Document:

Letter Agreement, dated October 1. 2002

  Exhibit 10.52
  FIRST AMENDMENT
            This First Amendment (“Amendment”), dated as of October 1, 2002 to that certain Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) dated as of April 18,
2001, by and between Autobytel Inc., a corporation duly organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), with offices at 18872 MacArthur Boulevard, Irvine, California 92612-1400, and Hoshi Printer (hereinafter referred to
as the “Executive”), who resides at 15 Classico Drive, Newport Coast, CA 92657.
  WHEREAS, The parties desire to amend the Agreement.
  NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:

	  
 	  1.
 	  The first two sentences of Article 1 of the Agreement are hereby amended in their entirety to read as follows:
 
	  
 	  
 	  
 
	  
 	  
 	  “The Company hereby employs the Executive as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Executive hereby accepts such employment by the
Company for a period of two (2) years (the “Term”) commencing from April 18, 2001 (the “Commencement Date”) and expiring on the second anniversary of the Commencement Date (the “Termination Date”), which Term shall
automatically renew for one year periods unless either party notifies the other of its election not to renew at least 60 days prior to the Termination Date or any applicable anniversary of the Termination Date. Notwithstanding the above, in the
event of a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company while the Executive remains employed by the Company, the Term shall automatically extend for a period of two (2) years commencing from the date of the Change of Control.”

	  
 	  
 	  
 
	  
 	 2.
 	  The other terms and conditions of the Agreement shall remain in effect and not be affected by this Amendment.
 
	  
 	  
 	  
 
	  
 	  3.
 	  This Amendment shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws
thereof.
 
	  
 	  
 	  
 
	  
 	  4.
 	  This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one instrument.
 

  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.

	  
 	  
 	 AUTOBYTEL INC.
 	  
 
	  
 	  
 	  
 	  
 
	  
 	  By:
 	  /s/ JEFFREY A. SCHWARTZ
 	  
 
	  
 	  
 	 
 	  
 
	  
 	  
 	  Jeffrey A. Schwartz
 President and Chief Executive Officer
 	  
 
	  
 	  
 	  
 	  
 
	  
 	  
 	 /s/ HOSHI PRINTER
 	  
 
	  
 	  
 	 
 	  
 
	  
 	  
 	 Hoshi PrinterFirst Amendment, dated as of October 1, 2002

  Exhibit 10.53
  As of October 1, 2002
  Mr. Steve Ammons

74 Rockinghorse Rd.
 Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
  Dear Steve:
  It is a pleasure to offer you the temporary position of Vice President Sales at
Autobytel Inc. (the “Company”), subject to approval by the Board of Directors.  Please be reminded that our offer of employment is contingent upon completion of our background check and your reviewing and accepting the terms of
our various pre-hire and new-hire documents, including the employee handbook, the Confidentiality Agreement, the Arbitration Agreement, and the Securities Trading Policy.  Following is a summary of our offer:

	  
 	  Position:
 	  
 	  Vice President Sales
 
	  
 	  Semi-Monthly Rate:
 	  
 	  $9375.00
 
	  
 	  Bonus Opportunity
 	  
 	  $37,500 per calendar quarter beginning at the close of calendar Q4 and payable in January 2003, based on achievement of specified objectives for Q4. You would be eligible for Q1
or Q2 2003 bonus payable in the month following the close of the calendar quarter and based on results against objectives for such respective quarters.  Specific objectives and plan details to be outlined in a separate document and incorporated
herein by reference.
 
	  
 	 Stock Options
 	  
 	  25,000 options that will be subject to acceleration based upon achievement of objectives to be determined and documented in a separate memo.  Steve will also be given
consideration, based upon performance for additional options in 2003.
 
	  
 	  Hire Date:
 	  
 	  October 1, 2002
 
	  
 	  Term of employment:
 	  
 	  October 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003
 
	  
 	  Severance:
 	  
 	  If you are terminated without cause, cause is defined below, you will receive the lesser of six (6) months of base salary based on your current semi-monthly salary, or the balance
of the term of your employment scheduled to end on June 30, 2003. Such severance paid in a lump sum provided you execute a Company approved Settlement and General Release Agreement.
 

