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EXHIBIT 10.17    
  


 
 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT    
  


        This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is entered into as of the 10th day of July, 2002, by and between Beazer Homes USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company")
and James O'Leary (the "Executive"), an individual resident in the State of New Jersey. 


W
I T N E S S E T H: 


        WHEREAS,
the Company wishes to employ the Executive, and the Executive wishes to accept employment with the Company, on the terms and conditions set forth herein; 


        NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the Company and Executive hereby agree as follows: 


1.    Employment.    


        1.1    Employment and Duties.    The Company hereby agrees to employ Executive for the Term (as hereinafter defined)
as its Executive Vice President, Corporate Development, subject to the direction of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the "CEO") and, in connection therewith, to perform such duties as he
shall reasonably be directed by the CEO to perform. In performing such duties hereunder, Executive shall comply with the policies and procedures as adopted from time to time by the Board, shall give
the Company the benefit of his special knowledge, skills, contacts and business experience, shall perform his duties and carry out his responsibilities hereunder in a diligent manner, shall be just
and faithful in the performance of his duties and in carrying out his responsibilities and shall devote all of his business time, attention, ability and energy exclusively to the performance of his
duties and responsibilities hereunder; provided, however, that Executive may, with the approval of the Board or the CEO, from time to time, serve, or
continue to serve, on the board of directors of, and hold any other offices or positions in, companies or organizations, which, in the Board's or CEO's
judgment, will not present any conflict of interest with the Company or any of its affiliates or divisions, or adversely affect the performance of Executive's duties pursuant to this Agreement.
Executive hereby accepts such employment and agrees to render such services. 


        1.2    Location.    The principal location for performance of Executive's services hereunder shall be at the offices
of Beazer Homes USA, Inc. which are currently located in Atlanta, Georgia, subject to reasonable travel requirements during the course of such performance. In the event circumstances require a
change in such location to another city, Executive shall have not less than three (3) months advance notice of the effective date of the relocation. 


2.    Employment Term.    


        2.1    Term.    The term of Executive's employment hereunder (the "Term") shall commence effective as of the date
hereof and shall end on September 30, 2003 (the "Initial Term"), unless terminated or extended as provided herein; provided, however; that the
Term shall be extended and this Agreement shall be automatically renewed for successive one-year periods unless: (i) this Agreement is terminated as otherwise provided herein; or
(ii) Executive or the Company provides written notice to the other of such party's desire not to extend this Agreement at least sixty (60) days prior to the expiration date of the Term
of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 2.1. Upon receipt of notice of non-renewal from the Company pursuant to this Section 2.1, Executive shall become entitled to the
payments required by Section 4.5 upon expiration of the then Term. 


3.    Compensation and Benefits.    


        3.1    Cash Compensation.    



        (1)    Base Salary.    In consideration of Executive's services hereunder the Company shall pay Executive an aggregate
base salary at an annualized rate, effective as of the date hereof (until adjusted as provided below), of $285,000, payable, in each case, in such nearly equal installments as may be customary for
executive officers employed by the Company (but not less frequently than monthly) or as may otherwise be agreed to between the Company and Executive, in arrears (the 






 


"Base Salary"). The Base Salary for each year shall be prorated according to the number of days in such year during which this Agreement is in effect. Commencing October 1, 2002 and on each
January 1 thereafter, the Base Salary may be adjusted (upward or downward) by the Compensation Committee of the Board, taking into consideration Executive's performance, general cost of living
increases, the
salaries provided by comparable businesses, the financial condition of the Company and other similar matters. 


        (2)    Bonuses; Stock Incentive Plans.    Executive will be eligible to participate in the Company's bonus and stock
incentive plans (including, without limitation, the Company's 1999 Stock Incentive Plan) at the discretion of the Compensation Committee and the Stock Option and Incentive Committee of the Board. The
amount and terms of, and the targets, conditions and restrictions applicable to each bonus or other incentive award shall be subject to the provisions of any such plan and of the applicable award
letter duly executed and delivered by the Company. 




        3.2    Participation in Benefit Plans.    The payments provided in Section 3 hereof are in addition to any
benefits to which Executive may be, or may become, entitled under any benefit plan or program of the Company for which key executives are or shall become eligible, including, without limitation,
pension, if any, 401(k), life and disability insurance benefits and/or plans. Further, Executive shall be eligible to receive during the period of his employment under this Agreement, all benefits and
emoluments for which key executives are eligible under every such plan or program to the extent permissible under the general terms and provisions of such plans or programs and in accordance with the
provisions thereof. 


