EX-10.1






Exhibit 10.1




EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT




     This Agreement is made effective as of November 1, 2008 by and between AMERICAN HOMEPATIENT,
INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and JOSEPH F. FURLONG III (the “Executive”).



     WHEREAS, the Executive is currently employed by the Company as its President and Chief
Executive Officer pursuant to the terms of his Employment Agreement dated as of December 1, 2000,
as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement dated as of November 10, 2006 and as further
amended by Amendment No. 2 to Employment Agreement dated as of December 21, 2007 (collectively the
“Existing Employment Agreement”); and



     WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company desire to enter into a new Employment Agreement which
will supersede the Existing Employment Agreement.



     In consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, the parties hereby agree
as follows:



SECTION I

EMPLOYMENT




     The Executive is currently employed by the Company. The Company desires to continue to employ
the Executive and the Executive agrees to continue to be employed by the Company upon the terms and
conditions provided in this Agreement.



SECTION II

POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES




     During the Period of Employment (as such term is defined herein below), the Executive agrees
to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and to be responsible for the
typical management responsibilities expected of an officer holding such positions and such other
responsibilities as may be assigned to the Executive from time to time by the Board of Directors of
the Company (the “Board”).



SECTION III

TERMS AND DUTIES




     A. Period of Employment.



     The period of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement will commence as of November 1,
2008, and shall continue through October 31, 2009 (“Initial Term”), subject to extension or
termination as provided in this Agreement (“Period of Employment”). Upon expiration of the Initial
Term, the Period of Employment shall automatically extend for additional one (1) year periods,
unless either party gives written notice at least thirty (30) days in advance of the expiration of
the then current period of employment of such party’s intent not to extend the Period of
Employment.



 









 





     B. Performance of Duties.



     During the Period of Employment, the Executive shall devote substantially all of his business
time, attention and skill to the business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries. The
Executive will perform faithfully the duties which may be assigned to him from time to time by the
Board.



SECTION IV

COMPENSATION




     For all services rendered by the Executive to the Company or for its benefit in any capacity
during the Period of Employment, the Executive shall be compensated as follows:



     A. The Company shall pay the Executive an annual base salary (“Base Salary”) of Five Hundred
and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($550,000). The Base Salary shall be payable according to the customary
payroll practices of the Company, but in no event less frequently than once each month. The Base
Salary shall be reviewed annually and shall be subject to increase according to the policies and
practices adopted by the Company from time to time.



     B. Target Annual Incentive Award.



     The Company will pay annual incentive compensation awards to the Executive as may be granted
by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) under any
executive bonus or incentive plan in effect from time to time (the “Target Annual Incentive
Award”).



     The Target Annual Incentive Award shall be equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the
Executive’s then current annual Base Salary (with the Board or the Compensation Committee having
the option of granting a Target Annual Incentive Award in excess of such amount), contingent upon
performance of stipulated goals of the Company established jointly by the Board and the Executive.



SECTION V

BUSINESS




     The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Executive shall perform his duties and
obligations in various geographic locations including his primary residence in San Francisco,
California and the Company’s headquarters in the Nashville, Tennessee area, and the Company will
reimburse the Executive for all reasonable travel (including travel to and from San Francisco,
California), accommodations (including accommodations in Nashville, Tennessee but not in San
Francisco, California) and other expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with the
performance of his duties and obligations under this Agreement wherever they may arise. In
addition, the Company will reimburse the Executive for personal medical insurance.



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SECTION VI

DISABILITY




     A. In the event of disability of the Executive during the Period of Employment, the Company
will continue to pay the Executive according to the compensation provisions of this Agreement
during the period of his disability, until such time as the Executive’s long term disability
insurance benefits are available. However, in the event the Executive is disabled for a continuous
period of six (6) months after the Executive first becomes disabled, the Company may terminate the
employment of the Executive. In this case, normal compensation will cease except for earned but
unpaid Base Salary and Target Annual Incentive Awards which would be payable on a prorated basis
for the year in which the disability occurred. In the event of such termination, all unvested stock
options held by the Executive shall be deemed fully vested on the date of such termination.



     B. During the period the Executive is receiving payments of either the compensation described
in subsection VI.A or disability insurance described in subsection VI.A and as long as he is
physically and mentally able to do so, the Executive will furnish information and assistance to the
Company and from time to time will make himself available to the Company to undertake assignments
consistent with his prior position with the Company and his physical and mental health. If the
Company fails to make a payment or provide a benefit required as part of the Agreement, the
Executive’s obligation to fulfill information and assistance will end.



     C. For purposes of this Agreement, the Executive shall be considered to have a “disability” at
any time which either:



          1. The Executive is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any
medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can
be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; or




          2. The Executive is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment
that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not
less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three
months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company.




