumstances arising or occurring prior to and including the date of Executive’s execution of this Agreement to the fullest extent permitted by law, regardless of whether such claims are now known or are later discovered, including any and all claims and liabilities relating to Executive’s employment by, or services rendered to or for, the Company, or relating to the cessation of Executive’s employment or claims related to any rights of continued employment, reinstatement or reemployment, including but not limited to claims or liabilities under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. Section 1981, the Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Older Worker Benefit Protection Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Illinois Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act, the Illinois Equal Pay Act, the Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Illinois Human Rights Act, the Illinois Whistleblower Act, the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act, and any other statutory, tort, contract, or common law cause of action to the fullest extent permitted by law, other than any obligations, claims, or liabilities set forth in the second and third paragraphs of this [Section 5]. This release is to be broadly construed in favor of the Releasees. In the event any person, entity, or federal, state or local government agency, including but not limited to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), pursues a claim on Executive’s behalf or on behalf of a class to which Executive may belong against Employer, Executive hereby waives the right to recover monetary damages or injunctive relief in favor of Executive from or against Employer.

Release. In consideration of the Severance Benefits set forth in the Agreement to which this Additional Release of Claims (the "Additional Release") is attached, which the Executive acknowledges he would not otherwise be entitled to receive, the Executive hereby fully, forever, irrevocably and unconditionally releases, remises and discharges the Company, its affiliates, subsidiaries, parent companies, predecessors, and successors, and all of their respective past and present officers, directors, stockholders, partners, members, employees, agents, representatives, plan administrators, attorneys, insurers and fiduciaries (each in their individual and corporate capacities) (collectively, the "Released Parties") from any and all claims, charges, complaints, demands, actions, causes of action, suits, rights, debts, sums of money, costs, accounts, reckonings, covenants, contracts, agreements, promises, doings, omissions, damages, executions, obligations, liabilities, and expenses (including attorneys' fees and costs), of every kind and nature which the Executive ever had or now has against any or all of the Released Parties, including, but not limited to, those claims arising out of the Executive's employment with and/or separation from the Company, including, but not limited to, all claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq., the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, 42 U.S.C. § 2000ff et seq., the Family and Medical Leave Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq., the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act ("WARN"), 29 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq., the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq., the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., the Executive Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"), 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq., Executive Order 11246, and Executive Order 11141, all as amended; all claims arising out of the Maryland Fair Employment Practices Act, Md. Code Art. 49B-1, et seq., the Maryland Discrimination on the Basis of Medical Information Law, Md. Code Ann., Lab. & Empl. § 5‑604, Md. Code Ann., Lab. & Empl. § 3-301 et seq. (Maryland equal pay law), Md. Code Ann., Lab. & Empl. § 3-801 et seq. (Maryland family and medical leave law), all as amended; all common law claims including, but not limited to, actions in defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, misrepresentation, fraud, wrongful discharge, and breach of contract; all claims to any non-vested ownership interest in the Company, contractual or otherwise; all state and federal whistleblower claims to the maximum extent permitted by law; and any claim or damage arising out of the Executive's employment with and/or separation from the Company (including a claim for retaliation) under any common law theory or any federal, state or local statute or ordinance not expressly referenced above; provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement prevents the Executive from filing a charge with, cooperating with, or participating in any proceeding before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or a state fair employment practices agency (except that the Executive acknowledges that he may not recover any monetary benefits in connection with any such claim, charge or proceeding and further waives any rights or claims to any payment, benefit, attorneys' fees or other remedial relief in connection with any such claim, charge or proceeding). Nothing in the above release affects any rights the Executive may have for indemnification under state or other law or the charter, articles, or by-laws of the Company or under any insurance policy providing directors' and officers' coverage, which remains in full force and effect; provided, however, that # this Agreement does not create any additional indemnification rights for the Executive, and # the Company retains any defenses it may have to such indemnification or coverage.