        3.3    Vacation.    Executive shall be entitled to twenty (20) working days of compensated vacation in each
fiscal year, to be taken at times which do not unreasonably interfere with the performance of Executive's duties hereunder. Any unused vacation time from any fiscal year shall be subject to
accumulation or forfeiture in accordance with Company policy as in effect from time to time. 


        3.4    Expenses.    The Company will pay or reimburse Executive for all reasonable and necessary
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties under this Agreement. Executive shall keep detailed and accurate records of expenses incurred in
connection with the performance of his duties hereunder and reimbursement therefor shall be in accordance with policies and procedures to be established from time to time by the Board. 


4.    Termination.    


        4.1    General.    In addition to the right of either party to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 2
hereof, the Company shall have right to terminate the employment of Executive as set forth in this Section 4. 


        4.2    Termination for Cause.    In addition to any other remedies which the Company may have at law or in equity, the
CEO may immediately terminate Executive's employment under this Agreement by giving Executive written notice of such termination upon or at any time following the occurrence of any of the following
events, and each such termination shall constitute a termination for "cause": 



        (1)  Any
act or failure to act (or series or combination thereof) by Executive done with the intent to harm in any material respect the interests of the Company or any
affiliate thereof; 


        (2)  The
commission by Executive of a felony; 


        (3)  The
perpetration by Executive of a dishonest act or common law fraud against the Company or any affiliate thereof; 



        (4)  A
grossly negligent act or failure to act (or series or combination thereof) by Executive detrimental in any material respect to the interests of the Company or any
affiliate thereof; 



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        (5)  The
material breach by Executive of his agreements or obligations under this Agreement; or 



        (6)  The
continued refusal to follow the directives of the CEO which are consistent with Executive's duties and responsibilities identified in Section 1.1 hereof. 




Upon
the early termination of Executive's employment under this Agreement by the Company for "cause" the Company shall pay to Executive (i) an amount equal to Executive's Base Salary accrued
through the effective date of termination at the rate in effect at the time notice of termination is given, payable at the time such payment is due; and (ii) at the time such payments are due,
all other amounts to which Executive is entitled hereunder (including expense reimbursement amounts accrued to the effective date of termination or amounts under any benefit plan of the Company, but
expressly excluding any bonus or other incentive payment (or portion thereof) in respect of the fiscal year in which this Agreement is so terminated or any fiscal year of the Company thereafter), and,
upon payment of such amounts, the Company shall have no further obligation to Executive under this Agreement. 


        4.3    Disability of Executive.    Subject to applicable law, if Executive shall become ill or be injured or otherwise
become disabled or incapacitated such that, in the opinion of the Board, he cannot fully carry out and perform his duties hereunder, and such disability or incapacity shall continue for a period of
forty-five (45) consecutive days, the Board may, at any time thereafter, by giving Executive prior written notice, fully and finally terminate his employment under this Agreement.
Termination under this Section 4.3 shall be effective as of the date provided in such notice, which date shall not be fewer than ninety (90) days after such notice is delivered to
Executive or his representative, and the Company shall pay Executive his Base Salary accrued to the effective date of termination at the rate in effect at the
time of such notice, payable at the time such payment is due. Upon payment of (i) such accrued Base Salary; and (ii) all other amounts to which Executive may be entitled hereunder,
including, without limitation, (A) subject to the terms of any such bonus or incentive award, any bonus or incentive payment to which the Executive would have been entitled pursuant to
Section 3.1(2) hereof (prorated for the period up to the effective date of termination), provided the targets and other conditions applicable thereto are met, (B) any expense
reimbursement amounts accrued to the effective date of termination, and (C) any amounts under any other benefit plan of the Company, in any case at the time such payments would otherwise have
become due and payable in the absence of such termination, and the Company shall have no further obligation to Executive under this Agreement. 


