settlement agreement (final)

7/27/2019 Settlement Agreement (Final)

1/13

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE IN FULL

THIS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE IN FULL (hereinafter referred to

as Settlement Agreement! is entered into "# and "et$een Dr% Ana M% G&'man (hereinafter

referred to as Dr% G&'man! and the Goerning )oard of Santa Fe *omm&nit# *ollege

(hereinafter referred to as the *ollege!%

RECITALS

+% Dr% G&'man entered into an Em,lo#ment Agreement $ith the *ollege on -&l# +./

.0+. to sere as 1resident of the *ollege/ $hi2h $as effe2tie as of Se,tem"er +/ .0+.%

.% Dr% G&'man3s em,lo#ment at the *ollege $as terminated for 2a&se on De2em"er

./ .0+4%

4% After her termination/ Dr% G&'man made 2ertain 2laims against the *ollege

related to the termination of her em,lo#ment/ in2l&ding a 2hallenge to 2a&se in a Demand for

Ar"itration filed $ith the Ameri2an Ar"itration Asso2iation (AAA 2ase 56 ++6 7 + +8 AM*H!

(hereinafter referred to as the Ar"itration! and a *om,laint for Damages 1&rs&ant to the Ne$

Me9i2o :histle"lo$er 1rote2tion A2t and for De2larator# -&dgment filed in the First -&di2ial

Distri2t *o&rt for the State of Ne$ Me9i2o (No% D;+0+;*


2/13

% Dr% G&'man and the *ollege hae entered into this Settlement Agreement in order

to settle finall# and 2om,letel# an# and all rights/ 2laims/ 2o&nter2laims/ demands/ and a2tions/

>no$n or &n>no$n/ $hi2h hae "een or 2o&ld hae "een alleged arising o&t of or relating to Dr%

G&'man3s em,lo#ment $ith the *ollege or Dr% G&'man3s termination of em,lo#ment $ith the

*ollege%

AGREEMENT

In 2onsideration of the foregoing and the m&t&al ,romises and 2oenants hereinafter

2ontained/ and for other good and al&a"le 2onsideration/ the re2ei,t and ade?&a2# of $hi2h are

here"# a2>no$ledged/ and for ea2h a2t to "e done ,&rs&ant to this Settlement Agreement "# Dr%

G&'man and the *ollege (hereinafter 2olle2tiel# referred to as the 1arties!/ the 1arties agree

as follo$s=

6. RECITALS. The re2itals a"oe are in2or,orated herein "# referen2e%

7. PAYMENT. The *ollege and its ins&rer $ill ,a# Dr% G&'man a total of

B00/000%00 (fie;h&ndred tho&sand dollars! (hereinafter referred to as the 1a#ment!% The

*ollege ma>es no re,resentation 2on2erning the ta9 2onse?&en2es/ if an#/ of the 1a#ment% Dr%

G&'man a2>no$ledges and agrees that an# ta9 2onse?&en2es or lia"ilit# she in2&rs arising from

the 1a#ment/ shall "e her sole res,onsi"ilit#%

8. RELEASE.

A% For al&a"le 2onsideration/ as re2ited herein/ the ade?&a2# and s&ffi2ien2# of

$hi2h is here"# a2>no$ledged/ Dr% G&'man/ and an# of her agents/ attorne#s/

.


3/13

re,resentaties/ heirs/ s&22essors/ and assigns/ do here"# release and foreer dis2harge

the *ollege/ and an# of its ,ast/ ,resent and f&t&re offi2ers/ )oard mem"ers/ dire2tors/

s&22essors/ ,rede2essors/ assigns/ affiliates/ fo&ndations/ attorne#s/ em,lo#ees/ ins&rers/

and an# ,erson or entit# haing an# rights of re,resentation thro&gh them/ from an# and

all legal or e?&ita"le 2laims/ 2o&nter2laims/ 2harges/ 2a&ses of a2tion/ e9,enses/ 2osts/

attorne#s3 fees/ loss/ damages/ ta9 2onse?&en2es arising from the 2onsideration ,aid

here&nder/ 2laims &nder the 2ommon la$ or an# stat&te or la$/ and lia"ilities of eer#

nat&re and des2ri,tion/ $hether >no$n or &n>no$n/ arising o&t of or relating in an# $a#

to Dr% G&'man3s em,lo#ment $ith the *ollege/ Dr% G&'man3s termination of

em,lo#ment $ith the *ollege/ the Ar"itration/ the *om,laint and the 2laims/ in@&ries/ or

damages alleged in the *om,laint or the Ar"itration%

The 2laims released in2l&de/ "&t are not limited to/ 2laims &nder an# lo2al/ state or

federal la$/ reg&lation or ordinan2e ,rohi"iting dis2rimination in em,lo#mentC 2laims for

"rea2h of 2ontra2t or $rongf&l dis2hargeC 2laims &nder the Ne$ Me9i2o :histle"lo$er

1rote2tion A2tC 2laims for 2om,ensation/ front ,a#/ "a2> ,a#/ "enefits/ attorne#s3 fees/

2osts/ monetar# re2oer#/ reinstatement to em,lo#ment and other re2oer# or relief of

an# t#,e or >indC and 2laims for 2om,ensation/ front ,a#/ "a2> ,a#/ "enefits/ attorne#s3

fees/ 2osts/ monetar# re2oer#/ reinstatement to em,lo#ment and other re2oer# or relief

of an# t#,e or >ind sho&ld an# federal/ state or lo2al "&rea&/ agen2# or 2ommission

,&rs&e an# 2laims on her "ehalf%

)% For al&a"le 2onsideration/ as re2ited herein/ the ade?&a2# and s&ffi2ien2#

of $hi2h is here"# a2>no$ledged/ the *ollege/ and an# of its ,ast/ ,resent and f&t&re

offi2ers/ )oard mem"ers/ dire2tors/ s&22essors/ ,rede2essors/ assigns/ affiliates/

4


4/13

fo&ndations/ attorne#s/ ins&rers/ and an# ,erson or entit# haing an# rights of

re,resentation thro&gh them/ do here"# release and foreer dis2harge Dr% G&'man/ her

agents/ attorne#s/ re,resentaties/ heirs/ s&22essors/ and assigns from an# and all legal or

e?&ita"le 2laims/ 2o&nter2laims/ 2harges/ 2a&ses of a2tion/ e9,enses/ 2osts/ attorne#s3

fees/ loss/ damages/ ta9 2onse?&en2es arising from the 2onsideration ,aid here&nder/

2laims &nder the 2ommon la$ or an# stat&te or la$/ and lia"ilities of eer# nat&re and

des2ri,tion/ $hether >no$n or &n>no$n/ arising o&t of or relating in an# $a# to Dr%

G&'man3s em,lo#ment $ith the *ollege/ Dr% G&'man3s termination of em,lo#ment $ith

the *ollege/ the Ar"itration and the *om,laint the 2laims/ in@&ries/ or damages alleged

therein%

9. OLDER WORKER BENEFIT PROTECTION ACT PROVISIONS. Dr%

G&'man releases all 2laims she ma# hae against the *ollege and an# of its ,ast/ ,resent and

f&t&re offi2ers/ )oard mem"ers/ dire2tors/ s&22essors/ ,rede2essors/ assigns/ affiliates/

fo&ndations/ attorne#s/ em,lo#ees/ ins&rers/ and an# ,erson or entit# haing an# rights of

re,resentation thro&gh them/ arising &nder the Age Dis2rimination in Em,lo#ment A2t

(hereinafter referred to as the ADEA!% This Settlement Agreement does not release ADEA

2laims that ma# arise after the e9e2&tion of this Settlement Agreement% The 2onsideration for

this Release of ADEA 2laims is the 2onsideration des2ri"ed in herein% Dr% G&'man has t$ent#;

one da#s from Mar2h 5/ .0+8/ to 2onsider $hether to enter into and sign this Settlement

Agreement% Dr% G&'man ma# sign this Settlement Agreement at an# time d&ring the t$ent#;one

da# ,eriod% Sho&ld the t$ent#;one da# ,eriod e9,ire and Dr% G&'man not sign this Settlement

Agreement/ the offer 2ontained in this Settlement Agreement is $ithdra$n "# the *ollege%

8


5/13

Dr% G&'man ma# reo>e this Settlement Agreement &, to seen da#s after she has signed

the Settlement Agreement "# filling o&t/ signing and s&"mitting the Reo2ation Form/ atta2hed

as Exhibi !/ to 2o&nsel for the *ollege/ $ithin the seen;da# reo2ation ,eriod% This Settlement

Agreement shall not "e effe2tie or enfor2ea"le &ntil the seen;da# reo2ation ,eriod has

e9,ired%

Dr% G&'man s,e2ifi2all# a2>no$ledges that the release of her 2laims &nder this Settlement

Agreement in2l&des/ $itho&t limitation/ $aier and release of all 2laims &nder the ADEA and

the lder :or>er )enefit 1rote2tion A2t/ and Dr% G&'man f&rther a2>no$ledges and agrees that=

A% She $as and is here"# adised to 2ons&lt an attorne# in 2onne2tion $ith

this Settlement AgreementC

)% She has "een gien a ,eriod of t$ent#;one (.+! da#s $ithin $hi2h to

2onsider the terms of this Settlement AgreementC

*% She ma# reo>e this Settlement Agreement for a ,eriod of seen (5! da#s

follo$ing her e9e2&tion of this Settlement Agreement/ rendering this Settlement

Agreement n&ll and oidC

D% This Settlement Agreement is $ritten in ,lain and &nderstanda"le

lang&age $hi2h she f&ll# &nderstandsC and

E% This Settlement Agreement 2om,lies in all res,e2ts $ith the $aier and

reo2ation ,roisions of the federal lder :or>er )enefit 1rote2tion A2t%

!". NO ADMISSION OF LIABILITY. The 1arties a2>no$ledge and agree that

this Settlement Agreement is a 2om,romise settlement $hi2h is not in an# res,e2t/ nor for an#

,&r,ose/ to "e deemed or 2onstr&ed to "e an admission of lia"ilit# on the ,art of the *ollege%

The 1arties &nderstand and agree that all 2laims are dis,&ted and that this Settlement Agreement


6/13

2onstit&tes a 2om,lete and final settlement of the 1arties3 a2t&al and ,otential 2laims and shall

neer "e treated as eiden2e of lia"ilit# or res,onsi"ilit# at an# time or in an# manner

$hatsoeer%

!!. PRESS STATEMENT. The onl# ,&"li2 statement regarding this Settlement

Agreement that $ill "e made "# the 1arties or their attorne#s is the follo$ing=

All 1arties 2are dee,l# a"o&t the *ollege and "eliee that a mediated settlement isthe "est $a# to end this dis,&te rather than 2ontin&ing $ith ,rotra2ted litigation%The *ollege has agreed to ,a# Dr% G&'man B 00/000%00 in e92hange for arelease to settle all 2laims% All ,arties loo> for$ard to ,&tting this dis,&te "ehindthem% The Settlement Agreement $ill "e aaila"le on Mar2h +.%

!#. NON$DISPARAGEMENT. The Em,lo#er and the Em,lo#ee agree not to

dis,arage one another% For ,&r,oses of this 1aragra,h +4/ Em,lo#er means the 2&rrent

indiid&al mem"ers of the Goerning )oard of the Santa Fe *omm&nit# *ollege/ Dr% Andrea

)ermde' (,ast )oard mem"er!/ the 2olle2tie Goerning )oard of the Santa Fe 2omm&nit#

*ollege and the *ollege 1resident% Em,lo#ee means Dr% G&'man% Dis,aragement means

derogator# remar>s a"o&t Em,lo#er or Em,lo#ee/ in2l&ding "&t not limited to referen2es to

malfeasan2e/ "rea2h of fid&2iar# d&ties/ finan2ial information (e92e,t $here re?&ired "# la$/

in2l&ding "&t not limited to goernmental inestigations/ information res,onsie to a legall#

alid s&",oena/ and re?&ired goernmental re,orts or dis2los&res!/ dis2riminationra2ism

(in2l&ding "&t not limited to *&"an/ His,ani2/ Afri2an;Ameri2an/ or Anglo!/ fra&d/ or ,oor

,erforman2e% The Em,lo#er or the Em,lo#ee ma# "ring s&it for iolation of this 1aragra,h +./

"&t the ,reailing ,art# is entitled to re2oer 2osts and attorne#s3 fees%

!%. RETURN OF COLLEGE DOCUMENTS. No later than Mar2h .+/ .0+8/ Dr%

G&'man agrees to gie to her attorne# all Santa Fe *omm&nit# *ollege do2&ments in her

6


7/13

,ossession and her attorne# $ill immediatel# ,roide those do2&ments to the attorne# for the

*ollege%

!&. DISMISSAL DOCUMENTS. Dr% G&'man agrees that her 2o&nsel shall sign

and delier to the *ollege a Sti,&lation of Dismissal $ith 1re@&di2e/ in the form atta2hed hereto

as Exhibi #/ for the dismissal of the *om,laint/ at the time Dr% G&'man signs and deliers this

Settlement Agreement to the *ollege% U,on re2ei,t "# Dr% G&'man of a f&ll# e9e2&ted 2o,# of

this Settlement Agreement and 2he2>s for the 1a#ment in 1aragra,h 5/ 2o&nsel for the *ollege

shall file the Sti,&lation of Dismissal $ith 1re@&di2e regarding the *om,laint in the First -&di2ial

Distri2t *o&rt%

!'. COMPLETE AND BINDING AGREEMENT. The terms of this Settlement

Agreement are 2ontra2t&al and not a mere re2ital% All agreements and &nderstandings "et$een

the 1arties are e9,ressed in this do2&ment% This Settlement Agreement ma# not "e modified

e92e,t "# $ritten agreement a22e,ted and a2>no$ledged "# all 1arties% This Agreement shall "e

"inding &,on and shall in&re to the "enefit of the 1arties named herein/ their legal

re,resentaties/ s&22essors/ and assigns%

!6. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. The 1arties a2>no$ledge that the# hae "een

re,resented "# inde,endent legal 2o&nsel of their 2hoi2e% The# f&rther a2>no$ledge that (a! the#

hae made an informed de2ision to enter into this Settlement Agreement/ and ("! the# hae had

s&ffi2ient time to 2onsider the matter and no$ desire to e9e2&te and delier this Settlement

