Document:

Exhibit 10.1 (b)

Berche Stock Pledge Agreement

                             STOCK PLEDGE AGREEMENT

                                                           Date: August 13, 2001

TO:   THE ANNE BERCHE FAMILY TRUST

Pledge of Stock

      To induce you to make a loan of U.S. $180,000.00 to us as evidenced by our
Promissory Note by and between VERTICAl COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware
corporation ("Company") and you in that amount dated the date of this Stock
Pledge Agreement (the "Agreement"), bearing interest at the rate of twelve
percent (12%) per annum, and payable to your order on February 13, 2002 (the
"Note", which term will include any amendments thereto and substitutions
therefor), and in consideration of your making said loan, and to secure payment
of all amounts owing under the Note and this Agreement and performance of all of
our other obligations under the Note and under this Agreement, the undersigned
hereby pledge to you and grant you a security interest in FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND
(400,000) shares of EResource Capital Group common stock, represented by
certificate(s) no. ___ and, provided the aforesaid shares have been sold or
exhausted as Collateral prior to timely repayment of the Note, sufficient shares
of Company common stock to account for the amount of the deficiency not yet
paid.

Definition of Collateral; Method of Selling Collateral and Repayment of
Promissory Note

      The term "Collateral" means (i) the shares of stock pledged under the
foregoing paragraph (collectively called the "Stock"), and (ii) any cash,
securities or other property paid or otherwise distributed on, with respect to,
or in exchange for any Collateral. Upon default under this Agreement, you may at
any time transfer the stock or any other Collateral into your name or the name
of your nominee. The method of repayment of the Promissory note is to be as
follows: The Company shall open an account and deposit the 400,000 EResource
Capital Group shares with a brokerage firm agreed upon by the parties. The
brokerage firm shall be given instructions which are mutually agreeable to the
parties to sell the 400,000 shares in such manner to timely repay all sums due
the Lender pursuant to the Note.

Warranties

      We hereby warrant to you that:

            a.    The Company is duly incorporated and validly existing under
                  the laws of the State of Delaware;

            b.    We have taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the
                  execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
                  Note, which constitute our legally binding obligations;

            c.    we are the sole owner of the Stock;
<PAGE>

            d.    the Stock is validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable,
                  and is not subject to any claim, restriction, lien or other
                  encumbrance except as provided in this Agreement;

            e.    we may pledge and grant a security interest in the Stock
                  without obtaining the approval of any other person,
                  corporation, partnership, or other entity, or any governmental
                  authority,

Prohibition on Transfer of Collateral

      We agree that we will not sell, transfer, assign or encumber any of our
rights in any of the Collateral or grant any rights in or to any of the
Collateral except pursuant to this Agreement.

Further Assurances

      We will, at our expense, take or cause to be taken such action and execute
and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered such additional agreements and
documents as you may request in connection with this Agreement or any of the
Collateral or to perfect your security interest in any of the Collateral,
including, without limitation, delivering any Collateral to you and executing
and filing financing and other statements under the Uniform Commercial Code in
effect in any state; and we hereby authorize you to sign any such agreement or
document or statement on our behalf and to file any such statement with or
without our signature.

Default

      Upon a default under any of the provisions of the Note, or if any warranty
by us hereunder is incorrect, or if we fail to perform any of our obligations
under this Agreement (any such default or breach of warranty or failure being
herein called "a default under this Agreement"), you may, without notice, take
such action as you deem advisable with respect to the Collateral, including,
without limitation, selling any of the Collateral at public or private sale on
such terms as you deem appropriate; and you are also authorized as our
attorney-in-fact to endorse or otherwise effect the transfer of any of the
Collateral. At any such sale you may be the purchaser.

Remedies; Order of Pursuit

      You shall not be required to resort to or pursue any of your rights or
remedies under or with respect to any other agreement or any other collateral
before pursuing any of your rights or remedies under this Agreement. You may
pursue your rights and remedies in such order as you determine, and the exercise
by you of any right or remedy will not preclude your exercising any other right
or remedy.

Delay; Waiver

      The failure or delay by you in exercising any of your rights hereunder or
with respect to the Note or any other collateral securing the Note in any
instance shall not constitute a waiver thereof in that or any other instance.
You may waive your rights only by an instrument in writing signed by you.

Expenses

      We agree to pay on demand (a) all expenses (including, without limitation,
legal fees and disbursements) incurred by you in connection with the negotiation
and preparation of this Agreement and
<PAGE>

the perfection of your security interest in any of the Collateral, and (b) all
expenses of enforcing the provisions of this Agreement and your rights against
any of the Collateral, including, without limitation, expenses and fees of legal
counsel, court costs and the cost of appellate proceedings.

Where to Make Payments

      All payments under this Agreement shall be made in lawful currency of the
United States of America in immediately available funds at the address as
provided in the Note, or in such other manner or at such other place as you
shall designate in writing.

Governing Law; Agent for Service of Process

      This Agreement and your rights and our obligations hereunder shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of California.
We agree that any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement or
any of the Collateral may be brought in the courts of the State of California
and of the United States having jurisdiction in the County of Los Angeles and
State of California and for the purpose of any such legal action or proceeding,
we hereby submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and agree not
to raise and waive any objection we may have based upon personal jurisdiction or
the venue of any such court or forum non conveniens. We agree not to bring any
action or other proceeding with respect to this Agreement or any of our
obligations under this Agreement in any other court unless such courts of the
State of California and of the United States determine that they do not have
jurisdiction in the matter. For purposes of any proceeding involving this
Agreement, we hereby irrevocably appoint Gary L. Blum, Esq., 3278 Wilshire
Blvd., #603, Los Angeles, CA 90010, our agent to receive service of process for
us and on our behalf.

      We will at all times maintain an agent to receive service of process in
California, on our behalf with respect to this Agreement, and in the event that,
for any reason, the agent named above or any successor agent shall no longer
serve as our agent to receive service of process in California, we shall
promptly appoint a successor and advise you thereof.

Amendment

      This Agreement may only be amended by an instrument in writing signed by
you and us.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        PLEDGEE

                                        THE ANNE BERCHE FAMILY TRUST

                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        By

                                        PLEDGOR

                  AGREED:
                                        VERTICAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC.

                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        By: Richard Wade, PresidentExhibit 10.1 (c)
Berche Warrants

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED (THE "ACT"), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SALE TO THE HOLDER OF
THIS SECURITY OF THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS
SECURITY ARE NOT COVERED BY A REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT OR
REGISTRATION UNDER STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS SECURITY HAS BEEN ACQUIRED, AND
SUCH SHARES OF COMMON STOCK MUST BE ACQUIRED, FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE
SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF REGISTRATION OF THE RESALE
THEREOF OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE IN FORM, SCOPE AND
SUBSTANCE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

No. _______

Right to Purchase 500,000 Shares of Common Stock of Vertical Computer Systems,
Inc.

                         VERTICAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC.

                          Common Stock Purchase Warrant

            VERTICAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), hereby certifies that, for value received, Anne Berche, or
registered assigns (the "Holder"), is entitled, subject to the terms set forth
below, to purchase from the Company at any time or from time to time up to and
including three (3) years after the date hereof, and before 5:00 p.m., Los
Angeles time, on August 13, 2004, Five Hundred Thousand (500,000) fully paid and
nonassessable shares of Common Stock, $.00001 par value, of the Company at an
Exercise Price per share initially equal to $0.028. The number of such shares of
Common Stock and the Exercise Price are subject to adjustment as provided in
this Warrant.

      1. Exercise at Option of Holder. This Warrant may be exercised by the
Holder hereof in full or in part at any time or from time to time during the
exercise period specified in the first paragraph hereof, by surrender of this
Warrant and the subscription form annexed hereto (duly executed) by such Holder
to the Company and by making payment, in cash or by certified or official bank
check payable to the order of the Company or wire transfer to the Company's
account, in the amount obtained by multiplying (a) the number of shares of
Common Stock designated by the Holder in the subscription form by (b) the
Exercise Price then in effect. On any partial exercise the Company will
forthwith issue and deliver to or upon the order of the Holder hereof a new
Warrant or Warrants of like tenor, in the name of the Holder hereof or as such
Holder (upon payment by such Holder of any applicable transfer taxes) may
request, providing in the aggregate on the face or faces thereof for the
purchase of the number of shares of Common Stock for which such Warrant or
Warrants may still be exercised.

      2. Delivery of Stock Certificates, etc., on Exercise. As soon as
practicable after the exercise of this Warrant, and in any event within five
business days thereafter, the Company at its expense (including the payment by
it of any applicable issue or stamp taxes) will cause to be issued in the name
of and delivered to the Holder hereof, or as such Holder (upon payment by such
Holder of any applicable transfer taxes) may direct, a certificate or
certificates for the number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common
Stock to which such Holder shall be entitled on such exercise, in such
denominations
<PAGE>

as may be requested by such Holder, plus, in lieu of any fractional share to
which such Holder would otherwise be entitled, cash equal to such fraction
multiplied by the then current fair market value of one full share, together
with any other stock or other securities any property (including cash, where
applicable) to which such Holder is entitled upon such exercise pursuant to
Section 1 or otherwise.

      3. Dilution.

            a. Dividends, Etc. If the Company shall pay to the holders of its
Common Stock a dividend in shares of Common Stock or in securities convertible
into Common Stock, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the record
date fixed for the determination of the holders of Common Stock entitled to such
dividend shall be proportionately decreased, effective at the opening of
business on the next following full business day.

            b. Splits, Combinations, Etc. If the Company shall split the
outstanding shares of its Common Stock into a greater number of shares or
combine the outstanding shares into a smaller number, the Exercise Price in
effect immediately prior to such action shall be proportionately decreased in
the case of a split or increased in the case of a combination, effective at the
opening of business on the full business day next following the day such action
becomes effective.

      4. Protection in Case or Reclassification, Etc. In case of any
reclassification or change of the terms of the outstanding shares of the class
of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant, then upon exercise
of this Warrant (other than a change relating to par value, or as a result of a
subdivision or combination), or in case of any consolidation or merger of the
Company with or into another company (other than a merger in which the Company
is the continuing company or which does not result in any reclassification or
change of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the class issuable upon exercise
of this Warrant, other than a split or combination of shares), or in case of any
sale or conveyance to any other person or entity of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company, the Company shall use its best efforts to execute an
agreement providing that the holder of this Warrant shall have the right
thereafter to exercise this Warrant for the kind and amount of shares of stock
and other securities and property receivable upon such reclassification, change,
dividend, distribution, consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance by a holder of
the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company for which this Warrant might
have been exercised immediately prior to such reclassification, change,
dividend, distribution, consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance. This Section
4 shall apply to successive reclassifications and changes of and dividends and
distributions on shares of Common Stock and to successive consolidations,
mergers, sales or conveyances. Notice of the execution of any agreement
pertaining to such reclassification, change, dividend, distribution,
consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance shall be given to the holder of this
Warrant as soon as practicable and in any event not less than ten (10) business
days before any such transaction is consummated.

      5. "Piggy-Back" Registration.

            (a) Grant of Right. The Holder of this Warrant shall have the right
for a period of three years from the date of grant of this Warrant to include
all or any part of this Warrant and the shares of Common Stock underlying this
Warrant (collectively, the "Registrable Securities") as part of any registration
of securities filed by the Company (other than in connection with a transaction
contemplated by Rule 145(a) promulgated under the Act); provided, however, that
if, in the written opinion of the Company's managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, for such offering determines that marketing factors
require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten, the managing
underwriter in its sole discretion may limit the number of Registrable
Securities to be included in the registration, or may exclude Registrable
Securities entirely from such registration. In such case, the Company shall so
advise Holder whose Registrable Securities otherwise would be included in such
registration, and the number of shares
<PAGE>

of Registrable Securities that may be included in such registration and
underwritten offering shall be allocated among other selling shareholders
requesting registration in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the
respective amounts of Registrable Securities held by Holder and registrable
shares each of such other selling shareholders at the date of filing of the
Registration Statement. If Holder disapproves of the terms and conditions of the
underwritten offering, Holder may withdraw therefrom by written notice to the
Company and the managing underwriter(s). Any Registrable Securities excluded or
withdrawn from such underwritten offering shall be withdrawn from such
registration.

            (b) Terms. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses attendant to
registering the Registrable Securities, including any filing fees payable to the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD), but the Holder shall
pay any and all underwriting commissions and the expenses of any legal counsel
selected by the Holder to represent it in connection with the sale of the
Registrable Securities. In the event of such a proposed registration, the
Company shall furnish the then Holder of outstanding Registrable Securities with
prompt written notice prior to the proposed date of filing of such registration
statement. Such notice to the Holder shall continue to be given for each
registration statement filed by the Company until such time as all of the
Registrable Securities have been sold by the Holder. The Holder of the
Registrable Securities shall exercise the "piggy-back" rights provided for
herein by giving written notice, within twenty days of the receipt of the
Company's notice of its intention to file a registration statement. Nothing
contained in this Warrant shall be construed as requiring any Holder to exercise
this Warrant or any part thereof prior to the initial filing of any registration
statement or the effectiveness thereof. The Company shall have the right to
terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by the Company under this
Section 5 prior to the effectiveness of such registration whether or not Holder
has elected to include Registrable Securities in such registration

      6. Reservation of Stock, etc., Issuable on Exercise of Warrants. The
Company will at all times reserve and keep available, solely for issuance and
delivery on the exercise of this Warrant, all shares of Common Stock from time
to time issuable on the exercise of this Warrant.

      7. Register of Warrants. The Company shall maintain, at the principal
office of the Company (or such other office as it may designate by notice to the
Holder hereof), a register in which the Company shall record the name and
address of the person in whose name this Warrant has been issued, as well as the
name and address of each successor and prior owner of such Warrant. The Company
shall be entitled to treat the person in whose name this Warrant is so
registered as the sole and absolute owner of this Warrant for all purposes.

      8. Exchange of Warrant. This Warrant is exchangeable, upon the surrender
hereof by the Holder hereof at the office or agency of the Company referred to
in Section 7, for one or more new Warrants of like tenor representing in the
aggregate the right to subscribe for and purchase the number of shares of Common
Stock which may be subscribed for purchase hereunder, each of such new Warrants
to represent the right to subscribe for and purchase such number of shares as
shall be designated by said Holder hereof at the time of such surrender.

      9. Replacement of Warrant. On receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory
to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant
and, in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction of this Warrant, on
delivery of an indemnity agreement or security reasonably satisfactory in form
and amount to the Company or, in the case of any such mutilation, on surrender
and cancellation of this Warrant, the Company at its expense will execute and
deliver, in lieu thereof, a new Warrant of like tenor.

      10. Warrant Agent. The Company will act as the exercise agent for the
purpose of issuing Common Stock on the exercise of this Warrant pursuant to
Section 1. The Company may, by written
<PAGE>

notice to the Holder, appoint an agent having an office in the United States of
America, for the purpose of issuing Common Stock on the exercise of this Warrant
pursuant to Section 1, redeeming this Warrant pursuant to Section 2, exchanging
this Warrant pursuant to Section 8, and replacing this Warrant pursuant to
Section 9, or any of the foregoing, and thereafter any such issuance, exchange
or replacement, as the case may be, shall be made at such office by such agent.

      10. No Rights or Liabilities as a Stockholder. This Warrant shall not
entitle the Holder hereof to any voting rights or other rights as a stockholder
of the Company, until properly exercised.

      12. Notices, etc. All notices and other communications from the Company to
the registered Holder of this Warrant shall be mailed by first class certified
mail, postage prepaid, at such address as may have been furnished to the Company
in writing by such Holder or at the address shown for such Holder on the
register of Warrants referred to in Section 8.

      13. Miscellaneous. This Warrant and any terms hereof may be changed,
waived, discharged or terminated only by an instrument in writing signed by the
party against which enforcement or such change, waiver, discharge or termination
is sought. This Warrant shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and
governed by the internal laws of the State of California. The headings in this
Warrant are for purposes of reference only, and shall not limit or otherwise
affect any of the terms hereof. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision hereof shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any
other provision.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Vertical Computer Systems, Inc. has caused this
Warrant to be executed on its behalf by one of its officers thereunto duly
authorized.

Dated: August 13, 2001                  VERTICAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC.

                                        By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                             Richard Wade, President:
<PAGE>

                              FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION

                          COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
                       OF VERTICAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC.

(To be signed only on exercise of Warrant)

TO:   VERTICAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC.
      6336 Wilshire Boulevard
      Los Angeles, California 90048

      1. The undersigned Holder of the attached original, executed Warrant
hereby elects to exercise its purchase right under such Warrant with respect to
________ shares of Common Stock, as defined in the Warrant, of Vertical Systems,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").

      2. The undersigned Holder pays the aggregate purchase price for such
shares of Common Stock (i) by lawful money of the United States or the enclosed
certified or official bank check payable in United States dollars to the order
of the Company in the amount of $___________, or (ii) by wire transfer of United
States funds to the account of the Company in the amount of $____________, which
transfer has been made before or simultaneously with the delivery of this Form
of Subscription pursuant to the instructions of the Company.

      3. Please issue a stock certificate or certificates representing the
appropriate number of shares of Common Stock in the name of the undersigned or
in such other names as is specified below:

            Name:
                    -------------------------------
            Address:
                    -------------------------------

                    -------------------------------

Dated:
      ------------------------          (Signature must conform to name of
                                        Holder as specified on the face of the
                                        Warrant)

                                        ----------------------------------------

                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                        (Address)

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