DocuSign Envelope ID: CC28ECFE-C46C-45E9-A136-E17B950976EE

 

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into and

effective as of February 3, 2020 (the "Effective Date"), by and between Marijuana

Company of America, Inc., a Utah corporation (the “Company"), 1390 West Valley

Parkway, Ste. 205, Escondido, CA 92025, and Jesus Quintero, an individual residing at

16860 SW 1* Street, Pembroke Pines, FL 33027, ("Executive"), with reference to the

following facts:

 

RECITALS

 

A. The Company desires to obtain the association and services of Executive as

Principal Executive Officer and Principal Accounting Officer. The Company is willing to

engage Executive's services on the terms and conditions set forth below.

 

B. Executive desires to enter into this Agreement with the Company for a specific

period of time and is willing to do so under the following terms and conditions.

 

AGREEMENT

 

In consideration of the forgoing recitals and of the mutual promises and

conditions set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Employment. The Company hereby agrees to employ Executive as Principal

Executive Officer and Principal Accounting Officer, and Executive agrees to accept

employment upon the terms and conditions set forth herein. Executive shall have such

duties and responsibilities as may be delegated or assigned from time to time by the

Company's Principal Executive Officer or Board of Directors.

 

1.1 Executive agrees to faithfully devote his time, energy and abilities to the

proper and efficient discharge of his duties set forth above.

 

2. Term. Subject to the termination provisions in Section 5 hereof, the term of

Executive's employment shall be for a 12 month period, renewable at the option of the

Parties, commencing as of the Effective Date and, subject to Section 5, ending on

February 1, 2021 (the "Term").

 

3. Compensation.

 

3.1 Salary. For all services as Principal Executive Officer and Principal

Accounting Officer that Executive renders to the Company during the Term of this

Agreement, Executive will be compensated with a gross monthly salary of fifteen

thousand dollars ($15,000.00). The monthly salary shall be paid as follows: twelve

thousand dollars ($12,000) in cash, and an equivalent of three thousand dollars’

($3,000) worth of Company restricted common stock, determined as of the closing price

of the Company's common stock on the final trading day of each month as reported on

the OTC Markets Listing Service. Such cash monthly salary shall be payable consistent

with the payroll practices as established by the Company. Where applicable, payments

will be subject to income tax withholding and other payroll tax deductions required by

applicable state and federal law.

DocuSign Envelope ID: CC28ECFE-C46C-45E9-A136-E17B950976EE

 

3.2 Expenses. During the Term of this Agreement, the Company shall reimburse

Executive for reasonable and authenticated out-of-pocket expenses incurred in

connection with performance of Executive’s duties hereunder, including (without

limitation) travel expenses, food and lodging while away from home, and entertainment,

subject to such policies as the Company may from time to time reasonably establish for

its employees.

 

3.3 Other Benefits. Subject to the terms hereof, Executive shall receive the same

standard employment benefits as the other executive employees of the Company, as

determined by the Company's Board of Directors, including participation in the

Company’s Employee Incentive Plan.

 

4. Proprietary Information. Executive acknowledges that Executive currently has

knowledge, and during the term of this Agreement will gain further knowledge, of

information not generally known about the Company and which gives the Company an

advantage over its competitors, including (without limitation) information of a technical

nature, such as “know how," formulae, secret processes or machines, computer

programs, inventions and research projects, and information of a business nature, such

as information about costs, profits, markets, sales, Company finances, employees, lists

of customers and other information of a similar nature to the extent not available to the

public, and plans for future developments (collectively, “Confidential Information").

Executive agrees to keep secret all such Confidential Information of the Company,

including information received in confidence by the Company from others, and agrees

not to disclose any such Confidential Information to anyone outside the Company

except as required in the course of his duties, either during or after his employment.

 

5. Termination of Employment. This Agreement is terminable prior to the

expiration of the Term in the manner and to the extent set forth in this Section 5, and not

otherwise.

 

5.1 Death. This Agreement shall terminate upon the death of the Executive.

 

5.2 Disability. This Agreement shall terminate upon the permanent disability of

Executive. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean the Executive's

inability, due to physical or mental incapacity, to perform the essential functions of his

job, with or without reasonable accommodation, for one hundred eighty (180) days out

of any three hundred sixty-five (365) day period, or one hundred twenty (120)

consecutive days; provided however, in the event that the Company temporarily

replaces the Executive, or transfers the Executive's duties or responsibilities to another

individual on account of the Executive's inability to perform such duties due to a mental

or physical incapacity which is, or is reasonably expected to become, a Disability, then

the Executive’s employment shall not be deemed terminated by the Company, and the

Executive shall not resign with Good Reason as a result thereof. Any question as to the

existence of the Executive's Disability as to which the Executive and the Company

cannot agree shall be determined in writing by a qualified independent physician

mutually acceptable to the Executive and the Company. If the Executive and the

Company cannot agree as to a qualified independent physician, each shall appoint such

a physician and those two physicians shall select a third who shall make such

 

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determination in writing. The determination of Disability made in writing to the Company

and the Executive shall be final and conclusive for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

5.3 Termination for Cause. The Company may terminate this Agreement at any

time without further delay for Executive's willful misconduct including, but not limited to,

fraud, dishonesty, willful breach or habitual neglect of duties, disclosure of Confidential

information, and engagement in any activity materially adverse to the Company during

the Term of this Agreement.

 

5.4 Voluntary Termination. At any time during the Term, and for any reason,

Executive may voluntarily terminate this Agreement and resign from the employment of

the Company. Such termination and resignation shall he effected by thirty (30) days’

prior written notice to the Company.

 

§.5 Termination for Good Reason. At any time during the Term, the Executive

may voluntarily terminate this Agreement and resign from the employment of the

Company for Good Reason, as defined below. Such termination and resignation shall

be effected by sixty (60) days’ prior written notice to the Company. "Good Reason" shall

mean termination based upon:

 

(i) The assignment to the Executive of any duties materially inconsistent with his

positions, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company as in effect immediately

prior to such assignment, or a significant change in such Executive’s reporting

responsibilities or offices as in effect immediately prior to such change, except in

connection with the termination of the Executive’s employment pursuant to Sections 5.1,

5.2, 5.3, or 5.4;

 

(ii) A reduction by the Company in the Executive's compensation as set forth in

Section 3.1 hereof which is not consented to by the Executive; the Executive may

withdraw any prior consent upon 30 days’ prior written notice to the Company;

 

(iii) The requirement by the Company that the Executive be based anywhere

other than within a one hundred (100) mile radius of Executive's office, except for

required travel on the Company's business to an extent substantially consistent with the

Executive's present business travel obligations, or in the event the Executive consents

to any such relocation, the failure by the Company to pay (or to reimburse the

Executive) for all reasonable moving expenses in connection with any such relocation.

 

5.6 Termination Without Cause. At any time during the Term, and for any reason

or no reason (except as provided in Sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 or 5.4), the Company may

terminate Executive's employment, provided only that the Company shall nonetheless

pay to Executive his pro rata salary as provided in Section 3.1, together with any other

pro rata compensation or benefits due hereunder, to the date of termination.

 

Change in corporate control —- should the management or ownership of the

Company change substantially, Executive may be terminated with the same conditions

as paragraph 5.6.

 

5.7 Effect of Termination.

 

(i) In the event the Executive's employment is terminated due to his death or

disability, no additional salary shall be paid beyond what was earned and unpaid pro

 

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rata prior to Executive's death or disability. Any unpaid earned salary, and common

stock earned pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.1(a), shall either be paid to

Executive in the event of disability, or be issued to Executive's beneficiary as

established by the intestate succession laws of the State of California, or Executive's

will or trust.

