Exhibit A
Release of Claims
Release of Claims by the Executive. In consideration of the payments and benefits to which the
Executive is entitled hereunder, as of the date of termination, the Executive hereby waives and
releases and forever discharges the Company and all of its subsidiaries, divisions, limited
partnerships, affiliated corporations, successors and assigns; and the past and present directors,
managers, officers, stockholders, partners, agents, employees, insurers, attorneys, and servants of
all of the foregoing, each in his, her or its capacity as such, and each of them separately and
collectively (collectively, “Releasees”), from any and all existing claims, charges, complaints,
liens, demands, causes of action, obligations, damages and liabilities, known or unknown,
suspected or unsuspected, whether or not mature or ripe, that the Executive ever had and now has
against any Releasee, including without limitation arising out of or in any way related to
Executive’s employment with or separation from the Company, to any services performed for the
Company, to any status, term or condition in such employment, or to any physical or mental
harm or distress from such employment or non-employment or claim to any hire, rehire or future
employment of any kind by the Company, all to the extent allowed by applicable law. This
release of claims includes, but is not limited to, claims based on express or implied contract,
compensation plans, covenants of good faith and fair dealing, wrongful discharge, claims for
discrimination, harassment and retaliation, violation of public policy, tort or common law,
whistleblower or retaliation claims; and claims for additional compensation or damages or
attorneys' fees or claims under federal, state, and local laws, regulations and ordinances,
including but not limited to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of
1991, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the
Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act
(“WARN”), or equivalent state WARN Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, and
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Executive understands that this release of claims includes a
release of all known and unknown claims through the date on which this release of claims
becomes irrevocable.
The Executive expressly waives any and all rights under Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the
State of California and any like provision or principle of common law in any foreign jurisdiction.
Section 1542 provides as follows:
“A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to
exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him or her
must have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor.”
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1542, for the purpose of implementing a full and
complete release and discharge, the Executive expressly acknowledges that this Agreement is
intended to include in its effect, without limitation, claims and causes of action which he does
not know of or suspect to exist in the Executive’s favor at the time of execution of this
Agreement and that this Agreement contemplates extinguishment of all such claims and causes
of action. With full awareness and understanding of the above provisions, the Executive hereby
waives any rights the Executive may have under Section 1542, as well as under any other statutes