EX-10.1 Separation Agreement



 





Exhibit 10.1




September 13, 2007




Jon Schneider

6647 Capistrano Beach Trail

Delray Beach, Florida 33446




     Dear Jon:



     This Separation Agreement (“Agreement”) dated September 13, 2007 supersedes any prior
agreements executed by and between Home Diagnostics, Inc. (“HDI”) and Jon Schneider, except for
paragraphs 1 through 6 of the Employee Confidentiality and Non —Disclosure Agreement executed on
August 16, 1996 (copy attached). This Agreement confirms that your employment with HDI, and its
affiliated entities (collectively, the “Company”) will cease effective September 14, 2007. The
Company hereby offers to you the following severance package. In consideration of this offer, you
agree to the following terms:



     1.  Effective Dates. Your last day of employment (i.e., the last day on which you
will be expected to report to work, perform any duties and carry out assigned tasks) will be
September 14, 2007 (“Separation Date”) and, provided you execute this Agreement, your payroll
termination date (i.e. the last working day for which you will be paid your base salary) will be
March 14, 2008.



2.  Payment and Benefits.




     (a) Provided you execute this Agreement, you will receive your current base salary as of the
date of this agreement through March 14, 2008, less the required deductions pursuant to applicable
tax withholding laws and regulations, as well as applicable employee health insurance premiums
through the salary continuation period. Additionally, you will remain eligible for the 2007
Management by Objective bonus payment.



     (b) You will receive payment for any accrued but unused vacation days through the Separation
Date.



     (c) All benefit programs to which you are currently entitled and under which you
have elected coverage shall cease as of September 30, 2007. The Company agrees to maintain the
current level of medical and dental coverage for which you are currently enrolled ending March 31,
2008. Subsequent to that date, pursuant to COBRA, you may be eligible to continue your health
insurance benefits for the statutory period permitted under COBRA. Your right to continue pursuant
to COBRA shall be governed by applicable law and the terms of the plans and programs except as
modified herein, and will be explained to you under separate cover which you shall receive as soon
as practicable after the Separation Date. You also will be provided with an explanation under
separate cover, of your rights, if any, pursuant to the Company’s 401(k) Plan.



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     (d) Stock Options will be governed by the Stock Option plan documents.



     3. Review and Revocation. Employer has delivered to Employee two copies of this Agreement,
signed by Employer. Employee understands and agrees that he has 21 days from the date Employee
receives this Agreement (not counting the day Employee receives the Agreement) to consider the
terms of and to sign this Agreement. Employee understands that, in Employee’s sole and absolute
discretion, Employee may sign this Agreement prior to the expiration of the 21-day period. If
Employee elects to sign this Agreement, he shall sign both copies and deliver one fully executed
copy to Employer at 2400 NW 55th Ct., Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309 ,
Attention: Human Resources Department. The second copy may be retained by Employee.



     Employee further acknowledges and understands that he may revoke this Agreement for a period
of up to 7 days after he signs it (not counting the day Employee signed the Agreement) and that the
Agreement shall not become effective or enforceable until the 7-day revocation period has expired.
To revoke this Agreement, Employee must give written notice stating that Employee wishes to revoke
the Agreement to Employer (fax: (954) 739-8506). If Employee mails a notice of revocation to
Employer, it must be postmarked no later than 7 days following the date on which Employee signed
this Agreement (not counting the day Employee signed the Agreement) or the revocation shall not be
effective.



     4. Release of All Claims; Further Action.




     (a) In consideration for the consideration provided for in Paragraph 1, and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Employee, for
Employee and or Employee’s heirs, assigns, and all persons and entities claiming by, through, or
under Employee, hereby irrevocably, unconditionally, and completely releases, discharges, and
agrees to hold Employer and its Affiliates, individually or in any combination thereof, harmless of
and from any and all claims, liabilities, charges, demands, grievances, and causes of action of any
kind or nature whatsoever, including without limitation claims for contribution, subrogation, or
indemnification, whether direct or indirect, liquidated or
unliquidated, known or
unknown, which Employee had, has, or may claim to have against Employer or against any Affiliate,
whether as an employee or otherwise (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Claim(s)”).



     (b) The release set forth in this Paragraph 3 includes without limitation any Claim(s) that
Employee has, had, or may claim to have against Employer or any Affiliate (a) for wrongful
termination or discharge, emotional distress, breach of express or implied contract of employment,
employment related torts, or personal injury (whether physical or mental); (b) for any Claim(s)
arising under federal or state law, including without limitation Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Florida Civil Rights Act, Florida
Statutes § 760.01, et. seq. or any other federal, state, or local law prohibiting discrimination on
the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, or any other protected
group status; (c) any Claim(s) arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, which
prohibits discrimination



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against employees age 40 and above; (d) any Claim(s) arising under the
Family and Medical Leave Act, (e) any Claim(s) arising under the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act, (f) any Claim(s) for attorney’s fees or costs, and (g) for any other Claim(s) in any
way related to or
arising out of Employee’s employment with Employer or the termination of that employment.



     (c) Nothing in this Agreement waives Employee’s rights, if any, to continue Employee’s
participation in Employer’s employee welfare benefit plan, as allowed by COBRA and the terms,
conditions, and limitations of the plan, or any vested rights that Employee may have under any
employee pension or welfare benefit in which Employee participated as an employee of Employer.



     5. Full and Complete Release. Employee understands and agrees that he is releasing and waiving
any and all Claim(s), including but not limited to Claims that Employee does not know exist in
Employee’s favor at the time Employee signs this Agreement which, if known by Employee, would
materially affect Employee’s decision to sign this Agreement. For the purpose of implementing a
full and complete release and discharge of Employer and each and every Affiliate, Employee
expressly acknowledges that the release set forth in Paragraph 3 is intended to include in its
effect, without limitation, all Claim(s) which Employee does not know or suspect to exist in
Employee’s favor at the time of execution hereof, including but not limited to claims of fraud in
the inducement in procuring this release, and that the release set forth in Paragraph 3
contemplates the extinguishment of any such Claim(s).



     6. Covenant Not to Sue. Employee promises not to file, or permit to be filed on Employee’s
behalf, any lawsuit, charge, or complaint against Employer or any Affiliate with any administrative
agency (unless prohibited by applicable statute of agency regulation) or with any state or federal
court asserting any Claim(s) released in Paragraphs 3 and/or 4. In addition, Employee waives any
right to recover damages, costs, and attorney’s fees in any action brought by Employee or by any
other person or entity (including without limitation the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or
the Florida Commission on Human Relations on Employee’s behalf asserting any Claim(s) released by
Paragraphs 3 and 4.



     7. Wages and Commissions Paid in Full. Employee acknowledges that he has received all monies
due and owing to Employee from Employer, including without limitation any monies due and owing to
Employee for wages, accrued but unused vacation benefits, commissions, or otherwise and that he has
no claim against Employer whatsoever for the payment of any further wages, commissions, vacation
benefits, or other monies.



     8. Restriction on Disclosure; Non-Disparagement. This Agreement is confidential information
owned by Employer. Employee agrees that he shall not disclose the terms of this Agreement except
to the extent required by law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee may disclose the terms of
this Agreement to Employee’s spouse, attorney, tax advisor or tax authorities. If Employee
discloses the terms of this Agreement to Employee’s spouse, attorney, or tax advisor, as a
condition of such disclosure, Employee will advise such person that he must not disclose the terms
of this Agreement except to the extent required by law. Employee agrees to avoid making
disparaging remarks or taking any action now, and at any time in the future, which could be
considered detrimental to Employer.



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     9. Return of Employer Property. Employee agrees to promptly deliver to Employer any property
of Employer in Employee’s possession or under his control.



     10. Employment Reference/Inquiries. The parties agree that reference requests and employment
inquiries made on Employee’s behalf will include providing only Employee’s dates of employment, job
title, and job location, and Employer will provide no further or additional information in response
to inquiries by prospective employers. The terms of this Agreement shall be kept confidential, and
Employer will not hereafter disclose any information concerning this Agreement in connection with
any reference request and employment inquiries made on Employee’s behalf.



     11. Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation. For and in consideration of the agreement of the
Employer set forth in paragraph 1, and in order to protect the interest of the Employer in its
confidential information referred to in Paragraph 11, during the 12 month period beginning on the
termination of Employee’s employment with Employer, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly,
own, manage, operate, join, control or participate in the ownership, management, operation or
control of, or be employed or otherwise connected as an officer, employer, stockholder, partner,
consultant or otherwise with, any business that at any relevant time during such period directly or
indirectly engages in any business that is competitive with that of Employer anywhere in the world
(ownership of not more than 1% of the outstanding stock of any publicly traded company shall not be
a violation of this Paragraph 10). During the 12 month period beginning on the termination of
Employee’s employment with Employer, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit or
otherwise induce or influence any employee of Employer to discontinue such employment relationship
with Employer or employ or seek to employ, or cause any competitive business to employ or seek to
employ, any person who is then (or was at any time within one year prior thereto) employed by
Employer. The agreements set forth in this Paragraph 10 are ancillary to the agreements set forth
in Paragraph 11.



     12. Confidential Information. Employee represents that he has returned to Employer all copies
of any secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to Employer or any of its
affiliated companies and their respective businesses that shall have been obtained by Employee
during his employment by Employer, and further agrees not to communicate or divulge any such
information, knowledge or data to anyone other than Employer or persons designated by Employer, nor
use any such information, knowledge or data in any manner.



     13. Remedies.




     (a) Employee hereby acknowledges that if he breaches the restrictive covenants contained in
Paragraphs 11 and 12 of this Agreement, the damages to Employer will result in irreparable harm to
Employer, and Employee agrees that, in addition to any other remedies provided for herein or
otherwise available at law, Employer shall be entitled in any court of equity having jurisdiction
to an injunction on an ex parte basis without the need to post a bond restraining Employee in the
event of a breach, actual or threatened, of the agreements and covenants contained in Paragraphs 10
and 11 of this Agreement.



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     (b) The parties hereto believe that the restrictive covenants contained in Paragraphs 10 and
11 of this Agreement are reasonable. However, if at any time it shall
be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction that said Paragraphs or any portion
thereof, as written, are unenforceable because the restrictions are unreasonable, the parties
hereto agree that such portions as shall have been determined to be unreasonably restrictive shall
thereupon be deemed amended so as to make such restrictions reasonable in the determination of such
court, and the said covenants, as so modified, shall be enforceable between the parties to the same
extent as if such amendments had been made prior to the date of any alleged breach of said
covenants.



     14. Future Cooperation. Employee agrees to cooperate with Employer in connection with any
matter with which he was involved as an employee of Employer or any existing or potential claim,
investigation, administrative proceeding, lawsuit or other legal or business matter, including
assigning all patent rights to Employer on existing or future patent applications on which Employee
is listed as an inventor, which arose during Employee’s employment by Employer, all as reasonably
requested by Employer. Any expenses incurred by the Employee will be the responsibility of the
Employer.



     15. Not an Admission. This Agreement does not constitute an admission by Employer or by any
Affiliate, and Employer and each and every Affiliate specifically deny, that Employer or any
Affiliate has violated any contract, law, or regulation or that it or he has discriminated against
Employee or otherwise infringed on Employee’s rights and privileges or done any other wrongful act.
This Agreement does not constitute an admission by Employee, and Employee specifically denies,
that Employee has violated any contract, law, or regulation or that he has infringed on Employer’s
rights and privileges or done any other wrongful act.



     16. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties
and supersedes all negotiations, representations, prior discussions, and preliminary agreements
between the parties. No promise, representation, warranty, or covenant not included in this
Agreement has been or is relied upon by either party. Notwithstanding any statute or case law to
the contrary, this Agreement may not be modified except by a written instrument signed by each of
the parties, whether or not such modification is supported by separate consideration.



     17. Miscellaneous. Notwithstanding any conflict of laws provisions to the contrary, this
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Florida and the parties consent to the
jurisdiction and venue of Broward County and Federal courts and waive any defenses based on
jurisdiction or venue. Employee warrants that he has not assigned any Claim(s) released by this
Agreement, or any interest therein, to any third party. Any waiver by any party hereto of any
breach of any kind or character whatsoever by any other party, whether such waiver be direct or
implied, shall not be construed as a continuing waiver of, or consent to, any subsequent breach of
this Agreement on the part of the other party. In addition, no course of dealing between the
parties, nor any delay in exercising any rights or remedies hereunder or otherwise, shall operate
as a waiver of any of the rights or remedies of the parties. The provisions of the Agreement are
severable. If any part of this Agreement is found to be unenforceable, the other provisions shall
remain fully valid and enforceable. It is the intention and agreement of the parties that all of
the terms and conditions hereof be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law. This Agreement
shall inure to and bind the heirs, devisees, executors, administrators, personal representatives,
successors, and assigns of the respective parties hereto.



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     18. Attorneys’ Fees. If a civil action or other proceeding is brought to enforce this
Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorney’s fees, costs, and
expenses incurred, in addition to any other relief to which such party may be entitled.



     19. Knowing and Voluntary Execution. Employee acknowledges that he has read this Agreement
carefully and fully understands the meaning of the terms of this Agreement. Employee acknowledges
that he has signed this Agreement voluntarily and of Employee’s own free will and that he is
knowingly and voluntarily releasing and waiving all Claim(s) that he has or may have against
Employer or any Affiliate.



     20. Opportunity to Consult with Counsel. Employee further acknowledges that he has been
encouraged by Employer to consult with an attorney, and has had the opportunity if he so chooses,
to do so prior to signing this Agreement. Each party agrees that he or it shall be solely
responsible for any attorney’s fees incurred by that party in the negotiation and execution of this
Agreement.



	 	 	 	 	 
	 	EMPLOYEE

 	 
	DATED:
                               	 	 
	 	Jon M. Schneider 	 
	 	 	 
	 
	 	EMPLOYER



HOME DIAGNOSTICS, INC.

 	 
	DATED:
                               	By:  	 	 
	 	 	J. Richard Damron, Jr. 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 




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