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Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

12. 

Commitments and Contingencies  

 

Legal Proceedings

 

The Company is subject to certain claims and lawsuits arising in the normal course of business. The Company assesses its liabilities and contingencies in connection with outstanding legal proceedings utilizing the latest information available. Where it is probable that the Company will incur a loss and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, the Company records a liability in its consolidated financial statements. These legal accruals may be increased or decreased to reflect any relevant developments on a quarterly basis. Where a loss is not probable or the amount of the loss is not estimable, the Company does not record an accrual, consistent with applicable accounting guidance. Based on information currently available to the Company, advice of counsel, and available insurance coverage, the Company believes that its established accruals are adequate and the liabilities arising from the legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition. The Company notes, however, that in light of the inherent uncertainty in legal proceedings there can be no assurance that the ultimate resolution of a matter will not exceed established accruals. As a result, the outcome of a particular matter or a combination of matters may be material to the Company’s results of operations for a particular period, depending upon the size of the loss or the Company’s income for that particular period.  

 

Pizzarotti Litigation  On or about August 10, 2018, Pizzarotti, LLC filed a complaint against the Company and Mahesh Shetty, the Company’s President, and others seeking unspecified damages for an alleged breach of contract by the Company and another entity named Phipps & Co. (“Phipps”). The lawsuit was filed as Pizzarotti, LLC. v. Phipps & Co., et al., Index No. 653996/2018 and commenced in the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York. On or about April 1, 2019, Phipps filed cross-claims against the Company and Mr. Shetty asserting claims for indemnification, contribution, fraud, negligence, negligent misrepresentation, and breach of contract. SG Blocks has likewise cross claimed against Phipps for indemnification and contribution, claiming that any damages to the Plaintiff were the result of the acts or omissions of Phipps and its principals.


The claims against the Company arise from a purported assignment agreement dated August 10, 2018, whereby Pizzarotti claims that the Company agreed to assume certain obligations under a certain trade contract between Pizzarotti and Phipps & Co.  The Company has moved to dismiss both the Pizzarotti claims and Phipps cross claims asserting that the purported assignment is void and unenforceable as a matter of law for lack of consideration. That motion is currently pending before the court. The Company intends to vigorously defend the litigation.   

 

Litigation is subject to many uncertainties, and the outcome of this action is not predicted with assurance. The Company is currently unable to predict the possible loss or range of loss, if any, associated with the resolution of this litigation, and, accordingly, the Company has made no provision related to this matter in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Vendor Litigation  On January 1, 2019, SG Blocks filed a suit against Teton Buildings, LLC (“Teton”) to recover breach of contract damages of approximately $2,100,000 plus attorneys’ fees related to the HOLA Community Partners construction project in Los Angeles, California (the “HOLA Project”), for which Teton was engaged by the Company to supply modular units in early 2017. The Company’s complaint alleged that Teton failed to comply with specific product requirements with respect to the modular units for the HOLA Project and that Teton’s delay and product quality resulted in damages. The Company’s claims include breach of contract, negligence, and breach of express warranty. The lawsuit was filed as SG Blocks, Inc. v. Teton Buildings, LLC; Case Number 2019-02827 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. 

 

SG Blocks believes it will prevail on the merits of the case. As with any litigation at this early stage, the cost of litigating and the outcome remain uncertain. On October 16, 2019, Teton Buildings, LLC  filed a voluntary petition for relief under chapter 11, title 11, of the United States Code, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for Southern District of Texas, Houston Division (the “Bankruptcy Court”). The case in the Bankruptcy Court is styled In re: Teton Buildings, LLC and bears the case number 19-35811. As a result of the bankruptcy filing the litigation against stayed. The Company is pursuing its rights and remedies in the Teton bankruptcy case. Although the Company believes it will prevail on the merits of its claims, as with any litigation, particularly litigation within bankruptcy, the cost of litigation and the outcome are uncertain, and now subject to the United States Bankruptcy Code and Rules. 


 

HOLA Community Partners Matter  There is an ongoing dispute between the Company and HOLA Community Partners, a California non-profit corporation, in connection with the parties’ Construction and Delivery Agreement, dated June 1, 2017, pursuant to which HOLA Community Partners hired the Company for design, engineering, fabrication, and installation services for the construction of the HOLA Project. The Company claims that HOLA Community Partners owes the Company certain amounts due for work performed on the HOLA Project and extra costs incurred due to delays and impacts caused by HOLA Community Partners. HOLA Community Partners disputes the amounts owed, and claims that the Company failed to meet its contractual obligations. The parties are in ongoing settlement discussions. Neither party has commenced litigation as of the date of these condensed consolidated financial statements. 

 

In addition, the Company is subject to other routine legal proceedings, claims, and litigation in the ordinary course of its business. Defending lawsuits requires significant management attention and financial resources and the outcome of any litigation, including the matters described above, is inherently uncertain. The Company does not, however, currently expect that the costs to resolve these routine matters will have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.


Vendor Litigation  On June 21, 2019, SG Blocks filed suit against EDI International, PC (“EDI”) arising out of EDI’s interference with SG Blocks’ contractual and economic relations with HOLA Community Partners and the Heart of Los Angeles Youth, Inc., related to the HOLA Project, for which EDI was engaged to provide certain design and engineering services to SG Blocks. In the lawsuit, SG Blocks asserts claims for intentional interference with economic advantage, negligent interference with economic advantage, and intentional interference with contractual relations and seeks to recover from EDI damages in excess of $1,274,752. The lawsuit was filed as SG Blocks, Inc. v. EDI International, PC Which Will Do Business In California As EDI International California et al., Case No. 19STCV21725, in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles.