Concentration of Credit Risk and Other Risks and Uncertainties

9 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2014

Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]

Concentration of Credit Risk and Other Risks and Uncertainties

3. Concentration of Credit Risk and Other Risks and Uncertainties

Litigation and Claims

Alpine MIT Partners

On May 16, 2012, Alpine MIT Partners, LLC (Plaintiffs) filed a civil action against the Company and its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jeffrey G. Nunez, (collectively, the Company), in the Texas District Court, Travis County. Plaintiffs alleged breach of contract and civil conspiracy, as well as tortious interference with contractual relations and prospective business relations. The lawsuit alleges that the Company breached certain provisions of a March 7, 2012 Securities Purchase Agreement the Company executed with the Plaintiff to sell up to $2.0 million of 7% Senior Secured five-year Convertible Debentures convertible into shares of common stock at a conversion rate of $.003 per share. The purchase and sale of the first $1.0 million Debenture was scheduled to close on or before April 6, 2012 and was subject to, among other things, Alpine closing the necessary equity funding to consummate the transactions. No money was ever received by the Company from Alpine. At a March 7, 2013 hearing, the Texas court upheld the Company’s argument and dismissed the complaint against the Company for lack of jurisdiction.

In August, 2013, Alpine filed an amended Complaint against Jeffrey Nunez in the Texas case alleging tortuous interference and conspiracy to terminate the March 7, 2012 Securities Purchase Agreement.

On January 10, 2013, the Company learned that Plaintiffs had filed a lien against the Company’s patents on May 8, 2012 with the California Secretary of State under the Uniform Commercial Code. On or about January 29, 2013, the Company filed suit against Alpine MIT Partners, LLC in the Orange County, California Superior Court alleging, among other claims, that the UCC filing is unauthorized. The lawsuit also names the managing director and managing member of Alpine as Defendants and alleges that they made false promises, intentional misrepresentations and breached the contract which is the subject of the Texas suit. The Company is seeking damages of $1.6 million. This lawsuit is currently in the discovery phase.

Michael W. Brennan

Concurrent with his April 13, 2012 resignation as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, the Company agreed to repay a total of $160,000 in principal loans, $24,339 in accrued interest and $13,120 in unpaid fees and expenses due Michael Brennan over a 25-month payment schedule commencing May 1, 2012. Due to lack of funds, the Company has not made payments due Mr. Brennan since February 2013, each in the amount of $7,500. As of July 31, 2014, the principal balance due under the agreement amounted to $113,450 and, although Mr. Brennan originally waived interest on the note, the Company has accrued $16,842 in interest on that amount as of July 31, 2014.

On or about October 4, 2013, Mr. Brennan filed a lawsuit in the California Superior Court of Los Angeles for breach of contract for failure to pay monies due him under the above 2012 agreement. The lawsuit seeks $123,509 in principal damages, plus interest, costs and attorney fees. The Company has filed an answer to the complaint and is contesting the amount due Mr. Brennan. This lawsuit is currently in the discovery phase and is scheduled to go to trial in late September 2014.

See also Note 11 – “Subsequent Events.”

Other Litigation

On or about November 12, 2013, a vendor filed suit in the Orange County California Superior Court for non-payment of $9,894 in fees for services rendered. In or around December 2013, the vendor received a default judgment in the case and on January 23, 2014 filed a lien against the Company with the California Secretary of State. An additional $3,125 was subsequently awarded to the vendor for costs and interests. In June 2014, the plaintiff levied the Company’s bank account in the sum of $4,342. The Company is attempting to negotiate a payment schedule with this vendor for the remainder of the amount due.

On June 3, 2014, a vendor filed suit in the Orange County California Superior Court for non-payment of $10,070 in advertising fees. On or around July 11, 2014, the vendor received a default judgment in the case and an additional $1,550 was subsequently awarded to the vendor for costs and interests. The Company anticipates negotiating a payment schedule with this vendor.

We are subject from time to time to litigation, claims and suits arising in the ordinary course of business. Other than the above-described litigation, as of July 31, 2014, we were not a party to any material litigation, claim or suit whose outcome could have a material effect on our financial statements.

In accordance with accounting standards regarding loss contingencies, the Company accrues an undiscounted liability for those contingencies where the incurrence of a loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated, and the Company discloses the amount accrued and the amount of a reasonably possible loss in excess of the amount accrued, if such disclosure is necessary for its financial statements not to be misleading. The Company does not record liabilities when the likelihood that the liability has been incurred is probable but the amount cannot be reasonably estimated, or when the liability is believed to be only reasonably possible or remote.

Because litigation outcomes are inherently unpredictable, the Company’s evaluation of legal proceedings often involves a series of complex assessments by management about future events and can rely heavily on estimates and assumptions. If the assessments indicate that loss contingencies that could be material to any one of its financial statements are not probable, but are reasonably possible, or are probable, but cannot be estimated, then the Company discloses the nature of the loss contingencies, together with an estimate of the range of possible loss or a statement that such loss is not reasonably estimable. While the consequences of certain unresolved proceedings are not presently determinable, and an estimate of the probable and reasonably possible loss or range of loss in excess of amounts accrued for such proceedings cannot be reasonably made, an adverse outcome from such proceedings could have a material adverse effect on its financial statements in any given reporting period. However, in the opinion of Management, after consulting with legal counsel, the ultimate liability related to the current outstanding litigation is not expected to have a material adverse effect on its financial statements.

Management is of the opinion that the ultimate resolution of such matters now pending will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows. However, the outcome of legal proceedings cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty.

Antidilution Liability

In fiscal 2012, the Company recorded a liability to allow for the possible dilutive impact of equity issuances that alter or effect conversion or exchange rates existing on the various dates of conversion or exercise of securities having adjustable conversion rates. The liability is adjusted to reflect current fair market value at the end of each fiscal period. Due to the decline in the Company’s stock price, we recorded a gain of $42,043 and $21,957 at October 31, 2013 and July 31, 2014, respectively.

Accrued Payroll, Payroll Taxes and Benefits

From April 2010 through March 2012, payments made to two employees were recorded as reductions in accrued and unpaid payroll. In April 2012, the Company reclassified such payments as net payroll payments; calculated and recorded the employer and employee taxes that should have been withheld on such payment. Federal and state payroll tax returns have been filed for the last three quarters of 2010, all of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012. The Company recorded a total of $81,206 and $20,560 in federal and state payroll taxes due, respectively. Estimated federal penalties and interest on the late filings and payments, in the sum of $24,196, have been accrued as of October 31, 2013. On September 20, 2012 and May 14, 2013, the Internal Revenue Service filed a Notice of Federal Tax Lien against the Company assessing $58,858 and $13,605, respectively for unpaid taxes, penalties and interest. The Company is in contact with the Internal Revenue Service to work out a payment schedule for the amounts due.

In November 2013, the Internal Revenue Service assessed a $36,414 penalty against the Company’s Chief Scientist, David Haavig, under the federal Trust Fund Recovery Act because the above payroll taxes were not reported and paid in a timely manner. The Company assumed the liability and has provided payment to the employee for indemnification. The Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Victor Hollander, may also be liable for the federal penalty, and the amount of such penalty, has not yet been determined. In the event that such a penalty is assessed against Mr. Hollander, the Company has determined that it will indemnify him for the related costs. As a result, the Company has recorded an additional $34,632 in interest expense as of July 31, 2014.

Estimated state penalties and interest of $4,316 on the above late filings were accrued. A Notice of Tax Lien for a portion of the taxes due was filed by the State of California on November 9, 2012 in the amount of $8,206, including penalty and interest. In October 2013, the California tax authority levied the Company’s account in the sum of $13,807 with an additional levy of $5,451 in November 2013. On December 17, 2013, the Company entered into an installment agreement with the California tax authority to pay $304 per month commencing January 27, 2014. A total of $1,518 was paid under this arrangement when the Company failed to make required monthly payment in June 2014. On or about July 14, 2014, the State of California levied the Company’s account for an additional $1,132 and the estimated remaining balance of $4,200 remains due to the state.

Accrued Payroll and Benefits consist of the above payroll taxes, salaries, wages, and vacation benefits earned by employees, but not disbursed as of July 31, 2014 and includes payroll earned, but unpaid to various employees between January 16, 2013 and July 31, 2014. Accrued Payroll also includes the above estimated penalties and interest due on such unpaid payroll taxes. Liability for vacation benefits is accrued when earned monthly and reduced when taken. At the end of each fiscal period, the balance in the accrued vacation benefits liability account is adjusted to reflect current pay rates. Annual leave earned but not taken is considered an unfunded liability since this leave will be funded from future appropriations when it is actually taken by employees.