SECTION VII

DEATH




     In the event of the death of the Executive during the Period of Employment, the Company’s
obligation to make payments under this Agreement shall cease as of the date of death, except for
the Executive’s earned but unpaid Base Salary and Target Annual Incentive Award which will be paid
on a prorated basis for that year. In the event of the Executive’s death during the Period of
Employment, all unvested stock options held by the Executive shall be deemed fully vested on his
date of death.



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SECTION VIII

EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT




     A. If the Executive’s employment terminates due to either a Without Cause Termination or a
Constructive Discharge (as defined later in this Agreement), the Company will pay the Executive in
a lump sum upon such Termination or Constructive Discharge an amount equal to the sum of (i) one
hundred percent (100%) of his Base Salary as in effect at the time of such termination, plus (ii)
one hundred percent (100%) of the Target Annual Incentive Award for the year of such termination.
The Executive’s earned but unpaid Base Salary and Target Annual Incentive Award for the year of
termination will be prorated and paid in a lump sum at such time. If the Executive’s employment
terminates due to either a Without Cause Termination or a Constructive Discharge, all stock options
(“Options”) granted to the Executive under any Company stock option program or plan (each and
collectively, the “Plan”) shall be deemed vested, and the Company shall cause the Options to remain
exercisable until the later of (i) the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) month following the
date on which the Options would have expired following such termination by the terms of the Options
and the Plan or (ii) December 31 of the calendar year in which the Option would have expired
following such termination by the terms of the Options and the Plan.



     B. If the Executive’s employment terminates due to a Termination for Cause or the Executive’s
employment is terminated by the Executive in a situation which does not constitute a Constructive
Discharge, earned but unpaid Base Salary will be paid on a pro-rated basis for the year in which
the termination occurs. No other payments will be made by the Company.



     C. Upon termination of the Executive’s employment, the Period of Employment will cease as of
the date of the termination.



     D. For this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:



          1. “Termination for Cause” means termination of the Executive’s employment by the Board,
acting in good faith, by written notice to the Executive specifying the event(s) relied upon for
such termination, due to the Executive’s serious misconduct with respect to his duties under this
Agreement, which has resulted or is likely to result in material economic damage to the Company,
including but not limited to a conviction for a felony or perpetration of a common law fraud;
provided, however, except in the case of a conviction for a felony or a perpetration of a common
law fraud, that Company must provide such notice thirty (30) days prior to termination and provide
the Executive with the opportunity to cure such damage or likely damage, to the Company’s
reasonable satisfaction, with thirty (30) days of such notice.




          2. “Constructive Discharge” means termination of the Executive’s employment by the Executive
as a result of the initial existence of one or more of the following conditions arising without the
consent of the Executive: (a) a material diminution in the Executive’s Base Salary or Target
Incentive Award other than reductions applicable to all employees of the Company, (b) a material
diminution in the Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities, (c) a material restriction in
the geographic location at which the Executive is permitted perform services as set forth in
Section V or a material change in the geographic location at which the Executive is required to
perform services, or (d) any other action or




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inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Company of this Agreement. The Executive
will provide the Company a written notice which describes the circumstances being relied on for the
termination with respect to the Agreement within thirty (30) days after the event giving rise to
the notice. The Company will have thirty (30) days to remedy the situation prior to the
termination for Constructive Discharge.




          3. “Without Cause Termination” means termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company
other than due to death, disability, Termination for Cause or failure of Company to renew this
Agreement under Section IIIA.




     E. Stock Option Repurchase.



     If the Executive’s employment terminates due to either a Without Cause Termination or a
Constructive Discharge, the Executive may require the Company to repurchase any Options for an
amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common
stock on the date of termination and the per share exercise price set forth in the Options, times
the number of shares (whether vested or nonvested) granted to the Executive under the Options.



SECTION IX

OTHER DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE DURING

AND AFTER THE PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT




     A. The Executive will, with reasonable notice during or after the Period of Employment,
furnish information as may be in his possession and cooperate with the Company as may reasonably be
requested in connection with any claims or legal actions in which the Company is or may become a
party.



     B. The Executive recognizes and acknowledges that all information pertaining to the affairs,
business, clients, customers or other relationships of the Company, as hereinafter defined, is
confidential and is a unique and valuable asset of the Company. Access to and knowledge of this
information are essential to the performance of the Executive’s duties under this Agreement. The
Executive will not during the Period of Employment or after except to the extent reasonably
necessary in performance of the duties under this Agreement, give to any person, firm, association,
corporation or governmental agency any information concerning the affairs, business, clients,
customers or other relationships of the Company except as required by law. The Executive will not
make use of this type of information for his own purposes or for the benefit of any person or
organization other than the Company. The Executive will also use his best efforts to prevent the
disclosure of this information by others. All records, memoranda, etc. relating to the business of
the Company whether made by the Executive or otherwise coming into his possession are confidential
and will remain the property of the Company.