 As a condition of employment, you will be required to sign the standard Employee Confidentiality Agreement, Arbitration Agreement, and the Securities Trading Policy, which will apply during your employment with the Company and
thereafter.  Two originals of each of these documents are enclosed for your review.  Upon acceptance of this offer of employment, please sign and/or date in the designated areas, and return two signed originals of each directly to
me.  I  will then sign and return one complete package to you for your records.
  autobytel.com inc.
  1

   Steve Ammons
 Offer Letter
 Page 2
  Enclosed you will also find information regarding our benefits package.  Please
review the information, fill out as much as possible, and bring it with you on your first day of employment.  If you have any questions or concerns they will be addressed during your new hire orientation or you may contact Natalie Hensley at
949.862.1312. Your benefits will be effective November 1, 2002.  The Company will reimburse the cost for benefits for one month (October ) should you choose to purchase a private policy or C.O.B.R.A. benefits from your former
employer.
  The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 requires all new associates to provide proof of citizenship and/or right to work documentation within three (3) days from the commencement of
employment. A list of acceptable documents is enclosed. Please bring documents to verify employment eligibility on your first day of work.
  For purposes of the severance described above, cause shall
mean any one of the following: 

	  
 	 (1) Gross misconduct; or
 
	  
 	  
 
	  
 	  (2) The willful and continued failure by employee to substantially perform his duties (this cannot relate to employee’s work location) (other than such failure resulting from
the employee’s disability), after a written demand for substantial performance of such duties is delivered to the employee that specifically identifies the manner in which employee’s manager believes that the employee has failed to
substantially perform his duties, and the employee has failed to remedy the failure within 10 business days of receiving such notice; or
 
	  
 	  
 
	  
 	  (3) The willful or continued action, or failure to act, by the employee that results, or is expected to result, in actual material financial injury to the Company. However, no act
or failure to act on the employee’s part shall be considered “willful” if done, or omitted to be done, by the employee in good faith and with a reasonable belief that his  action or omission was in the best interest of the
Company; or
 
	  
 	  
 
	  
 	 (4) The employee’s conviction for committing an act of fraud, embezzlement, theft, or any other act constituting a felony involving moral turpitude or causing material harm,
financial or otherwise, to the Company; or
 
	  
 	  
 
	  
 	  (5) Violation of Company policies of a serious nature, examples of which include but are not limited to: discrimination or harassment tied to race, color, gender, age, national
origin, sexual orientation, disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, or religion; theft; falsification of Company records; being under the influence or in the possession of illegal drugs or controlled substances on Company
property; possession of fire arms or other weapons or explosives on Company property; or similar serious violations of Company policies.
 

  Steve Ammons
  2

   Steve Ammons
 Offer Letter
 Page 3
  The provisions of this letter are severable which means that if any part of the
letter is legally unenforceable, the other provisions shall remain fully valid and enforceable.  This letter sets forth our complete understanding regarding the matters addressed herein and supersedes all previous agreements or understandings
between you and the Company, whether written or oral. 
 Steve, while we sincerely hope your employment relationship with the Company will be mutually rewarding, we want to be clear that by our policy,
your employment is “at will” and there is no express or implied contract of employment for a specified period of time. This means that you may resign at any time without notice and that Autobytel Inc., may terminate your employment or
change the terms of your employment, including but not limited to your duties, position, or compensation, at any time without cause and without notice. Our at-will employment policy may not be changed except by an explicit written agreement signed
by both you and the President and CEO of Autobytel Inc. This policy supersedes any prior written or oral communications to the contrary. 
  Please indicate acceptance of our offer by signing and
returning the enclosed copy of this letter. By signing this offer letter you also will be acknowledging that you are not relying on any promises or representations other than those set forth above in deciding to accept this conditional offer of
employment.  You may fax a signed copy, if you wish, to our confidential fax at 949.797.0443.  Feel free to call if you have questions.  We look forward to having you join the Autobytel team.

	  
 	  /s/ STEVE AMMONS
 	  
 
	  
 	 
 	  
 
	  
 	 Steve Ammons
 	  
 

 Best regards,
 AUTOBYTEL INC.

	 /s/ MARK ERNST
 	  
 
	 
 	  
 
	 Mark Ernst
 V.P., Human Resources
 	  
 

 Steve Ammons
 3

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