        4.4    Death of Executive.    This Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the death of Executive. Upon the early
termination of this Agreement as a result of death, the Company shall pay Executive's estate: (i) an amount equal to Executive's Base Salary accrued through the effective date of termination at
the rate in effect at the effective date of termination, payable at the time such payment is due; and (ii) all other amounts to which Executive is entitled hereunder, including, without
limitation, (A) subject to the terms of any such bonus or incentive award, any bonus or incentive payment to which the Executive would have been entitled pursuant to Section 3.1(2)
hereof (prorated for the period up to the effective date of termination), provided the targets and other conditions applicable thereto are met, (B) any expense reimbursement amounts accrued to
the effective date of termination, and (C) any amounts under any other benefit plan of the Company, in each case at the time such payments would otherwise have become due any payable in the
absence of such termination, and the Company shall have no further obligations to Executive under this Agreement. 



        4.5    Termination Not Otherwise Provided For.    This Section 4.5 governs all terminations of Executive's
employment hereunder which are not otherwise provided for in this Section 4 and expressly contemplates a termination of Executive without "cause", a termination of Executive by the Company by
reason of retirement or termination by the Company by written notice of non-renewal of the Term pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.1,
4.2, 4.3 or 4.4, Executive's 


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employment under this Agreement may be terminated by giving Executive written notice thereof, effective as of the date provided in such notice. Upon such termination of the employment of Executive,
the Company shall pay to Executive: (i) an amount equal to Executive's Base Salary payable for the remainder of the Term at the time such payments would otherwise have become due and payable in
the absence of such termination at the rate in effect on the date of termination or, if terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 2.1, at such rate for 180 days following the end of
the Term; and (ii) all other amounts to which Executive is entitled, including (A) subject to the prior approval of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company
(which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) and subject to the terms of any such bonus or incentive award, any bonus or incentive payment to which the Executive would have been entitled
pursuant to Section 3.1(2) hereof (prorated for the period up to the effective date of termination), provided the targets and other conditions applicable thereto are met, (B) any expense
reimbursement amounts accrued to the effective date of termination, and (C) any amounts under any other benefit plan of the Company, in each case at the time such payments would otherwise have
become due and payable in the absence of such termination, and the Company shall have no further obligations to Executive under this Agreement. 


        4.6    Termination by Executive.    Executive may, with or without cause, terminate his employment under this
Agreement by giving the Company at least sixty (60) days' prior written notice of such termination (which may be waived by the Company), and after the effective date of such termination, the
Company shall have no further obligation to Executive under this Agreement, including, without limitation, no obligation to pay any pro-rata amount of any bonus or incentive payment in
respect of the period up to the date of termination; provided that if Executive terminates his employment after the end of a fiscal year but before payment of any bonus for such fiscal year, such
bonus will be deemed earned as of the last day of such fiscal year and shall be paid in full following termination, within a reasonable period of time after the amount of such bonus has been finally
determined. 


5.    Employment Covenants.    



        5.1    Covenant Not to Compete.    Executive recognizes and acknowledges that the Company is placing its confidence
and trust in Executive. Executive, therefore, covenants and agrees that during the Applicable Non-Compete Period (as defined below) Executive shall not, either directly or indirectly,
without the prior written consent of the Board: 



        (1)  Engage
in or carry on any business or in any way become associated with any business which is similar to or is in competition with the Business of the Company (as such
term is used and defined herein). As used in this Section 5, the term "Business of the Company" shall include all business activities in which the Company is now engaged, including but not
limited to, the purchase of land (or options therefor) for development and the construction of residential homes for resale to consumers and shall further include any business in which the Company is
engaged at any time during the Term; 


        (2)  Solicit
the business of any person or entity, on behalf of himself or any other person or entity, which is or has been at any time during the term of this Agreement a
customer or supplier of the Company including, but not limited to, former or present customers or suppliers with whom Executive has had personal contact during, or by reason of, his relationship with
the Company; 


        (3)  Be
or become an employee, agent, consultant, representative, director or officer of, or be otherwise in any manner associated with, any person, firm, corporation,
association or other entity which is engaged in or is carrying on any business which is similar to or in competition with the Business of the Company; 


        (4)  Solicit
for employment or employ any person employed by the Company at any time during the twelve (12)-month period immediately preceding such solicitation or
employment; or 



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        (5)  Be
or become a shareholder, joint venturer, owner (in whole or in part), or partner, or be or become associated with or have any proprietary or financial interest in or
of any firm, corporation, association or other entity which is engaged in or is carrying on any business which is similar to or in competition with the Business of the Company. Notwithstanding the
proceeding sentence, passive equity investments by Executive of $25,000 or less in any entity or affiliated group of any entity which is engaged in or is carrying on any business which is similar to
or in competition with the Business of the Company shall not be deemed to violate this Section 5.1. 