     C. During the Period of Employment and for a twelve (12) month period thereafter, the
Executive will not use his status with the Company to obtain loans, goods or services from another
organization on terms that would not be available to him in the absence of his relationship to the
Company. Unless the Executive is terminated due to a Without Cause Termination or a Constructive
Discharge, then during the Period of Employment and for a



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twelve (12) month period following termination of the Period of Employment: the Executive
will not make any statements or perform any acts intended to advance the interest of any existing
or prospective competitors of the Company in any way that will injure the interest of the Company;
the Executive without prior express written approval by the Board of Directors of the Company will
not directly or indirectly own or hold any proprietary interest in or be employed by or receive
compensation from any party engaged in the same or any similar business in the same geographic
areas in which the Company does business; and the Executive without express prior written approval
from the Board of Directors, will not solicit any members of the then current clients of the
Company or discuss with any employee of the Company information or operation of any business
intended to compete with the Company. For the purposes of the Agreement, proprietary interest
means legal or equitable ownership, whether through stock holdings or otherwise, of a debt or
equity interest (including options, warrants, rights and convertible interests) in a business firm
or entity, or ownership of more than 5% of any class of equity interest in a publicly-held company.
The Executive acknowledges that the covenants contained herein are reasonable as to geographic and
temporal scope. For a twelve (12) month period after termination of the Period of Employment for
any reason, the Executive will not directly or indirectly hire any employee of the Company or
solicit or encourage any such employee to leave the employ of the Company.




     D. The Executive acknowledges that his breach or threatened or attempted breach of any
provision of Section IX would cause irreparable harm to the Company not compensable in monetary
damages and that the Company shall be entitled, in addition to all other applicable remedies, to a
temporary and permanent injunction and a decree for specific performance of the terms of Section IX
without being required to prove damages or furnish any bond or other security.



     E. The Executive shall not be bound by the provisions of Section IX in the event of the
default by the Company in its obligations under this Agreement which are to be performed upon or
after termination of this Agreement.



SECTION X

INDEMNIFICATION, LITIGATION




     The Company will indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the
state of incorporation in effect at that time, or certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the
Company whichever affords the greater protection to the Executive. The Executive will be entitled
to any insurance proceeds related to any award, or any fees or expenses incurred by the Executive
in connection with any action, suit or proceeding brought by a third party to which he may be made
a party by reason of being a director or an officer of the Company.



SECTION XI

WITHHOLDING TAXES




     The Company may directly or indirectly withhold from any payments under this Agreement all
federal, state, city or other taxes that shall be required pursuant to any law or governmental
regulation.



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SECTION XII

EFFECT ON PRIOR AGREEMENTS




     This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the Company and the Executive with
respect to the subject matter and supersedes any prior employment or severance agreements between
the Company and its affiliates and the Executive, including, but not limited to, the Existing
Employment Agreement.



SECTION XIII

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OF ASSETS




     Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the Company from consolidating or merging into or
with, or transferring all or substantially all of its assets to, another corporation which assumes
this Agreement and all obligations and undertakings of the Company hereunder. Upon such a
consolidation, merger or sale of assets, the term “the Company” as used will mean the other
corporation and this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect. This Section XIII is not
intended to modify or limit the rights of the Executive hereunder.



SECTION XIV

MODIFICATION




     This Agreement may not be modified or amended except in writing signed by the parties. No
term or condition of this Agreement will be deemed to have been waived except in writing by the
party charged with waiver. A waiver shall operate only as to the specific term or condition waived
and will not constitute a waiver for the future or act on anything other than that which is
specifically waived.



SECTION XV

GOVERNING LAW; ARBITRATION




     This Agreement has been executed and delivered in the State of Tennessee and its validity,
interpretation, performance and enforcement shall be governed by the laws of that state.



     Any dispute among the parties hereto shall be settled by arbitration in Nashville, Tennessee,
in accordance with the rules then obtaining of the American Arbitration Association and judgment
upon the award rendered may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.



SECTION XVI

NOTICES




     All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been made when delivered or mailed first-class postage prepaid by
registered mail, return receipt requested, or when delivered if by hand, overnight delivery service
or confirmed facsimile transmission, to the following:



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          (a) If to the Company, at 5200 Maryland Way, Brentwood, Tennessee 37027, Attention: Board of
Directors, or at such other address as may have been furnished to the Executive by the Company in
writing; or




          (b) If to the Executive, at 5200 Maryland Way, Brentwood, Tennessee 37027 or such other
address as may have been furnished to the Company by the Executive in writing.




SECTION XVII

BINDING AGREEMENT




     This Agreement shall be binding on the parties’ successors, heirs and assigns.



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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of November 26, 2008.



	 	 	 
	 

	 	AMERICAN HOMEPATIENT, INC.
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	By: /s/ Stephen L. Clanton

Name: Stephen L. Clanton

Title: Chief Financial Officer
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	By: /s/ Henry J. Blackstock

Name: Henry J. Blackstock

Title: Chairman of the Compensation Committee
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	/s/ Joseph F. Furlong, III

Joseph F. Furlong, III







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