Release of the Company. Executive, for himself, his successors, assigns, attorneys, and all those entitled to assert his rights, now and forever hereby releases and discharges the Company and its respective officers, directors, stockholders, trustees, employees, agents, parent corporations, subsidiaries, affiliates, estates, successors, assigns and attorneys (the “Released Parties”), from any and all claims, actions, causes of action, sums of money due, suits, debts, liens, covenants, contracts, obligations, costs, expenses, damages, judgments, agreements, promises, demands, claims for attorneys’ fees and costs, or liabilities whatsoever, in law or in equity, which Executive ever had or now has against the Released Parties, including, without limitation, any claims arising by reason of or in any way connected with any employment relationship which existed between the Company or any of its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, or predecessors, and Executive. It is understood and agreed that this Release is intended to cover all actions, causes of action, claims or demands for any damage, loss or injury, whether known or unknown, of any nature whatsoever, including those which may be traced either directly or indirectly to the aforesaid employment relationship, or the termination of that relationship, that Executive has, had or purports to have, from the beginning of time to the date of this Release, and including but not limited to claims for employment discrimination under federal or state law, except as provided in Paragraph 2; claims arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. § 621, et seq., Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000(e), et seq., or the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.; claims for statutory or common law wrongful discharge, claims arising under the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.; claims for attorney’s fees, expenses and costs; claims for defamation; claims for emotional distress; claims for wages or vacation pay; claims for benefits, including any claims arising under the Executive Retirement Income Security Act, 29 U.S.C. § 1001, et seq.; and claims under any other applicable federal, state or local laws or legal concepts; provided, however, that nothing herein shall release the Company of # obligations to Executive to make termination payments under § 8 of the Employment Agreement or any other rights under the Employment Agreement, # any indemnification obligations to Executive under the Company’s bylaws, certificate of incorporation, Delaware law or otherwise; # obligations with respect to insurance coverage under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies; # any rights that Executive may have as a stockholder of the Company; or # vested interests in any pension plan or other benefit or deferred compensation plan.

In exchange for the considerations provided for in this Agreement including the receipt of the Severance Amount, Executive hereby completely, irrevocably, and unconditionally releases and forever discharges the Company, and any of its affiliated companies, and each and all of their officers, agents, directors, supervisors, employees, representatives, and their successors and assigns, and all persons acting by, through, under, for, or in concert with them, or any of them, in any and all of their capacities (hereinafter individually or collectively, the "Released Parties"), from any and all charges, complaints, claims, and liabilities of any kind or nature whatsoever, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected (hereinafter referred to as "claim" or "claims") which Executive at any time heretofore had or claimed to have or which Executive may have or claim to have regarding events that have occurred as of the Effective Date of this Agreement, including, without limitation, those based on: any employee welfare benefit or pension plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act as amended (hereinafter "ERISA") (provided that this release does not extend to any vested retirement benefits of Executive under Company's 401(k) Safe Harbor Plan); the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (race, color, religion, sex and national origin discrimination and harassment); the Civil Rights Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. § 1981) (discrimination); the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (hereinafter "ADEA"), as amended; the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, as amended; the Americans With Disabilities Act (hereinafter "ADA"), as amended; § 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended (wage and hour matters); the Family and Medical Leave Act, as amended, (family leave matters), [Article 49B] of the Maryland Code (discrimination), any other federal, state, or local laws or regulations regarding employment discrimination or harassment, wages, insurance, leave, privacy or any other matter; any negligent or intentional tort; any contract, policy or practice (implied, oral, or written); or any other theory of recovery under federal, state, or local law, and whether for compensatory or punitive damages, or other equitable relief, including, but not limited to, any and all claims which Executive may now have or may have had, arising from or in any way whatsoever connected with Executive's employment or contacts, with Company or any other of the Released Parties.

Executive agrees that, in consideration for the Monthly Separation Payments, he, for himself, his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, hereby releases, waives, and forever discharges , its predecessors, successors and assigns, and its present and former officers, directors, managers, members, employees, agents, representatives, trustees, employee benefit plans and programs (and the trustees, administrators, fiduciaries, and insurers of such plans and programs) (“ Releasees”), from any and all claims or liabilities of whatever kind or nature which he ever had or which he now has, known or unknown, against any and all Releasees that are attributable to or arose during all periods of time occurring on or prior to the Effective Date, including, but not limited to, any claims arising under or pursuant to any employment agreements; claims for bonuses, severance pay, employee or fringe benefits not specifically provided for in Section 2 above; claims based on any state or federal wage, employment, or common laws, statutes, or amendments thereto, including, but not limited to: # any claim under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq., or COBRA; # any race, color, religion, sex, or national origin discrimination claims under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000(e) et seq.; # any claim of disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12102 et seq.; # any claim of retaliation or wrongful discharge, # any age discrimination claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended (“ADEA”), 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq.; # any claim under the Fair Labor Standard Act of 1939 as amended, 29 U.S.C.§ 201 et seq.; or # any claim under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq.; and any other claims related to or arising out of his employment relationship with or the termination thereof whether based on contract, quasi-contract, quantum meruit, implied contract, tort, wrongful or constructive discharge or any other employment-related claim (collectively, the “Released Claims”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Released Claims do not include any claims that Executive may have for incentive compensation earned under or pursuant to the Senior Officers Annual Incentive Plan or the Senior Officers Long-Term Incentive Plan for his employment with through the Effective Date.

