RUSS BERRIE & CO INC
EX-10.82
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<TYPE>EX-10.82
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<DESCRIPTION>EX-10.82
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<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">EXHIBIT 10.82</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;text-indent:5.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">January 5,
2004</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">John Wille</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">c/o Russ Berrie and Company,
Inc.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">111 Bauer Drive</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Oakland, New Jersey&#160; 07436</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Dear John:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">As you know,
the Board of Directors of the Company has authorized the exploration of a
possible sale of or other major corporate transaction involving the Company,
although no decision to effect such a transaction has been made and there can
be no assurance that it will occur or as to the timing thereof.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The Board of
Directors believes that your continued service as an executive and effective
participation in the exploration of a possible sale is important to the
Company.&#160; Accordingly, the Board of
Directors has determined that if the Company consummates a Change in Control,
as defined in the Company&#146;s Change in Control Severance Plan, on or before
April 30, 2004, and you remain employed by the Company through the consummation
of that Change in Control, you will be awarded a special bonus of
$150,000.&#160; (If for any reason you are
not employed by the Company when the Change in Control is consummated, you will
not be entitled to any payment under this letter.)</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The bonus
contemplated above is in addition to any other compensation to which you may be
entitled from the Company.&#160; Nothing in
this letter alters any of the terms of your employment with the Company or
creates any obligation on the part of the Company to retain you as an
employee.&#160; This letter supercedes the
letter to you, dated July 2, 2003, a copy of which is attached hereto, which
letter shall be of no further force or effect.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
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  <td width="59%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:59.4%;">
  <p style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="40%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:40.6%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Very truly
  yours,</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="59%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:59.4%;">
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="40%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:40.6%;">
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="59%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:59.4%;">
  <p style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="19%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:19.74%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/ ANGELICA
  BERRIE</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="20%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:20.86%;">
  <p style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="59%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:59.4%;">
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="40%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:40.6%;">
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="59%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:59.4%;">
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="40%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:40.6%;">
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="59%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:59.4%;">
  <p style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="40%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:40.6%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Angelica
  Berrie</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="59%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:59.4%;">
  <p style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="40%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:40.6%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Chief
  Executive Officer</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>


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