Document:

Consulting Agreement

  EXHIBIT 10.9
  CONSULTING AGREEMENT
            THIS CONSULTING AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of this 1st day of January, 2003, by and between Jacobs Entertainment,
Inc., a Delaware  corporation (the “Company”), and Jacobs Investments Management Co., Inc., an Ohio corporation (the “Consultant”).
  RECITALS
            A.          Consultant is in the real estate
development, ownership and operations business, and 
            B.          Company is in the
business of owning and operating casinos (“Business”), 
            C.          The
Company desires to retain Consultant as a consultant to assist in the development of new projects and the expansion of existing projects, on the terms and conditions hereinafter provided.
            NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and provisions set forth herein, the parties agree as follows:
            1.          Relationship of Parties.  Company hereby retains Consultant and Consultant
hereby agrees to serve as a consultant to Company, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.  Consultant shall be an independent contractor and shall not be an employee of or a joint venturer with the Company.
           2.          Term.  Subject to Section 8 of this Agreement, the term during
which Consultant shall render services hereunder (the “Consulting Term”) shall begin on the date hereof (the “Commencement Date”) and continue until December 31, 2009 (“Termination Date”).  The

   parties may extend the Consulting Term on such terms and conditions upon which they shall mutually agree.
            3.          Scope of Services.  During the Consulting Term, Consultant shall provide
Company with consulting services from time to time to assist Company in connection with the Business.  This shall include such consulting services as the Company may from time to time reasonably direct and Consultant shall devote its best
efforts to the Business while performing the services.  It is understood and agreed that Consultant is free at all times to arrange the time and manner of performing the consulting services requested by Company and they shall in no event
require Consultant to be active in the day-to-day operations of the Company.
            4.          Compensation.  Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, Consultant shall
be entitled to receive the following base fee and reimbursement of expenses:
                          (a)          Base
Fee.  Consultant shall receive as compensation for the consulting services FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($450,000) per year (the “Base Fee”). The Base Fee shall be payable on January 15th of
each year. 
                          (b)        
 Reimbursement.  Company shall reimburse Consultant for all reasonable business expenses, including those for travel and transportation, incurred by it for or on behalf of Company directly in performance of its duties under this
Agreement provided such expenses shall be authorized by the Company.  For such purpose, Consultant shall submit to Company expenses vouchers and reports of such expenses and other disbursements in accordance with the standard procedures of
Company with respect to such items.
 2

                          (c)
          Taxes and Other.  The Consultant shall be responsible for all state and federal income and self-employment taxes, applicable insurance, including workers’ compensation, and
liability. 
            5.          Records and Files.  All books,
records, ledgers, journals, drawings, reports, or other information relative to the Business or its development plans shall at all times belong to and remain the property of Company.  During the Consulting Term and thereafter, except as shall
be necessary to carry out his responsibilities under this Agreement, Consultant shall not be entitled to retain, reproduce or otherwise remove any such records from the business premises of Company and he shall forthwith return to Company such
records and any copies thereof in his possession or control.
            6.          Termination With Cause.  The parties agree that Company shall be entitled to
terminate this Agreement after giving thirty (30) days’ notice to Consultant for cause, which shall mean (i) for material breach of this Agreement, (ii) for theft or conviction for the commission of a felony, or
(iii) misappropriation of any property belonging to the Company. In the event that Consultant is terminated pursuant to this Section 8(a),
                          (a)          This Agreement
shall be immediately terminated;
                          (b)          Company shall pay
to Consultant the prorated portion of his Base Fee and benefits accrued to the date of termination or the Consultant shall reimburse the Company for any unearned portion; and
                         (c)          Company shall have
no further financial obligation to Consultant or its assigns under this Agreement.
            7.          Binding Effect and Assignment.  This Agreement and all the provisions hereof
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors
  3

   and assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement may not be assigned without the prior written consent of the other party hereto; and, further provided, that this Agreement
may be assigned to any person, corporation or other entity which acquires all or a substantial portion of the assets of Company or Consultant. 
            8.          Notices.  All notices, requests, demands and other communications made
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given when personally delivered or sent by facsimile transmission, receipt confirmed, or by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, as follows, or to such other address or person as any
party may designate by notice to the other parties;

	  If to Consultant:
 	  David C. Grunenwald
 
	  
 	  Vice-President of Development/Leasing
 
	  
 	  Jacobs Investments Management Co., Inc.
 
	  
 	 1231 Main Avenue
 
	  
 	  Cleveland, Ohio 44113
 
	  
 	  
 
	  If to Company:
 	  Stephen R. Roark
 
	  
 	  President and CFO of Casino Operations
 
	  
 	  Jacobs Entertainment, Inc.
 
	  
 	  240  Main Street
 
	  
 	  Black Hawk, Colorado
 

            9.          Waiver of Breach.  The waiver by either party of a breach of any condition of
this Agreement by the other shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by the other.
            10.        Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be construed under and governed by the laws of the
State of Ohio.
            11.        Unenforceability.  If any provision of this
Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, then such provision shall be deemed to be modified or restricted to the extent and in the manner necessary to render the same valid and enforceable, as the case may be, and this
Agreement shall be construed, interpreted and enforced to the
 4

   maximum extent permitted by law, as if such provision had been initially incorporated herein as so modified or restricted or as if such provision had not been initially
incorporated herein, as the case may be, and any such modification or restriction shall not affect the validity of any other provision herein.
            12.       Prior Agreements.  This Agreement amends and supplants any and all prior consulting or
employment agreements between the parties hereto.
            13.       Entire
Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the complete understanding and agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and may only be modified or amended upon the written consent of the parties.
 
          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have signed this Agreement on the day and year first above written.

	  CONSULTANT:
 	  COMPANY:
 
	  
 	  
 
	  JACOBS INVESTMENTS MANAGEMENT, CO., INC.
 	  JACOBS ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
 
	  
 	  
 
	 By:  
 	 /s/ DAVID C. GRUNENWALD
 	 By:
 	 /s/ STEPHEN R. ROARK
 
	  
 	 
 	  
 	 
 
	 David C. Grunenwald, Vice-President
 	  
 	 Stephen R. Roark, President & CFO
 
	 of Development/Leasing
 	  
 	 Casino Operations
 

 5Letter Agreement with Michael J. Murry dated December 6, 2002

 
Exhibit 10.39

 
LETTER AGREEMENT WITH MICHAEL J. MURRY
DATED DECEMBER 6, 2002 
 

	 [LOGO]
 [Catalytica Energy Systems]
	  	 1388 N. Tech Blvd.
 Gilbert, AZ 85233
 480.556.5555 Tel
 480.315.3745 Fax
 www.CatalyticaEnergy.com

	

 
November 25, 2002 
 
Mr. Michael Murry 
No. 18-157715 34th Av 
Surrey, BC,
CANADA 
 
Dear Mike: 
 
On behalf of our Board of Directors I am very pleased to offer you the
position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Catalytica Energy Systems, Inc., and membership on the CESI Board. This is an exciting time in the life of CESI, and we are confident that your background and skills will contribute to our
company’s success. 
 
Compensation 
 
Your base salary will be $20,833.33 per month, which annualizes to $250,000,
and an opportunity for a performance based bonus equal to 100% of this base as follows: an annual cash bonus opportunity of 50.0% of your base salary and an annual option bonus opportunity of 50% of your base salary. Performance measures will
include increase in stock price, and the accomplishment of financial and business goals. 
 
Initial Option Grant 
 
As part of
your hiring agreement, you will be granted options in the amount of 500,000 shares of CESI. This options vest over 4 years. Your options will be issued shortly after your hire date and will be priced based on the market price on that day.

 
Change of Control Protection 
 
You will be provided Change of Control benefits consistent with the plan in
place for CESI executives. The plan provides for 2 years salary, bonus and benefits and vesting of options if terminated, or if the scope of your position’s responsibility is changes substantially, within 2 years of a Change of Control.

 
Severance Protection 
 
If you are terminated without “cause”, you will be provided
severance benefits of 12 months base salary and health benefit continuation. 
 
Relocation 
 
Consistent with the
Company’s relocation practice, Catalytica will pay all costs associated with relocation of 

household. In addition, the Company will pay for apartment rental for a reasonable period required to
secure a permanent residence. 
 
Benefits 
 
Effective upon your date of hire, you and your eligible dependents will be
covered under the CESI health (medical, dental, vision and prescription drugs), long term disability, life insurance and Employee Stock Purchase plans. In addition starting the first of the month after you have completed three months service, you
will be eligible to participate in the 401(k) retirement plan that includes a 60% match (up to 6% of your eligible contribution). You will be eligible for 4 weeks paid vacation, 11 holidays and sick time earned on an accrual basis from your date of
hire. 
 
Mike, we look forward to you becoming a key member of our
executive team, and to help us build the CESI future. 
 
Sincerely
yours, 

	
	 /s/    Ricardo B. Levy

	 Ricardo B. Levy

 
P.S. We have a drug
screening policy for all potential new employees. We would appreciate you undertaking a pre-employment drug-screening test. Please contact Regina Machado at (650) 940-6323 to make the appropriate arrangements. 
 
I accept the offer of employment with Catalytica Energy Systems Inc.,
described in this letter. I understand that this letter is not a contract of employment 
 

	
	 /s/    Michael J. Murry

	 	 December 6, 2002

	 Michael J. Murry
	 	 Date

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00050-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00050-of-00352.parquet"}]]