COVID-19 Event Indemnity Policy

Last Updated: July 29 2021

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THIS COVID-19 INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) by and between Women in Research (“WIRe”) and any and all attendees at WIRe-hosted events (jointly “Attendee”) is effective as of the date of event attended.

WHEREAS, the world is currently experiencing a pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”); and

WHEREAS, WIRe is striving to and believes it is operating in compliance with applicable requirements set forth by federal, state, county, and local agencies as they relate to controlling and limiting the spread of COVID-19 (“Requirements”); and

WHEREAS, WIRe seeks to protect its employees, volunteers, community members, Attendees, contractors, sub-contractors, services providers, sponsors, and the general public from COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, WIRe would not invite or permit participation of Attendees in Events if Attendee was not also in compliance with Requirements; and

WHEREAS, Attendee desires to participate in or attend WIRe; and

WHEREAS, Attendee, in consideration of WIRe’s allowance of Attendees to attend or participate in Events, agrees to indemnify and defend WIRe from any claim or demand asserted by any Attendee against WIRe related to COVID-19.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are acknowledged, WIRe and Attendee agree as follow:

1. Indemnification and Release. Attendee voluntarily and fully assumes all risks related in any way to COVID-19 for its attendance or participation in Events. Attendee hereby irrevocably and forever agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless WIRe, its employees, volunteers, directors, sponsors, board, subsidiary and affiliated companies, insurers, benefit plans, members, successors, and assigns (collectively, “Released Parties”), jointly and severally, in their individual and agency capacities, from and against any and all costs, expenses, damages, claims, lawsuits, judgments, losses, and/or liabilities (including attorney fees) arising directly or indirectly from, or related in any way to, any claims made by or on behalf of any Attendee for bodily injury, death, loss of use, monetary loss, or any other injury from or related to COVID-19. Attendee hereby releases, waives and discharges any claims, demands, damages, expenses, losses or liabilities (including attorney fees) against the Released Parties for any injury, illness, death or monetary loss relating in any way to COVID-19 in connection with the Events. The obligations under this paragraph survive after discontinuation or expiration of the Attendee’s attendance at WIRe events.

2. Attendee’s Obligations and Acknowledgment of Safety Measures. Prior to attending or participating in Events, Attendee agrees to understand the symptoms associated with COVID-19 and will immediately implement all Requirements to limit or prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Attendee will fully implement Requirements such as, if applicable, health screening and isolation protocols.

In addition to such efforts, Attendee will not attend or participate in Events if the Attendee:

a) is experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 related illness as described by the CDC (which can be mild to severe and can include fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, temporary loss of taste, digestive symptoms such as diarrhea or loss of appetite) in the most recent 14 days;

b) is directed by a health care professional or public health official to self- quarantine due to a suspected or confirmed case of the COVID-19 virus by anyone with whom the Attendee has had close or household contact (within 6 feet) in the most recent 14 days; or

c) has tested positive or been in close or household contact (within 6 feet) with anyone testing positive for the COVID-19 virus within the most recent 14 days;

Attendee will immediately notify WIRe through its designated contact person (Jessica Sage, jessica@womeninresearch.org) if any Attendee that attended or participated in an Event has or reports any of the above conditions. Attendee will fully and promptly cooperate with WIRe in any contact tracing as requested by WIRe in such circumstances. Attendee agrees and warrants that at all times when they are attending or participating in Events, Attendees will wear all appropriate and required face coverings, gloves and other personal protection equipment (collectively “PPE”) as then required by applicable law or regulation, emergency orders, and/or as recommended by the CDC and OSHA guidelines relative to the COVID-19 virus. Attendee agrees to provide and maintain all PPE in good working order. Attendee agrees that nothing in this Agreement shall prevent WIRe from conducting its own screenings or inquiries of Attendees at or during an Event for the purposes of preventing the spread of Covid-19, independent of Attendee obligations herein, and that no such screenings or inquiries by WIRe shall affect or alter Attendee obligations herein.

3. Workers’ Compensation and Insurance. Attendee agrees that it is Attendee’s sole obligation to obtain and maintain appropriate and/or required workers’ compensation insurance or other liability insurance relative to Attendee’s attendance or participation in Events. Attendee warrants and agrees that they are not employees of WIRe and that Attendee has all appropriate and required workers compensation insurance, unemployment insurance, and liability insurance.

4. Governing Law/Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be controlled, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State wherein Attendee’s registered event is held without giving effect to conflicts of law. The exclusive venue for any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or the Events shall be in the applicable State or Federal court wherein event is located, and each party hereby waives any objection it may have to such venue, including, without limitation, an objection based on the assertion that this venue is an inconvenient forum. Each party also expressly waives any claim to a trial by jury to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

5. Entire Agreement, Severability and Modification. This written Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties, and supersedes any prior written oral understandings or promises concerning the subject of this Agreement. The waiver of a breach of any term of this Agreement does not operate as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach. This Agreement is binding on Attendee, its affiliates and all respective successors and assigns, personal representatives and heirs. The rights under this Agreement may not be assigned by Attendee to anyone. Any ambiguity in this Agreement will not be construed presumptively against any party. If any court of competent jurisdiction finds any provision of this Agreement to be invalid or unenforceable, such provisions shall be considered removed from this Agreement and the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect to the fullest extent permitted by law. No modification of this Agreement is enforceable except in a writing signed by Attendee and WIRe Staff. The parties agree that no claims under this Agreement may be consolidated into a single proceeding or proceed as a class, collective action, or representative action and the parties hereby waive any right to relief to a class or group of employees.

6. Execution and Authority. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, and copies of signatures shall be treated as originals for all purposes. Fax and electronic signatures will be binding on all parties and each such signed copy constitutes an original. By registering for a WIRe event, Attendee’s agent acknowledges and represents that he/she has read the foregoing Agreement, understands it and strictly adheres to it voluntarily, and is authorized by Attendee to enter into this Agreement.

Questions and comments should be directed to jessica@womeninresearch.org.

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