Note 7 – Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation and Settlements

Raymond Akers Actions

On April 14, 2021, Raymond F. Akers, Jr., Ph.D. filed a lawsuit against the Company (f/k/a Akers Biosciences, Inc.) in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Gloucester County (the “First Raymond Akers Action”). Mr. Akers asserts one common law whistleblower retaliation claim against the Company.

On September 23, 2021, the Court granted the Company’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint and dismissed Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint. The Court indicated that Mr. Akers is “free to file another complaint, however, tort-based ‘Pierce’ allegations, and/or CEPA claims are barred by the statute of limitations.”

On March 1, 2022, Mr. Akers filed a second action against the Company in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Gloucester County (the “Second Raymond Akers Action”) again asserting one common law whistleblower retaliation claim against the Company. The Company believes that the Second Raymond Akers Action is without merit and, moreover, was filed against the Court’s specific admonition that Plaintiff does not attempt to circumvent the statute of limitations.

On May 27, 2022, the Court granted-in-part and denied-in-part the Company’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint. The Court reaffirmed the ruling in the First Raymond Akers Action that any tort-based Pierce claims are time-barred. However, the Court denied the Motion as it pertained to Plaintiff’s contract-based Pierce claim and “Repayment of Monies Owed” claim. On July 29, 2022, the Company filed its Answer, which included affirmative defenses. As of June 30, 2024, the Second Raymond Akers Action is in the discovery phase.

All legal fees incurred were expensed as and when incurred.