 

(ii) In the event Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for cause

pursuant to Section 5.3 above, all compensation and other benefits due under this

Agreement shall cease upon the date of such termination of employment ("Employment

Termination Date").

 

(iii) In the event Executive voluntarily terminates his employment pursuant to

Section 5.4 above, the Company shall pay to Executive his pro rata salary earned as of

the date of termination as provided in Section 3.1, together with any other pro rata

compensation or benefits due hereunder, also paid pro rata to the date of termination.

 

(iv) In the event Executive terminates his employment for good reason pursuant

to Section 5.5, the Company shall pay to Executive his pro rata salary earned as of the

date of termination as provided in Section 3.1, together with any other pro rata

compensation or benefits due hereunder, also paid pro rata to the date of termination.

 

(v) In the event the Company elects to terminate Executive's employment without

cause, pursuant to Section 5.6, the Company shall pay to Executive his pro rata salary

earned as of the date of termination as provided in Section 3.1, together with any other

pro rata compensation or benefits due hereunder, also paid pro rata to the date of

termination.

 

5.8 Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Executive's employment

hereunder by the Company or by the Executive during the Employment Term (other

than termination pursuant to Section 5.1 on account of the Executive’s death) shall be

communicated by written notice of termination (“Notice of Termination”) to the other

party hereto in accordance with Section 9.2.

 

5.9 Cooperation. The parties agree that certain matters in which the Executive

will be involved during the Term may necessitate the Executive's cooperation in the

future. Accordingly, following the termination of the Executive's employment for any

reason, to the extent reasonably requested by the Company, the Executive shall

cooperate with the Company in connection with matters arising out of the Executive's

service to the Company; provided that, the Company shall make reasonable efforts to

minimize disruption of the Executive's other activities. The Company shall reimburse the

Executive for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with such cooperation and, to

the extent that the Executive is required to spend substantial time on such matters, the

Company shall compensate the Executive at an hourly rate based on the Executive’s

Base Salary on the Termination Date.

 

5.10 Exit Obligations. Upon (a) voluntary or involuntary termination of the

Executive's employment or (b) the Company’s request at any time during the

Executive’s employment, the Executive shall (i) provide or return to the Company any

and ail Company property, including keys, key cards, access cards, identification cards,

security devices, employer credit cards, network access devices, computers, cell

 

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DocuSign Envelope ID: CC28ECFE-C46C-45E9-A136-E17B950976EE

 

phones, smartphones, PDAs, pagers, fax machines, equipment, speakers, webcams,

manuals, reports, files, books, compilations, work product, e-mail messages,

recordings, tapes, disks, thumb drives or other removable information storage devices,

hard drives, negatives and data and all Company documents and materials belonging to the Company and

stored in any fashion, including but not limited to those that constitute

or contain any Confidential Information, that are in the possession or control of the

Executive, whether they were provided to the Executive by the Company or any of its

business associates or created by the Executive in connection with his employment by

the Company; and (ii) delete or destroy all copies of any such documents and materials

not returned to the Company that remain in the Executive's possession or control,

including those stored on any non-Company devices, networks, storage locations, and

media in the Executive’s possession or control.

 

6. Specific Enforcement. Executive is obligated under the Agreement to render

service of a special, unique, unusual, extraordinary, and intellectual character, thereby

giving this Agreement peculiar value, so that the loss thereof cannot be reasonably or

adequately compensated in damages in an action at law. Therefore, in addition to other

remedies provided by law, the Company shall have the right during the Term to compel

specific performance hereof by Executive and/or obtain injunctive relief against the

performance of services elsewhere by Executive, without the posting of any bond or

other security. The aforementioned equitable relief shall be in addition to, not in lieu of,

legal remedies, monetary damages, or other available forms of relief. In the event the

Company seeks and obtains legal and/or equitable relief under this Section, the

Company shall recover its attorney fees and costs from Executive.

