The petition alleged that details of Easton's severance arrangements had been unlawfully disclosed.

"I'll have the severance arrangements made."

Mr. Wilmott will reportedly receive about $33 million from a severance arrangement, including stock and stock options.

Contracts always include severance arrangements.

John J. Greene, the Justice Department's lead prosecutor in the case, denied government involvement in the severance arrangement.

In the meantime, she has retained David Fox, a lawyer from Livingston, to work out a severance arrangement with the museum.

"There is no statute or regulation that permits such severance arrangements in state government in New Jersey," the investigation commission report said.

The firm asked them to sign the agreements before it renewed their severance arrangements.

Several senators said at his confirmation hearing that they were upset about his sacrifice, though, and they asked that the severance arrangement be re-examined.

According to Executive Compensation Reports, a newsletter organization, 46.4 percent of America's largest corporations have written severance arrangements into their top executives' contracts.