Executive
hereby recognizes and acknowledges that the existing Business of the Company extends throughout the States of Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, California, Arizona,
Nevada, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Colorado, District of Columbia, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Mississippi and therefore agrees that the covenants not to compete contained
in this Section 5.1 shall be applicable in and throughout such states as well as throughout such additional areas and states in which the Company may be (or has prepared written plans to be)
doing business as of the date of termination of Executive's employment. Executive further warrants and represents that, because of his varied skill and abilities, he does not need to compete with the
Business of the Company and that this Agreement will not prevent him from earning a livelihood and acknowledges that the restrictions contained in this Section 5.1 constitute reasonable
protections for the Company. 


As
used in this Section 5.1, "Applicable Non-Compete Period" shall mean: (a) unless and until the Executive's employment under this Agreement is terminated prior to the
scheduled end of the Term, the period beginning on July 10, 2002 and ending on the date which is 180 days after the scheduled end of the Term (as such Term may be extended from time to
time pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof); (b) if the Executive's employment under this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof or Section 4.3 hereof or for any
other reason (other than as set forth in clause (c) below), the period beginning on July 10, 2002 and ending on the date which is 180 days after scheduled end of the Term (as such
Term may be extended from time to time pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof); (c) if the Executive's employment under this Agreement is terminated without "cause" pursuant to
Section 4.5 hereof, the period beginning on July 10, 2002 and ending on the date of the scheduled end of the Term (as such Term may be extended from time to time pursuant to
Section 2.1 hereof); (d) if on or prior to the date of the scheduled end of the Term (as such Term may be extended from time to time pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof), the Executive
rejects an offer by the Company to extend this Agreement pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof on reasonable terms, the period beginning on July 10, 2002 and ending on the date which is
180 days after the scheduled end of the Term (as such Term may be extended from time to time pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof); and (e) if the Company elects not to extend this
Agreement pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, the period beginning on July 10, 2002 and ending on the date of the scheduled end of the Term (as such Term may be extended from time to time
pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof) 


        5.2    Trade Secrets and Confidential Information.    Executive recognizes and acknowledges that certain information
including, without limitation, information pertaining to the financial condition of the Company, its systems, methods of doing business, agreements with customers or suppliers or other aspects of the
Business of the Company or which is sufficiently secret to derive economic value from not being disclosed ("Confidential Information") may be made available or otherwise come into the possession of
Executive by reason of his employment with the Company. Accordingly, Executive agrees that he will not (either during or after the term of his employment with the Company) disclose any Confidential
Information to any person, firm, corporation, association or other entity for any reason or
purpose whatsoever or make use to his personal advantage or to the advantage of any third party, of any Confidential Information, without the prior written consent of the Board. Executive shall, upon
termination of employment, return to the Company all documents, diskettes, electronic or digital storage devices or any other items which reflect Confidential Information (including copies thereof). 


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Notwithstanding anything heretofore stated in this Section 5.2, Executive's obligations under this Section 5.2 shall not, after termination of Executive's employment with the Company,
apply to information which has become generally available to the public without any action or omission of Executive (except that any Confidential Information which is disclosed to any third party by
an employee or representative of the Company who is not authorized to make such disclosure shall be deemed to remain confidential and protectable by Executive under this Section 5.2). 



        5.3    Records.    All files, records, memoranda, documents, diskettes, electronic or digital storage devices or any
other items regarding former, existing or prospective customers of the Company or relating in any manner whatsoever to Confidential Information or the Business of the Company (collectively,
"Records"), whether prepared by Executive or otherwise coming into his possession, shall be the exclusive property of the Company. All Records shall be immediately placed in the physical possession of
the Company upon the termination of Executive's employment with the Company, or at any other time specified by the Board. The retention and use by Executive of duplicates in any form of Records is
prohibited after the Executive's employment with the Company. 



