First Amended and Restated Employment Agreement - Steve Lawler



 Exhibit 10.3 
 FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 
 This FIRST AMENDED
AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), signed on June 21, 2012 and effective as of July 1, 2012 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Deer Valley Homebuilders, Inc., an Alabama corporation,
whose principal place of business is located at 205 Carriage Street, Guin Alabama 35563 (“DVHB”), Deer Valley Corporation, a Florida corporation, who maintains a mailing address at 3030 N. Rocky Point Drive, Suite 150, Tampa,
Florida 33607 (“DVC” and together with DVHB, the “Employer”), and John Steven Lawler (the “Employee”), an individual currently residing at the address set forth on the signature page to this
Agreement. 
 BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
 DVHB and Employee entered into an Employment Agreement on January 18, 2006, which was subsequently amended on February 26, 2010 and June 5, 2011. The parties now wish to amend the terms of
the Employee’s employment to change the Employee’s compensation and make certain other amendments, all as provided herein. Accordingly, the parties agree as follows: 
 OPERATIVE PROVISIONS 
 1. Employment and Term. Employer
hereby employs Employee and the latter hereby accepts employment by Employer for a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on January 18, 2016 (the “Term”). DVHB and DVC are co-employers of Employee. Employee’s
payroll shall be processed by DVHB. DVHB and DVC are jointly and severally liable for all payments due under this Agreement. 

2. Duties. During the Term of this Agreement, the Employee shall serve as Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of each of DVC and
DVHB, and in such additional executive and operational capacities with Employer as appropriate to his responsibilities and skills as shall be designated by DVC, through action of its Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”).
During the term of this Agreement, the Employee shall devote his full time and attention to the business and affairs of DVC, or its subsidiaries, and shall not work anywhere else without the prior approval of the Board of Directors, which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld. 
 3. Compensation; Discretionary Bonus; Benefits. 

a. Fixed Compensation. For the services to be rendered by the Employee under this Agreement Employer shall pay Employee
annual fixed compensation (“Fixed Compensation”) as follows: (i) $78,000 per year (inclusive of any amounts subject to federal or state employment related withholding requirements) for the period commencing on the Effective
Date and ending on June 4, 2013, and (ii) $91,000 per year (inclusive of any amounts subject to federal or state employment related withholding requirements) for the period commencing on June 5, 2013 and ending on January 18,
2016. Such Fixed Compensation shall be payable in arrears in equal weekly installments or otherwise as the parties may agree. 

  
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 b. Profit Sharing Plan. During employment with Employer under this Agreement, the
Employee is eligible to participate and receive 20% of 15% of the Net Income Before Taxes (as defined in the Earnout Agreement dated 18, 2006) of DVHB (which such amount shall include any facility or plant manufacturing manufactured or mobile homes,
including the proposed Sulligent location) (the “Profit Sharing Distribution”) . The annual period used to measure the Profit Sharing Plan shall be DVHB’s fiscal year (the “Profit Sharing Year”). The Profit
Sharing Distribution shall be estimated and paid quarterly on or before thirty (30) days following the end of each of the first three quarters of the Profit Sharing Year. The Profit Sharing Distribution for the fourth quarter of each Profit
Sharing Year shall be paid on the earlier of: (i) the completion of DVHB’s audited financial statements for the Profit Sharing Year; or (ii) one hundred five (105) days if it is the last fiscal quarter of the
applicable Profit Sharing Year. To prevent overpayment, DVHB shall hold back ten percent (10%) of the amount otherwise payable to an Employee during each of first three quarters of each Profit Sharing Year. Subject to the other terms of this
Agreement, DVHB will provide an accounting to and pay the actual Profit Sharing Distribution to the Employee for each applicable Profit Sharing Year upon the earlier of: (i) completion of the Company’s audited financial statements
for the applicable Profit Sharing Year, and (ii) one hundred five (105) days if it is the last fiscal quarter of the applicable Profit Sharing Year. The Employee must be employed by the Employer at the end of the quarter in order to be
eligible to receive the Profit Sharing Distribution, provided, however, no Profit Sharing Distribution, or portion thereof (regardless of whether the Employee is employed at the end of a quarter), shall be paid to an Employee whose
employment is terminated by Employer with Cause, or terminated by the Employee, after completion of the applicable quarter but prior to the date that the Profit Sharing Distribution is payable. [As growth opportunities are identified and implemented
by DVC’s management team, it is the intent of the Board of the Directors to review and consider, in its sole discretion, the adoption and implementation of a DVC profit sharing plan for the Employee to replace, with consent of the Employee, the
Profit Sharing Distribution described in this Section 3.b.]. 
 c. Hitch Bonus. During employment with the Employer
under this Agreement, the Employee shall be entitled to a monthly “hitch bonus” of $50 per “floor” produced by the Company during each month of the Term of this Agreement (the “Hitch Bonus”) (which such amount
shall include floors manufactured at any facility or plant manufacturing manufactured or mobile homes, including the proposed Sulligent location). A single wide trailer shall be deemed to have one “floor” and a double-wide trailer shall be
deemed to have two “floors.” The Hitch Bonus shall be paid to the Employee on or before the fifteenth day after the month that the Hitch Bonus was earned. The Employee must be employed by Employer at the end of the month in order to be
eligible to receive a Hitch Bonus. 
 d. Vacation; Employee Benefits. During the term of this Agreement, the Employee
shall be (i) entitled to paid vacation in accordance with Employer’s vacation policy, as such vacation policy may be amended and in effect from time to time by the Board of Directors, and (ii) entitled to participate in life, medical,
dental, disability and other benefit plans as maintained by Employer for employees of Employer holding positions and performing duties substantially similar to those performed by Employee, as such benefits may be amended and in effect from time to
time by the Board of Directors. 

  
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 4. Termination of Employment. 

a. Termination and Termination Payment. Employer or the Employee may terminate Employee’s employment at any time, with or
without cause, by providing thirty days prior written notice thereof to the other party. If, at any time during the Term of this Agreement, the Employee is terminated by Employer other than for Cause (as defined in Section 4.b. below), then
Employer shall, as severance pay, pay the Employee his regular Fixed Compensation, at the rate in effect hereunder immediately prior to such termination, which shall be payable in installments on Employer’s regular payroll dates, from the date
of such termination until the earlier of (i) twenty-four months after the date of such termination, or (ii) the end of the Term. If, at any time during the Term of this Agreement, the Employee terminates his employment for Good Reason (as
such term is defined below), then Employer shall, as severance pay, pay the Employee his regular Fixed Compensation, at the rate in effect hereunder immediately prior to such termination, which shall be payable in installments on Employer’s
regular payroll dates, from the date of such termination until the earlier of (i) twelve months after the date of such termination, or (ii) the end of the Term. For avoidance of doubt, no severance payment will be due to the Employee upon
the Employee voluntarily terminating the employment relationship other than termination for Good Reason, upon termination of the employment relationship due to the Employee’s death or Disability (as discussed at Section 4(c) below), or
upon termination by Employer for Cause. A termination of employment by Employee for “Good Reason” shall mean a termination by Employee of his employment with Employer due to (i) the reassignment of
Employee’s principal place of employment to a location more than fifty (50) miles from 205 Carriage Street, Guin Alabama 35563, or (ii) the failure of Employer to obtain the assumption of this Agreement by any successor to
Employer; provided, however, the Employee shall provide written notice to the Board of Directors specifying in reasonable detail the circumstances claimed to provide the basis for such termination, and the Board of Directors shall fail
to correct the circumstances set forth in Employee’s notice of termination within 20 days of receipt of such notice. 
 b.
Termination by the Employer for Cause. The Board of Directors may terminate the Employee’s employment hereunder for Cause (as defined below) upon furnishing written notice to the Employee, provided that if the basis for the
Employer so terminating Employee is described by clauses (i), (ii), or (iv) below, Employee shall have been given prior written notice of any proposed termination for Cause, which notice shall specify in reasonable detail the
circumstances claimed to provide the basis for such termination, and Employee shall not have corrected such circumstances, in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Board of Directors, within thirty days of receipt of such written notice (the
“Cure Period”); provided, however, during such Cure Period, the Employee shall have the right to appear before the Board of Directors to answer and contest the charges set forth in the notice, provided, further, the Employee shall
have right to have his counsel attend such hearing and participate in arguments to the Board of Directors. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean a reasonable determination by the Board of Directors of any of the following:

 (i) The Employee’s misconduct or negligence; 
 (ii) The Employee’s disregard of his obligations hereunder or of any other written duties reasonably assigned to him by the Board of Directors or an officer of DVC; 

(iii) The Employee’s commission of any act involving fraud or moral turpitude; 

(iv) A determination that the Employee has demonstrated a dependence upon any addictive substance, including alcohol, controlled
substances, narcotics or barbiturates: or 
 (v) The Employee’s breach of this Agreement, including, but not limited to the
confidentiality, non-solicitation or non-compete provisions of Section 5 of this Agreement. 
 Except for any Fixed
Compensation and benefits accrued, vested and unpaid as of the date of any such termination under this Section 4.b., Employer shall be under no further obligation hereunder, including, but not limited to Severance Payments, and the Employee
shall not be entitled to receive any other payments or benefits under this Agreement. 

  
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 c. Death or Disability. The Employee’s employment hereunder shall automatically
terminate in the event of the Employee’s death or Disability (as such term is defined in Section 6.a. below). In the case of death, except for any Fixed Compensation and benefits accrued, vested and unpaid as of the date of any such
termination under this Section 4.c., Employer shall be under no further obligation to the Employee or to his or her heirs or personal representatives, and the Employee or his or her heirs or personal representatives shall not be entitled to
receive any other payments or benefits under this Agreement, including, but not limited to Severance Payments. In the case of Disability, except for any Fixed Compensation and benefits accrued, vested and unpaid as of the date of any such
termination under this Section 4.c., Employer shall be under no further obligation to the Employee or to his or her heirs or personal representatives, and the Employee or his or her heirs or personal representatives shall not be entitled to
receive any other payments or benefits under this Agreement, including, but not limited to Severance Payments; provided, however, the Employee shall be entitled to continue to receive payments and/ or benefits provided hereunder for ninety
(90) days from the date of Disability. 
 5. Non-Disclosure; Prohibited Activities. 

a. Return of Company Property. Upon the termination of employment, the Employee promptly will supply to Employer all property
(including all files, Customer lists, etc.) that has been produced or received by the Employee during his or her employment with Employer, whether or not related to the Confidential Information. 

b. Non-compete. Employee agrees and covenants that Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, anywhere within any state in which
Employer conducts its business (the “Restricted Territory”) for a period from the date of this Amendment until the earlier of (i) date two-years after termination of Employee’s employment with Employer, or (ii) the
end of the Term (the “Restriction Period”): (a) form, acquire, finance, assist, support, or become associated as an employee, agent, partner, shareholder, coventurer or otherwise, directly or indirectly, with, or engage in, a
Competitive Business (as defined below); (b) for the purpose of conducting or engaging in any Competitive Business, call upon, solicit, advise or otherwise do, or attempt to do business with any suppliers, Customers or accounts of Employer or
take away or interfere or attempt to interfere with any customer, trade, business or patronage of Employer; or (c) interfere with or attempt to interfere with or hire any officers, employees, representatives or agents of Employer, or any of
Employer’s subsidiaries or Affiliates, or induce or attempt to induce any of them to leave the employ of Employer or any of Employer’s subsidiaries or Affiliates, or violate the terms of their contract with any of them. Employee shall not
use or disclose, after the date hereof, any proprietary information or know-how of Employer in any Competitive Business. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, at any time during the Term of this Agreement, the Employee terminates his employment for
Good Reason, then the Restriction Period shall end on the earlier of (i) the date one-year after termination of Employee’s employment with Employer, or (ii) the end of the Term. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, if, at any
time during the Term of this Agreement, Employer terminates the Employee for Cause, then the Restriction Period shall end on the earlier of (i) the date six months after termination by Employer of Employee’s employment, or (ii) the
end of the Term.” 
 c. Divisibility of Covenant Period. If any covenant contained in this Agreement is held to be
unreasonable, arbitrary or against public policy, such covenant shall be considered divisible both as to time, Customers, competitive services and geographical area, such that each month within the specified period shall be deemed a separate period
of time, each Customer a separate customer, each competitive service a separate service and each geographical area a separate geographical area, resulting in an intended requirement that the longest lesser time and largest lesser customer base,
service offering and geographical area determined not to be unreasonable, arbitrary or against public policy shall remain effective and be specifically enforceable against the Employee. 

  
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 d. Enforcement. The Employee acknowledges that (i) the Confidential Information
is a valuable asset of Employer and use of such Confidential Information would allow the Employee to unfairly compete against Employer, (ii) the restrictions contained in this Agreement are reasonable in scope and are necessary to protect
Employer’s legitimate interests in protecting its business, and (iii) any violation of the restrictions contained in this Agreement will cause significant and irreparable harm to Employer for which Employer has no adequate remedy at law.
The parties agree that damages at law, including, but not limited to monetary damages, will or may be an insufficient remedy to Employer and that (in addition to any remedies that are available to Company, all of which shall be deemed to be
cumulative and retained by Company and not waived by the enforcement of any remedy available hereunder) Employer shall also be entitled to obtain injunctive relief, including but not limited to a temporary restraining order, a temporary or
preliminary injunction or a permanent injunction, to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, as well as an equitable accounting of and constructive trust for all profits or other benefits arising out of or related to any such violation, all of
which shall constitute rights and remedies to which Employer may be entitled. 
 e. Intent of Parties; Survival. The
covenants of the Employee contained in this Section 5 shall be construed as agreements independent of any other provision of Employee’s employment (including employment under this Agreement) and the existence of any claim of the Employee
against Employer shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by Employer of any covenant contained in this section. 

6. Miscellaneous Provisions. 
 a. Definitions. 
 (i) Affiliate: The term
“Affiliate” when used in this Agreement shall mean any other person or entity that directly or indirectly controls, or is under common control with, or is controlled by the specified person or entity, and if a person, any member of the
immediate family of such individual. As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean possession, directly
or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract, or otherwise) and “immediate family” shall mean
any parent, child, grandchild, spouse, or sibling. 
 (ii) Customers: The term “Customers” when
used in this Agreement shall mean those persons who, at any time during the Employee’s course of employment with Employer are or were customers, clients, sales agents, or sales representatives of Employer, predecessors of Employer, or
Affiliates of Employer, as well as any clients, sales agents, or sales representatives of Employer or Affiliates of Employer, which were identifiable and known to the Employee during his employment with Employer. 

  
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 (iii) Business Competitive with Employer. The term “business
competitive with Employer” when used in this Agreement shall mean the manufacture, construction, distribution of manufactured, modular, or mobile homes. 
 (iv) Disability. The term “Disability” when used in this Agreement means an independent physician selected by the Board of Directors or its designee has determined that the Employee has
been substantially unable to render to Employer services of the character contemplated by Section 2 above, by reason of a physical or mental illness or other condition, for more than 60 consecutive days or for shorter periods aggregating more
than 90 days in any period of 12 consecutive months 
 b. Notices. All notices under this Agreement shall be in writing
and shall be considered as properly given or made if hand delivered, sent by certified mail, overnight delivery service, facsimile or e-mail and addressed to the location set forth in the preamble to this Agreement or to such other address as any
party may have designated by like notice furnished to all other parties hereto. All notices shall be deemed effective when deposited in the U.S. mail, received by an overnight carrier or other delivery service or, when confirmation of delivery is
obtained by the sender. 
 c. Assignment. This Agreement, including, but not limited to the agreements contained in
Section 5 regarding non competition, confidentiality, non-disparagement and non solicitation, shall be assignable by Employer without the prior written consent of the Employee. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the successors and assigns of Employer, including any successor or assign to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of Employer, whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or otherwise. This
is a personal service contract which shall not be assignable by the Employee. 
 d. Application of Alabama Law;
Jurisdiction. This Agreement, and the application or interpretation thereof, shall be governed exclusively by its terms and by the laws of the State of Alabama. Venue for all purposes shall be deemed to lie within Marion County, Alabama. The
parties agree that this Agreement is one for performance in Alabama. The parties to this Agreement agree that they waive any objection, constitutional, statutory or otherwise, to a Alabama court’s exercise of jurisdiction over any dispute
between them and specifically consent to the jurisdiction of the Alabama courts. By entering into this Agreement, the parties, and each of them understand that they may be called upon to answer a claim asserted in a Alabama court. 

e. Legal Fees and Costs. If a legal action is initiated by any party to this Agreement against the other party arising out of or
relating to the alleged performance or non-performance of any right or obligation established hereunder, each party shall bear its respective fees, costs and expenses incurred by each successful party or its legal counsel in investigating, preparing
for, prosecuting, defending against, or providing evidence, producing documents or taking any other action in respect of, such action shall be the obligation of and shall be paid or reimbursed by each respective party. 

f. Waiver of Jury Trial. The parties hereby acknowledge that any dispute arising out of this Agreement will necessarily include
various complicated legal and factual issues and therefore knowingly, voluntarily and intentionally waive trial by jury in any litigation in any court with respect to, in connection with or arising out of this Agreement, or the validity,
interpretation, or enforcement hereof. 

  
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 g. Waiver. The waiver by Employer of a breach of this Agreement shall not be
construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by the Employee. The refusal or failure of Employer to enforce the restrictive covenants contained herein or contained in any other similar agreement against any other employee, agent, or independent
contractor of Employer, for any reason, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement of this Agreement by Employer against the Employee, nor shall it give rise to any claim or cause of action by such Employee against Employer. 

h. Entire Agreement, Amendment: This Employment Agreement, and any other document referenced herein, constitute the entire
understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and no amendment, modification or alteration of the terms hereof shall be binding unless the same be in writing, dated subsequent to the date hereof and duly approved and
executed by each of the parties hereto and approved by the Board of Directors. 
 i. Acknowledgments: The Employee
acknowledges that he has been provided with a copy of this Agreement for review prior to signing it, that Employer has encouraged the Employee to have this Agreement reviewed by his attorney prior to signing it and that the Employee understands the
purposes and effects of this Agreement. 
  

			
	CO-EMPLOYERS
	
	DEER VALLEY HOMEBUILDERS, INC.


 
			
		
	By:	 	 s/ John Steven
Lawler



 
			
	Name:	 	 John Steven Lawler





			
	Its:	 	  

	
	DEER VALLEY CORPORATION


 
			
		
	By:	 	 s/ Charles G.
Masters



 
			
	Name:	 	  



 

			
	Its:	 	  



  

			
	EMPLOYEE
	
	 s/ John Steven Lawler

	(Print name)	 	 John Steven Lawler





			
	(Street Address)	 	  

	  



 [Employment Agreement - John Steven Lawler] 

  
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