14.
General.
a.
No Agency. Nothing in this Agreement creates an agency, franchise, joint venture, employment relationship, or partnership between the parties. The parties are and will remain independent contractors. Neither party has the authority to bind the other or to incur any liability or otherwise act on behalf of the other. Each party shall ensure the timely disposition of all of its employee matters in connection with its organization, including employee benefits, insurance, withholdings, taxes, and similar employee related matters.
b.
Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision will be modified, if possible, to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable, or if it cannot be so modified, then severed, and the remaining provisions contained herein will not in any way be affected or impaired.
c.
Waiver. Neither party's failure to enforce strict performance of any provision of this Agreement will constitute a waiver of a right to subsequently enforce such provision, and no waiver of one obligation or condition will constitute a waiver of another obligation or condition. No waiver of this Agreement will be valid unless made in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the party providing the waiver.
d.
Remedies. Except as otherwise stated herein, the remedies under this Agreement are intended to be cumulative and not exclusive.
e.
Assignment. Either party may assign this Agreement, by operation of law or otherwise, without consent, to its successor in a merger or acquisition of all or substantially all of its assets, equity, or business to which this Agreement relates. Otherwise, assignment of this Agreement is prohibited without the consent of the other party.
f.
Survival. The provisions of Sections 2, 3, 6(d), 8, 9, 11(b), 12, 13, and 14 will survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement.
g.
Execution; Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which is an original and all of which together constitute one and the same document. The exchange of a fully executed Agreement (in counterparts or otherwise) electronically, by facsimile or other commercially common means, is sufficient to bind the parties to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
h.
Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement and any associated Order Forms constitute the entire agreement between the parties concerning the subject matter hereof and supersedes all written or oral prior agreements or understandings with respect thereto. This Agreement may not be amended except in a writing signed by authorized representatives of both parties.
i.
Notice. Each party shall send any official notice given pursuant to this Agreement to the other party at the address stated in the Order Form by: (a) certified mail return receipt requested, (b) overnight courier, or (c) confirmed electronic mail.
j.
Force Majeure. Neither party will be liable for any delays or failures of performance hereunder, except for payments, to the extent that performance of such party's obligations or attempts to cure any breach under this Agreement are delayed or prevented as a result of acts of God, labor disputes or other industrial disturbances, systemic electrical, telecommunications, or other utility failures, fires, floods, earthquake, storms or other elements of nature, blockages, embargoes, riots, acts of terrorism or war, acts of government, civil unrest, or any other similar event or circumstance beyond its reasonable control ("Force Majeure Event"), except that the other party may terminate this Agreement upon 30 days' written notice if the Force Majeure Event can reasonably be expected to continue for more than one calendar month.
k.
Dispute Resolution. The parties agree to resolve any dispute, claim or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement according to the terms of this Section 14(k). First, the parties agree to attempt in good faith to resolve the dispute through informal resolution. Second, if the dispute is not resolved through informal resolution, the parties agree to participate in binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Commercial Arbitration Rules in Maricopa County, Arizona. The parties agree that, in the event of arbitration (or in the event of a lawsuit if this arbitration clause is deemed invalid or does not apply to a given dispute) the prevailing party shall be entitled to costs and fees (including reasonable attorneys' fees). Either party may bring a lawsuit solely for injunctive relief without first engaging in the dispute resolution process described in this Section 14(k). In the event that the dispute resolution procedures in this Section 14(k) are found not to apply to a given claim, or in the event of a claim for injunctive relief as specified in the previous sentence, the parties agree that any judicial proceeding will be brought in the state courts of Maricopa County, Arizona. Both parties consent to venue and personal jurisdiction there.
l.
Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement, and all acts and transactions pursuant hereto and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed, construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Arizona, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law.