        5.4    Breach.    Executive hereby recognizes and acknowledges that irreparable injury or damage shall result to the
Company in the event of a breach or threatened breach by Executive of any of the terms or provisions of this Section 5, and Executive therefore agrees that the Company shall be entitled to an
injunction restraining Executive from engaging in any activity constituting such breach or threatened breach. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing any
other remedies available to the Company at law or in equity for such breach or threatened breach, including but not limited to, the recovery of damages from Executive and, if Executive is an employee
of the Company, the termination of his employment with the Company in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement. 


        5.5    Survival.    Notwithstanding the termination of the employment of Executive or the termination of this
Agreement, the provisions of this Section 5 shall survive and be binding upon Executive unless a written agreement which specifically refers to the termination of the obligations and covenants
of this Section 5 is executed by the Company. 


6.    Successors; Assigns.    



        6.1  This
Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the
laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal representatives. 


        6.2  The
Company shall have the right to assign this Agreement and to delegate all of its rights, duties and obligations hereunder to any entity which controls the Company,
which the Company controls or which may be the result of the merger, consolidation, acquisition or reorganization of the Company and another entity. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns. 


7.    Miscellaneous.    


        7.1  THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF. 


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        7.2  Any
notices to be given hereunder by either party to the other may be effected by personal delivery in writing, via facsimile transmission or by mail, registered or
certified, postage prepaid with return receipt requested. Notices shall be addressed to the parties as follows: 



	 	 	If to the Company:	 	Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

5775 Peachtree Dunwoody Road

Suite B-200

Atlanta, Georgia 30342

Attn: President

Facsimile: 404-250-3428
	

 	
 	

If to the Executive:	
 	

James O'Leary

412 Morris Ave

Apartment #53

Summit, NJ 07901





Any
party may change his or its address by written notice in accordance with this Section 7.2. Notices delivered personally shall be deemed communicated as of actual receipt; notices sent via
facsimile
transmission shall be deemed communicated as of receipt by the sender of written confirmation of transmission thereof; mailed notices shall be deemed communicated as of three (3) days after
proper mailing. 


        7.3  This
Agreement supersedes any and all other prior or contemporaneous agreements, either oral or in writing, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and this Agreement contains all of the covenants and agreements between the parties with respect to employment of Executive by the Company. 



        7.4  The
failure of the Executive or the Company to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any right the Executive or the
Company may have hereunder shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement. 


        7.5  Except
as otherwise provided in Section 7.6 hereof, no amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be deemed effective unless and until executed in writing
by each party hereto. 


        7.6  All
agreements and covenants contained herein are severable and in the event any of them shall be held to be invalid by any competent court, this Agreement shall be
interpreted as if such invalid agreements or covenants were not contained herein. Should any court or other legally constituted authority determine that for any such agreement or covenant to be
effective that it must be modified to limit its duration or scope, the parties hereto shall consider such agreement or covenant to be amended or modified with respect to duration and/or scope so as to
comply with the orders of any such court or other legally constituted authority, and as to all other portions of such agreement or covenants they shall remain in full force and effect as originally
written. 


        7.7  All
headings set forth in this Agreement are intended for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning, construction or effect of this Agreement or of
any of the provisions hereof. 


        7.8  All
controversies which may arise between the parties hereto including, but not limited to, those arising out of or related to this Agreement shall be determined by
binding arbitration applying the laws of the State of Delaware as set forth in Section 7.1 hereof. Any arbitration pursuant to this Agreement shall be conducted in New York City before the
American Arbitration Association in accordance with its arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be final and binding upon all the parties (so long as the award was not produced by corruption, fraud
or undue means) and the arbitrator's award shall not be required to include factual findings or legal reasoning. Nothing in this Section 7.8 will 


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prevent either party from resorting to judicial proceedings if interim injunctive relief under the laws of the State of New York from a court is necessary to prevent serious and irreparable injury to
one of the parties. 


        7.9  This
Agreement may be executed via facsimile transmission signature and in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument. 


        7.10 All
matters to be determined by the Board pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be determined by the members of the Board or any duly authorized committee
thereof. 


        7.11 The
Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any
applicable law or regulation. 


[signature
page follows] 


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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Employment Agreement as of the July 10, 2002.



	 	/s/  JAMES O'LEARY      
 James O'Leary
	

 	

BEAZER HOMES USA, INC.
	

 	

/s/  IAN J. MCCARTHY      
 Ian J. McCarthy

President/CEO




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EXHIBIT 10.17


EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT