exv10w89






Exhibit 10.89




EXECUTION VERSION




October 16, 2009




Via Hand Delivery




Brian Dickson

9308 Royal Crest Drive

Raleigh, NC 27617



RE: Separation Letter Agreement and General Release



Dear Brian:




     This Separation Letter Agreement and General Release (the “Agreement”) sets forth and
confirms the terms of the separation package that you are eligible to receive pursuant to your
Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement dated May 6, 2009 (the “Employment
Agreement”) by and between Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. (the “Company”) and you
(“you” or the “Employee”) as a result of the Company’s termination of your
employment with the Company without “cause.” To receive the severance benefits, you must enter
into a binding severance agreement drafted by and satisfactory to the Company. You will have
twenty-one (21) days from your receipt of this Agreement to consider it and once you have signed
this Agreement, you will have seven (7) days to revoke your acceptance as set forth in Paragraphs
Nos. 8 and 19 below. Please note that the earliest you can accept this Agreement is the
Termination Date (as defined below). Please read this Agreement carefully and review it with your
attorney. If you are willing to agree to its terms, please sign and date in the space provided on
the signature page and return it to the Director, Human Resources of the Company at the address set
forth in Paragraph No. 21.



     1. Whether or not you choose to timely sign and return this Agreement, your employment with
the Company will end as of October 16, 2009 (the “Termination Date”), provided that you
satisfactorily perform your job and comply with Company policies and practices as determined in
good faith by the Company through the Termination Date. Whether or not you choose to sign this
Agreement, you will be paid on or about the Termination Date the following:




	 	(a)	 	any of your unpaid current base salary through the Termination
Date, less lawful deductions; and






	 	(b)	 	your unused and accrued vacation as of the Termination Date.





     2. After the Termination Date, except as provided below, you will not be entitled to receive
any benefits paid by, or participate in any benefit programs offered by the Company to its
employees, including, but not limited to, the Company’s 401(k) plan, stock option plans, bonus
plans, commission plans, sales incentive plans, retention agreements, severance, expense
reimbursements, life insurance or disability insurance programs, except as required by federal or
state law or as otherwise described to you in writing in such plan or program documents. You will
receive, under separate cover, information concerning your right to continue your health insurance
and dental insurance benefits after that date in accordance with COBRA. You must complete the
COBRA enrollment documents within the required period in order to continue this coverage. You will
also receive, under separate cover, an information statement regarding the vesting of your stock
options agreements as of the Termination Date. Under the



 









 




terms of the Company’s stock option plans, you cease further vesting of stock options upon the
Termination Date except as otherwise provided in your Employment Agreement.




     3. In consideration for timely signing of this Agreement and the promises made herein, the
Company agrees to provide you with the monies and benefits in accordance with the terms of Section
5.4 of the Employment Agreement set forth in Attachment A (attached hereto) provided that
you do not revoke your acceptance of this Agreement pursuant to Paragraph No. 19 below. The
distribution of all severance payments and benefits provided in Attachment A shall be
subject to the provisions of Attachment B (attached hereto).



     4. You also understand and agree that you would not receive the monies and/or benefits
specified in Paragraph No. 3 above, except for your execution of this Agreement and the fulfillment
of the promises contained herein. You acknowledge and agree that such payments shall be provided
in lieu of any severance plan of the Company, any benefits under your Employment Agreement and any
benefits under your employment offer letter. You acknowledge and agree that you are solely
responsible for the following:




	 	(a)	 	properly and timely electing to continue health and dental
insurance coverage under COBRA; and






	 	(b)	 	promptly notifying the Company if you become eligible for
coverage under the group health plan of another employer prior to twelve (12)
months after the Termination Date.





     5. In consideration of the payments to be made by the Company to you as set forth in Paragraph
No. 3 above and the promises contained in this Agreement, you hereby voluntarily and of your own
free will agree to release, remise, forever discharge and hold harmless the Company, its past,
present and future subsidiaries, corporate affiliates, parent companies, and its and/or their past,
present and future officers, directors, stockholders, trustees, successors and assigns, agents and
employees (each in both their individual and corporate capacities) (hereinafter, the
“Releasees”) from any and all claims, charges, complaints, demands, actions, causes of
action, suits, rights, debts, sums of money, costs, accounts, reckonings, covenants, contracts,
agreements, promises, doings, omissions, damages, executions, obligations, liabilities, and
expenses (including attorneys’ fees and costs), of every kind and nature, whether known or unknown,
that might be asserted arising out of your employment by and separation from the Company,
including, but not limited to, (1) The National Labor Relations Act, as amended; (2) Title VII of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; (3) Sections 1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United
States Code, as amended; (4) the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (“ADEA”);
(5) the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (“OWBPA”); (6) the Immigration Reform Control Act, as
amended; (7) the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. § 1001, et
seq., except for any claims for benefits vested, due and owing; (8) the Occupational Safety
and Health Act, as amended; (9) the Civil Rights Act of 1866, 29 U.S.C. § 1981, et
seq; (10) the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 701, et seq.;
(11) the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended; (12) the Civil Rights Act of 1991;
(13) the Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, as amended; (14) the Family and
Medical Leave Act, as amended; (15) Section 806 of the Corporate and Criminal Fraud Accountability
Act of 2002; (16) Executive Order 11141; (17) the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681
et seq.; (18) any other federal or state law, regulation, or ordinance; (19) any
public policy, contract, tort, or common law; (20) all claims to any non-vested ownership interest
in the Company, contractual or otherwise, including but not limited to claims to stock or stock
options (except as set forth in Attachment A); and (21) any allegation for costs, fees, or
other expenses including attorneys’ fees incurred in these matters. The release of claims set
forth in this paragraph does not apply to claims for workers’ compensation benefits or unemployment
benefits filed with the applicable state agencies. You



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agree that neither this Agreement, nor the furnishing of consideration for this Agreement,
shall be deemed or construed at anytime for any purpose as an admission by the Company of any
liability or unlawful conduct of any kind.




     6. You will not sue the Releasees on any matters relating to your employment arising before
the execution of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, claims under the ADEA, or join as a
party with others who may sue Releasees on any such claims. Provided, however, nothing in this
Agreement prevents you from filing, cooperating with, or participating in any proceeding before the
EEOC or a State Fair Employment Practices Agency (except that you acknowledge that you may not be
able to recover any monetary benefits in connection with any such claim, charge or proceeding),
from challenging under the OWBPA the enforceability of the waiver and release of ADEA claims set
forth in this Agreement, or from pursuing claims for workers’ compensation or unemployment benefits
referenced in Paragraph No. 5 above, and this Paragraph will not apply when prohibited by law. If
you do not abide by this Paragraph, then: (i) you will return all monies received under this
Agreement and indemnify Releasees for all expenses they incur in defending the action; and
(ii) Releasees will be relieved of their obligations hereunder.



     7. You acknowledge and reaffirm your post-employment obligations under Sections 7
(non-compete) and 8 (proprietary information and developments) of the Employment Agreement.



     8. You will be afforded ten (10) calendar days after the Termination Date to submit to the
Company, to the attention of the Director, Human Resources in the manner set forth in Paragraph No.
21, any and all documentation for any expense reimbursements you claim are owed to you in
conjunction with your employment with the Company. You will be reimbursed for any reasonable
business expenses incurred and approved through the Termination Date consistent with Company
policy, subject to the submission of the properly documented business expense reports and according
to the Company’s normal expense reimbursement practices and subject to the provisions of
Attachment B.



     9. You are afforded up to twenty-one (21) calendar days from receipt of this Agreement to
consider the meaning and effect of this Agreement and general release and you acknowledge that you
have been given twenty-one (21) calendar days to consider it. You agree that any modifications,
material or otherwise, do not restart or affect in any manner the original consideration period for
the separation proposal made to you. You are advised to consult with an attorney regarding this
Agreement and you acknowledge that you have had the opportunity to do so.



     10. You agree to return to the Company by the Termination Date all Company property and
equipment in your possession or control, including but not limited to, all documents, tapes, notes,
computer files, equipment, company vehicles, physician lists, employee lists, lab notebooks, files,
computer equipment, security badges, telephone calling cards, credit cards, and other information
or materials (and all copies) which contain confidential, proprietary or non-public information of
the Company. You further agree to leave intact all electronic Company documents on the Company’s
servers or computers, including those which you developed or helped develop during your
employment.