In exchange for receiving the compensation and benefits described in the Separation Agreement, Executive does for himself and his heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, hereby release, acquit, and forever discharge and hold harmless the Companies and each of their divisions, subsidiaries and affiliated companies, and their respective successors, assigns, officers, directors, shareholders holding more than 5% of Holdings' outstanding common stock as of the Termination Date (and such shareholders' affiliates), employees, benefit and retirement plans (as well as trustees and administrators thereof) and agents, past and present (the "Released Parties"), of and from any and all actions, causes of action, claims, demands, attorneys' fees, compensation, expenses, promises, covenants, and damages of whatever kind or nature, in law or in equity, which Executive has, had or could have asserted, known or unknown (the "Claims"), at common law or under any statute, rule, regulation, order or law, whether federal, state or local, or on any grounds whatsoever, including, without limitation, any and all claims for any additional severance pay, vacation pay, bonus or other compensation, including, but not limited to, under the Term Sheet, Severance Plan or any other applicable severance plan or agreement; any and all claims of discrimination or harassment based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, disability, handicap, age or other unlawful discrimination; any and all claims arising under Title VII of the Federal Civil Rights Act; the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Americans with Disabilities Act; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act; the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act; the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination; the Florida Civil Rights Act; or under any other state, federal, local or common law, with respect to any event, matter, claim, damage or injury arising out of his employment relationship with the Companies and/or the separation of such employment relationship, and/or with respect to any other claim, matter or event, from the beginning of the world to the date of Executive's execution of this Release.

Release. In consideration of the payments and benefits provided to the Executive under the Employment Agreement and after consultation with counsel, the Executive and each of the Executive’s respective heirs, executors, administrators, representatives, agents, insurers, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Releasors”) hereby irrevocably and unconditionally release and forever discharge the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates and each of their respective officers, employees, directors, shareholders and agents (“Releasees”) from any and all claims, actions, causes of action, rights, judgments, obligations, damages, demands, accountings or liabilities of whatever kind or character (collectively, “Claims”), including, without limitation, any Claims under any federal, state, local or foreign law, that the Releasors may have, or in the future may possess, arising out of # the Executive’s employment relationship with and service as an employee, officer or director of the Company or any subsidiaries or affiliated companies and the termination of such relationship or service and # any event, condition, circumstance or obligation that occurred, existed or arose on or prior to the date hereof and relates to your employment with the Company; provided, however, that the Executive does not release, discharge or waive any rights to # payments and benefits provided under the Employment Agreement that are contingent upon the execution by the Executive of this Agreement or otherwise expressly survive termination thereof, and # any indemnification rights the Executive may have in accordance with the Company’s governance instruments or under any director and officer liability insurance maintained by the Company with respect to liabilities arising as a result of the Executive’s service as an officer and employee of the Company. Executive represents that the Executive does not have, and has not asserted, any Claims for or allegations concerning sexual or gender-based harassment with respect to the Executive’s employment with the Company

Executive agrees that, in consideration for the agreements and covenants herein, and for the Monthly Separation Payments, he, for himself, his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, hereby releases, waives, and forever discharges , its predecessors, successors and assigns, and its present and former officers, directors, managers, members, employees, agents, representatives, trustees, employee benefit plans and programs (and the trustees, administrators, fiduciaries, and insurers of such plans and programs) (collectively, the “ Releasees”), from any and all claims or liabilities of whatever kind or nature which he ever had or which he now has, known or unknown, against any and all Releasees that are attributable to or arose during all periods of time occurring on or prior to the Effective Date, including, but not limited to, any claims arising under or pursuant to any employment agreements (including the Executive Agreement); claims for bonuses, severance pay, employee or fringe benefits not specifically provided for in Paragraph 2 above; claims based on any state or federal wage, employment, or common laws, statutes, or amendments thereto, including, but not limited to: # any claim under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq., or COBRA; # any race, color, religion, sex, or national origin discrimination claims under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000(e) et seq.; # any claim of disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12102 et seq.; # any claim of retaliation or wrongful discharge, # any age discrimination claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended (“ADEA”), 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq.; # any claim under the Fair Labor Standard Act of 1939 as amended, 29 U.S.C.§ 201 et seq.; or # any claim under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq.; and any other claims related to or arising out of his employment relationship with or the termination thereof whether based on contract, quasi-contract, quantum meruit, implied contract, tort, wrongful or constructive discharge or any other employment-related claim (collectively, the “Released Claims”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Released Claims do not include any claims that Executive may have for incentive compensation earned under or pursuant to the Senior Officers Annual Incentive Plan or the Senior Officers Long-Term Incentive Plan for his employment with through the Effective Date.

Draft better contracts
faster with AllDrafts

AllDrafts is a cloud-based editor designed specifically for contracts. With automatic formatting, a massive clause library, smart redaction, and insanely easy templates, it’s a welcome change from Word.

And AllDrafts generates clean Word and PDF files from any draft.