 

7. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution. This Agreement, for all purposes, shall

be construed in accordance with the laws of California without regard to conflicts of law

 

principles. Any action or proceeding by either of the parties to enforce this Agreement

shall be brought only in a state or federal court located in the state of California county

of San Diego. The parties hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such

courts and waive the defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such

action or proceeding in such venue.

 

7.1 Attorney Fees. The prevailing party in any legal action to enforce or construe

this Agreement shail recover its reasonable attorney fees as an element of costs.

 

8. Tax Consequences. The Company shall have no obligation to Executive with

respect to any tax obligations incurred as the result of or attributable to this Agreement

or arising from any payments made or to be made hereunder. Any distributions made

pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to such withholding and reports as may be

required by any then-applicable laws or regulations of any state or federal taxing

authority.

 

9. Indemnification. In the event that the Executive is made a party or threatened

to be made a party to any action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,

administrative, or investigative (a “Proceeding”), other than any Proceeding initiated by

the Executive or the Company related to any contest or dispute between the Executive and the Company or any of its affiliates

with respect to this Agreement or the

Executive’s employment hereunder, by reason of the fact that the Executive is or was

 

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DocuSign Envelope ID: CC28ECFE-C46C-45E9-A136-E17B950976EE

 

an officer of the Company, or any affiliate of the Company, or is or was serving at the

request of the Company as a director, officer, member, employee, or agent of another

corporation or a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, the Executive shall

be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent applicable to any

other officer or director of the Company to the maximum extent permitted under

applicable law and the Company's bylaws from and against any liabilities, costs, claims,

and expenses, including all costs and expenses incurred in defense of any Proceeding

(including attorneys’ fees). Costs and expenses incurred by the Executive in defense of

such Proceeding (including attorneys’ fees) shall be paid by the Company in advance of

the final disposition of such litigation upon receipt by the Company of: (i) a written

request for payment; (ii) appropriate documentation evidencing the incurrence, amount,

and nature of the costs and expenses for which payment is being sought; and (iii) an

undertaking adequate under applicable law made by or on behalf of the Executive to

repay the amounts so paid if it shall ultimately be determined that the Executive is not

entitled to be indemnified by the Company under this Agreement.

 

General Provisions.

 

9.1 Waiver. The failure to enforce any provision of this Agreement shall not be

construed as a waiver of any such provision, nor prevent a party thereafter from

enforcing the provision or any other provision of this Agreement. The rights granted the

parties are cumulative, and the election of one shall not constitute a waiver of such

party's right to assert all other legal and equitable remedies available under the

circumstances.

 

9.2 Notices. Any notice to be given to the Company under the terms of this

Agreement shall be addressed to the Company, to the attention of the Board of

Directors, at the address of its executive office set forth above, and any notice to be

given to Executive shall be addressed to him at the residence address set forth above,

or such other address as Company and/or Executive may hereafter designate in writing

to the other. Any notice shali be deemed duly given when personaily deiivered or five

(5) days after deposit in U.S. mail by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, as

provided herein.

 

9.3 Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and if any

provision of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable, in

whole or in part, the remainder of the provisions or enforceable parts thereof, shall not

be affected thereby.

 

9.4 Assignment. Neither Executive nor the Company may assign this Agreement

without the prior written consent of the other; provided that this Agreement may be

assigned to any successor to the Company's business without Executive's consent. The

rights and obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of

and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of the Company, and

Executive's rights under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon

his heirs and executors.

 

9.5 Modification and Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or

modified unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing and signed by

the Executive and by The Board of Directors.

 

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DocuSign Envelope ID: CC28ECFE-C46C-45E9-A136-E17B950976EE

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE: MARIJUANA COMPANY OF AMERICA, INC.

DocuSigned by: DocuSigned by:

 

 

JESUS QUINTERO EDWARD MANOLOS

 

DIRECTOR, AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY

 

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