Contingencies and Commitments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Contingencies and Commitments

Note 5 - Contingencies and Commitments

On August 7, 2018, the Company commenced an action against North Empire LLC (“North Empire”) in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York for breach of a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) in which it is seeking damages in an amount to be determined at trial, but in no event less than $616. On August 2, 2018, North Empire filed a Summons with Notice against the Company, also in the same Court, in which they allege damages in an amount of $11,400 arising from an alleged breach of the Agreement. On September 6, 2018 North Empire filed a Notice of Discontinuance of the action it had filed on August 2, 2018. On September 27, 2018, North Empire filed an answer and asserted counterclaims in the action commenced by the Company against them, alleging that the Company failed to deliver stock certificates to North Empire causing damage to North Empire in the amount of $10,958. North Empire also filed a third-party complaint against the Company’s CEO and now former Chairman of the Board asserting similar claims against them in their individual capacities. On October 17, 2018, the Company filed a reply to North Empire’s counterclaims. On November 15, 2018, the Company’s CEO and now former Chairman of the Board filed a motion to dismiss North Empire’s third-party complaint. On January 6, 2020, the Court granted the motion and dismissed the third-party complaint. Discovery has been completed and both parties have filed motions for summary judgment in connection with the claims and counterclaims. On December 30, 2021, the Court denied both the Company and North Empire’s motions for summary judgment, arguing there were factual issues to be determined at trial. On January 26, 2022, the Company filed a notice of appeal of the summary judgment decision. On February 3, 2022, the Company filed a motion to reargue the Court’s decision denying the Company’s motion for summary judgment. North Empire will file its opposition papers on or before March 31, 2022, and the Company will file reply papers on April 29, 2022. On or about September 12, 2022, the Court issued its Decision and Order denying the Company’s motion to reargue. North Empire filed its opposing brief on December 7, 2022. Both sides were given an opportunity to file a reply brief. The Company filed a reply brief on January 4, 2023 and North Empire filed its reply brief on January 13, 2023. The Appellate Court has scheduled oral argument for the appeal for February 7, 2023. Oral argument was held before the Appellate Court on February 7, 2023. On or about February 28, 2023, the Appellate Court filed its Decision and Order, which affirmed the lower court’s decisions regarding both the Company and North Empire’s motions for summary judgment and sent the case back to the Supreme Court.

On or about March 13, 2023, the Supreme Court referred the case to its Alternative Dispute Program and ordered the cases to mediate. The mediation was held on July 26, 2023 and various settlement options were explored but the mediation did not lead to settlement. The Company intends to vigorously defend any claims made by North Empire.

The Company believes it is more likely than not that the counterclaims will be denied.