Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

v3.20.2
Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

Note 8 – Commitments and Contingencies

 

Commitments

 

ChubeWorkx Settlement Agreement and General Release

 

On August 3, 2020, the Company entered into a Settlement Agreement and General Release (the “SAGR”) with ChubeWorkx. The Company and ChubeWorkx entered into the SAGR to terminate a prior Settlement Agreement, dated August 17, 2016, by and among the Company and ChubeWorkx, (the “Prior Settlement Agreement” and, collectively with all other contracts, agreements and understandings by and between us and ChubeWorkx, whether written or oral, the “Prior Agreements”) pursuant to which the Company granted ChubeWorkx a security interest in substantially all of the Company’s assets, and to fully and finally settle and compromise any and all current and future claims and liabilities of any nature arising between the Company and ChubeWorkx in relation to, or otherwise connected with, the Prior Agreements, on the terms set forth in the SAGR.

 

As consideration for the settlement of claims pursuant to the SAGR, on August 5, 2020, the Company (i) paid to ChubeWorkx an amount equal to $300,000 and (ii) delivered to ChubeWorkx 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Shares”). The Company granted ChubeWorkx registration rights with respect to the Shares. The Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 18, 2020, which was declared effected on September 8, 2020, for the resale of such Shares.

 

As of the September 8, 2020 (the “Release Date”), the Company delivered and completed the full transfer to ChubeWorkx of the Shares in accordance with the SAGR, and, therefore, any and all claims, differences, and disputes of any current and/or future claims and/or liabilities arising between the Company and ChubeWorkx in relation to, or otherwise connected with, the Prior Agreements were fully and finally settled and compromised (with the exception of any claims arising under the SAGR or the Leak-Out and Support Agreement as described below). As of the Release Date, each of the Prior Agreements was terminated, and ChubeWorkx will automatically and irrevocably released all security interests and liens created under the Security Agreement or otherwise as security for the Company obligations under the Prior Agreements.

 

Litigation

 

NovoTek Therapeutics Inc. and NovoTek Pharmaceuticals Limited v. Akers Biosciences, Inc.

 

On June 21, 2019, the Company received a complaint, filed by Novotek Therapeutics Inc., and Novotek Pharmaceuticals Limited (collectively, “Novotek”), Beijing-based entities, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, alleging, among other things, breach of contract. Novotek is seeking, among other things, damages in the amount of $1,551,562, plus interest, disbursements and attorneys’ fees. The Company vigorously disputed the allegations in the complaint and has retained counsel to defend it. On September 16, 2019, the Company filed a partial motion to dismiss the complaint, which was fully submitted as of November 4, 2019. On June 9, 2020, the Court denied the Company’s motion. In anticipation of the case being settled, on October 20, 2020, the Court administratively closed the case. On November 13, 2020, the parties entered into a settlement agreement without either party admitting liability, effective as of November 3, 2020. The settlement requires the Company to make a lump sum payment of $1,350,000 to Novotek within 60 days. The settlement expense is included in Loss from Discontinued Operations on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and the Company’s obligation is included in Current Liabilities – Discontinued Operations on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2020.