     11. Nothing herein limits either party’s right, where applicable, to file or participate in an
investigative proceeding of any federal, state or local governmental agency, provided however, that
by signing this Agreement, you waive the right to seek or receive any money damages or other relief
of any nature whatsoever from the Company based upon any claim that might be asserted arising out
of your employment at the Company. You further affirm that you have been paid and have received all
leave (paid or unpaid), compensation, wages, bonuses, commissions, severance and/or benefits to
which you may be entitled and that no other leave (paid or unpaid), compensation, wages, bonuses,
commissions, severance and/or benefits are due to you, except as provided in this Agreement. You
furthermore affirm



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that you have no known workplace injuries or occupational diseases. You also affirm that you
have not been retaliated against for reporting any allegations of wrongdoing by the Company or its
officers, including any allegations of corporate fraud.




     12. This Agreement, which includes a general release, represents the complete agreement
between you and the Company, and fully supersedes any prior agreements or understandings between
the parties (including, without limitation, your Employment Agreement, except that your
post-employment obligations thereunder shall survive in full force and effect). You acknowledge
that you have not relied on any representations, promises, or agreements of any kind made to you in
connection with your decision to sign this Agreement, except those set forth herein.



     13. This Agreement, which shall be construed under the law of the State of North Carolina,
shall be binding upon the parties and may not be abandoned, supplemented, changed or modified in
any manner, orally or otherwise, except by an instrument in writing of concurrent or subsequent
date signed by a duly authorized representative of the parties hereto. This Agreement is binding
upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective agents, assigns, heirs,
executors, successors and administrators. The parties hereby consent to jurisdiction in the State
of North Carolina for purposes of any litigation relating to this Agreement and agree that any
litigation by or involving them relating to this Agreement shall be conducted in the state or
federal courts of the State of North Carolina.



     14. Should any provision of this Agreement be declared or be determined by any court of
competent jurisdiction to be illegal or invalid, the validity of the remaining parts, terms, or
provisions shall not be affected thereby and said illegal and invalid part, term or provision shall
be deemed not to be a part of this Agreement. The language of all parts of this Agreement shall in
all cases be construed as a whole, according to its fair meaning, and not strictly for or against
any of the parties.



     15. You understand and agree that as a condition for payment to you of the monetary
consideration herein, you shall not make any false, disparaging or derogatory statements in public
or private to any person or media outlet regarding the Company or any of its current, past or
future directors, officers, employees, agents, or representatives or the Company’s business affairs
and financial condition, except if testifying truthfully under oath pursuant to a lawful court
order or subpoena. If you receive such a court order or subpoena, to the extent allowed by law,
you or your attorney shall provide the Company with a copy of such court order or subpoena within
two (2) business days of your receipt of it and shall notify the Company of the content of any
testimony or information to be provided and shall provide the Company with copies of all documents
to be produced.



     16. No delay or admission by the Company in exercising any right under this Agreement shall
operate as a waiver of that or any other right. A waiver or consent given by the Company on any
one occasion shall be effective only in that instance and shall not be construed as a bar or waiver
of any right on any other occasion.



     17. You further agree to provide up to an additional ten (10) days of consulting, advisory and
related services for the Company as may be reasonably requested by the Company or its employees,
representatives or agents during the period from the Termination Date through the date that is six
months after the Termination Date, including, but not limited to preparing to-do lists, answering
questions, preparing memos, and updating or completing projects. The Company shall pay you a per
diem consulting fee as a consultant for such time provided under this Paragraph No. 17(a) at an
amount equal to your 2009 base annual salary divided by 175. The Company acknowledges and agrees
that the Employee’s ability to perform this consulting at the request of the Company will be
limited if the Employee accepts part-time or full-time employment with a third party. If the
Employee is required to travel at the request of the Company after the Termination Date, the
Company agrees to pay any



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reasonable business expenses incurred in connection with such travel provided that the travel
is approved by the Company and such reimbursement shall be made consistent with Company policy,
subject to the submission of the properly documented business expense reports and according to the
Company’s normal expense reimbursement practices and subject to the provisions of Attachment
B.




     Notwithstanding anything in this Paragraph No. 17 to the contrary, the Company and the
Employee intend that the Termination Date shall be the date of the Employee’s “separation from
service” for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and
guidance issued thereunder (“Section 409A”). In accordance with such intent, the parties
agree that in no event will the consulting services required by this Paragraph 17 result in the
Employee’s performing services for the Company at a rate that exceeds 20% of Employee’s level of
bona fide services to the Company over the 36-month period preceding to the Termination Date (or
such shorter period during which the Employee has been employed by the Company), as determined in
accordance with Section 409A.



     18. You acknowledge and agree that notwithstanding the provisions of Attachment B (i)
neither the Company nor the Company’s legal counsel makes any representation or warranty if any
provisions of this Agreement or any payments made pursuant to this Agreement are, or may be
determined to constitute, “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A
and (ii) the Company shall have no liability to you or any other person if any payments pursuant to
the provisions of this Agreement are determined to constitute nonqualified deferred compensation
subject to Section 409A and do not satisfy the requirements of Section 409A. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, the Company has the right to and the Company intends to comply
with all withholding and reporting obligations under Section 409A. You are advised to consult with
an attorney regarding this Agreement and you acknowledge that you have had the opportunity to do
so.



     19. You may revoke this Agreement for a period of seven (7) calendar days following the day
you execute this Agreement. Any revocation within this period must be in writing and must state,
“I hereby revoke my acceptance of the Separation Letter Agreement and General Release.” The
revocation must be delivered to the following address:


Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc.

Attention: Rhonda P. Downum, Director, Human Resources

1255 Crescent Green Drive, Suite 250

Cary, North Carolina 27518



This Agreement shall not become effective or enforceable until the revocation period has expired.




     20. For the convenience of the parties, this Agreement may be executed by facsimile and in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and both of which taken together,
shall constitute one agreement binding on both parties.



     21. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all notices required or permitted under
this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effective upon personal delivery or upon the
day that is three (3) days after deposit in the United States Post Office, by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the other party at the address shown below (or
at such other address or addresses as either party shall designate to the other in accordance with
this Paragraph No. 21):



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(a) If to the Company:



Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc.

Attention: Rhonda P. Downum, Director, Human Resources

1255 Crescent Green Drive, Suite 250

Cary, North Carolina 27518



(b) If to the Employee:



Brian Dickson

9308 Royal Crest Drive

Raleigh, NC 27617




     22. The Employee acknowledges and agrees that for a period of one (1) year after the
Termination Date, he will not, directly or indirectly, either alone or in association with others,
recruit, solicit, induce, hire or engage as an independent contractor or attempt to recruit,
solicit, induce, hire or engage as an independent contractor, any person who then is or was
employed by the Company except for an individual whose employment with the Company has been
terminated by (i) the employee for any reason other than Good Reason (as defined in the Company’s
2004 Stock Incentive Plan) for a period of six (6) months or longer, (ii) by the Company for any
reason, or (iii) by the employee for Good Reason (as defined in the Company’s 2004 Stock Incentive
Plan).



     23. You agree not to disclose to anyone, either directly or indirectly, any information
whatsoever regarding the existence, terms or contents of this Agreement, except your immediate
family, attorneys, financial advisors, accountants, and tax preparation professionals, provided
that they agree to keep such information strictly confidential, until such time as this agreement
is filed as an exhibit to the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
This includes, but is not limited to, present or former employees of the Company and other members
of the public. Violation of this Paragraph shall be deemed a material breach of this Agreement.



     Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. would like to extend its appreciation to you for your past
service, and its sincere hope for success in your future endeavors.



	 	 	 	 	 
	 	Very truly yours,



CORNERSTONE THERAPEUTICS INC.

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ David Price
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	David Price 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Executive Vice President, Finance, and

Chief Financial Officer 	 



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ACCEPTED AND AGREED:





     You have been advised in writing that you have up to twenty-one (21) calendar days from
receipt of this Separation Letter Agreement and General Release (the “Agreement”) to consider this
Agreement. You have also been advised to consult with an attorney prior to the execution of the
Agreement.



     Having elected to execute this Agreement, to fulfill the promises set forth herein, and to
receive thereby the sums and benefits set forth in Paragraph No. 3 of the Agreement, you freely and
knowingly, and after due consideration, enter into this Agreement intending to waive, settle, and
release all claims you have or might have against Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. You have carefully
read this Agreement and understand the contents herein.



	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	Date: October 20, 2009 	 	 	/s/ Brian Dickson
 	 
	 	 	 	Name:  Brian Dickson 
	 	 	 



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ATTACHMENT A



DESCRIPTION OF SEVERANCE BENEFITS





	1.	 	Severance Payments. The Company will pay to you the following lump sum amounts,
less lawful deductions, pursuant to the Employment Agreement: (a) $281,216 (which equals one
times your annualized base salary); and (b) $82,021.33, which equals 10/12 of the Target Cash
Bonus (as defined in your Employment Agreement) for 2009), such payments shall be made on
January 4, 2010 provided you execute and do not revoke the Separation Letter Agreement and
General Release (the “Agreement”) to which this Attachment A is attached.






	2.	 	Continuation of Benefits. The Company will pay on a monthly basis an amount equal
to:






	 	(a)	 	one hundred percent (100%) of your monthly health, dental and
vision COBRA premiums for you and your dependents, if any, if you properly
elect to continue health, dental and vision insurance under COBRA to be paid
beginning on the last day of the first payroll-cycle after the expiration of
the revocation period provided in Paragraph No. 19 of the Agreement; and






	 	(b)	 	$144.37 (which represents one hundred percent (100%) of the
cost of the monthly premiums paid by the Company for life insurance and
disability insurance for you in the month preceding the end of your employment)
to be paid on the first business day of each month after the expiration of the
revocation period provided in Paragraph No. 19 of the Agreement;






	 	 	such payments under Subsections 2(a) and 2(b) of this Attachment A to continue until
the COBRA Contribution End Date (defined for purposes of this Agreement as the date that is
the earlier of (i) twelve (12) months after the Termination Date or (ii) the last day of the
first month that you are eligible for other employer-sponsored health coverage).






3. Stock Options and Restricted Stock. You will have until three (3) months after
your Termination Date to exercise any vested stock option rights you may have; provided,
however, if any of your stock options have a full option term that expires prior to such
date, then you will have only until the last day of the full option term to exercise such
stock option. In accordance with Section 5.4(iv) of the Employment Agreement, you shall
receive accelerated vesting of your outstanding unvested stock options by one (1) year.
Provided that you execute and do not revoke the Agreement, you shall be vested in a total of
384,681 stock options.



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ATTACHMENT B




PAYMENTS SUBJECT TO SECTION 409A



Subject to the provisions in this Attachment B, any severance payments or benefits
under the Agreement shall begin only upon the date of your “separation from service” (determined as
set forth below) which occurs on or after the date of termination of your employment. The
following rules shall apply with respect to distribution of the payments and benefits, if any, to
be provided to you under the Agreement:





	1.	 	If, as of the date of your “separation from service” from the Company, you are a “specified
employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A), then:






	 	a.	 	Each installment of the severance payments and benefits due under the Agreement
that, in accordance with the dates and terms set forth herein, will in all
circumstances, regardless of when the separation from service occurs, be paid within
the Short-Term Deferral Period (as hereinafter defined) shall be treated as a
short-term deferral within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) to
the maximum extent permissible under Section 409A. For purposes of this Agreement, the
“Short-Term Deferral Period” means the period ending on the later of the fifteenth day
of the third month following the end of your tax year in which the separation from
service occurs and the fifteenth day of the third month following the end of the
Company’s tax year in which the separation from service occurs; and






	 	b.	 	Each installment of the severance payments and benefits due under the Agreement
that is not described in paragraph 1(a) above and that would, absent this subsection,
be paid within the six-month period following your “separation from service” from the
Company shall not be paid until the date that is six months and one day after such
separation from service (or, if earlier, your death), with any such installments that
are required to be delayed being accumulated during the six-month period and paid in a
lump sum on the date that is six months and one day following your separation from
service and any subsequent installments, if any, being paid in accordance with the
dates and terms set forth herein; provided, however, that the preceding
provisions of this sentence shall not apply to any installment of severance payments
and benefits if and to the maximum extent that that such installment is deemed to be
paid under a separation pay plan that does not provide for a deferral of compensation
by reason of the application of Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) (relating to
separation pay upon an involuntary separation from service) or such payments or
benefits are otherwise exempt from Section 409A. Any installments that qualify for the
exception under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) must be paid no later
than the last day of your second taxable year following your taxable year in which the
separation from service occurs.






	2.	 	The determination of whether and when your separation from service from the Company has
occurred shall be made and in a manner consistent with, and based on the presumptions set
forth in, Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h). Solely for purposes of this paragraph 2,
“Company” shall include all persons with whom the Company would be considered a single
employer under Section 414(b) and 414(c) of the Code.






	3.	 	All reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided under the Agreement shall be made or
provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A to the extent that such
reimbursements or in-kind benefits are subject to Section 409A, including, where applicable,
the requirement that (i) any reimbursement is for expenses incurred during Employee’s lifetime
(or during a shorter




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	 	 	period of time specified in this Agreement), (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for
reimbursement during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement
in any other calendar year, (iii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made on
or before the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is
incurred and (iv) the right to reimbursement is not subject to set off or liquidation or
exchange for any other benefit.






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