Agreement% The 1arties f&rther a2>no$ledge that the# and their res,e2tie legal 2o&nsel hae

,arti2i,ated in negotiating and drafting the lang&age set forth herein/ and that said lang&age shall

"e 2onstr&ed ne&trall# and not in faor of either the *ollege or Dr% G&'man%

5


8/13

!7. CONTROLLING LAWS( )URISDICTION( AND VENUE. This Settlement

Agreement shall "e inter,reted/ goerned and enfor2ed &nder the la$s of the State of Ne$

Me9i2o/ and @&risdi2tion and en&e of an# dis,&te here&nder shall "e in the First -&di2ial Distri2t

*o&rt of Ne$ Me9i2o%

!8. SEVERABILITY. In the eent that an# ,roision of this Settlement Agreement

2onfli2ts $ith the la$ &nder $hi2h this Settlement Agreement is to "e 2onstr&ed/ or if an# s&2h

,roision is held inalid/ s&2h ,roision shall "e deemed to "e restated to refle2t/ as nearl# as

,ossi"le/ the original intentions of the 1arties in a22ordan2e $ith the a,,li2a"le la$% The

remainder of this Settlement Agreement shall remain in f&ll for2e and effe2t%

!9. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement ma# "e e9e2&ted in one or more

2o&nter,arts/ ea2h of $hi2h shall "e deemed an original/ "&t all of $hi2h together shall 2onstit&te

one instr&ment%


9/13

)#=

Dr% Ana M% G&'man

STATE F NE: MEI* !

!*UNT7 F SANTA FE !

This instr&ment $as a2>no$ledged "efore me on this da# of Mar2h/ .0+8/ "# Dr%Ana M% G&'man%

Notar# 1&"li2

M# 2ommission e9,ires=

The Goerning )oard of Santa Fe*omm&nit# *ollege

)#=

Goerning )oard *hairSanta Fe *omm&nit# *ollege

STATE F NE: MEI* !!

*UNT7 F SANTA FE !

This instr&ment $as a2>no$ledged "efore me on this da# of Mar2h/ .0+8/ "# -%*hris A"e#ta/ the *hair of the Goerning )oard of the Santa Fe *omm&nit# *ollege%

Notar# 1&"li2


J


10/13

+0


11/13

REVOCATION FORM

I*+,-i/*+0

For reo2ation of the Settlement Agreement and Release in F&ll (Release! to "e

effe2tie/ this Reo2ation Form m&st "e filled o&t/ signed in the ,resen2e of a Notar# 1&"li2 anddeliered to L#nn E% Mostoller at the offi2e of S&tin/ Tha#er K )ro$ne/ 1%*%/ 66 Ameri2as

1ar>$a#/ NE/ T$o 1ar> S?&are/ +0thFloor/ Al"&?&er?&e/ Ne$ Me9i2o 5++0 $ithin seen (5!

da#s follo$ing the date #o&/ Dr% Ana M% G&'man/ sign the Settlement Agreement%

If L#nn E% Mostoller does not re2eie this filled o&t and signed Reo2ation Form $ithin

seen (5! da#s follo$ing the date #o& sign the Settlement Agreement/ #o& $ill not "e a"le to

reo>e the Settlement Agreement%

R12/3i/*0

)# signing "elo$/ I/ Dr% Ana M% G&'man/ reo>e the Release signed "# me on Mar2h

/ .0+8% I &nderstand that "# filling o&t/ signing in the ,resen2e of a Notar# 1&"li2 and

deliering this Reo2ation Form to L#nn E% Mostoller as indi2ated a"oe/ m# agreement to

a22e,t the Settlement Agreement $ill "e 2onsidered $ithdra$n/ and I $ill not re2eie the

2onsideration from the *ollege that is ,roided "# the Settlement Agreement%

STATE F NE: MEI* !!ss%

*UNT7 F SANTA FE !

The foregoing instr&ment $as s&"s2ri"ed/ s$orn to and a2>no$ledged "efore me on the

da# of / .0+8 "# Dr% Ana M% G&'man%

Notar# 1&"li2


E45IBIT !

++


12/13

STATE F NE: MEI**UNT7 F )ERNALILLFIRST -UDI*IAL DISTRI*T *URT

Dr% Ana M% G&'man/

1laintiff/

% No% D;+0+;*


13/13

EGLF/ FERLI* K DA7/ LL*

)#

ate Ferli2Attorne#s for 1laintiff+. Grant Aen&e/ S&ite 40+Santa Fe/ NM 50+

NAR

settlement agreement (final)

Documents