Note 10 - Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	10. Commitments and Contingencies Operating Lease The Company leases office and laboratory facilities in Charlottesville, Virginia under a month-to-month cancelable operating lease. Rent expense related to the operating lease was $66.0 thousand for each of the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. Legal Proceedings On August 7, 2014, a complaint was filed in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California by Paul Feller, the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer under the caption Paul Feller v. RestorGenex Corporation, Pro Sports & Entertainment, Inc., ProElite, Inc. and Stratus Media Group, GmbH (Case No. BC553996). The complaint asserts various causes of action, including, among other things, promissory fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract, breach of employment agreement, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, violations of the California Labor Code and common counts. The plaintiff is seeking, among other things, compensatory damages in an undetermined amount, punitive damages, accrued interest and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs. On December 30, 2014, the Company filed a petition to compel arbitration and a motion to stay the action. On April 1, 2015, the plaintiff filed a petition in opposition to the Company’s petition to compel arbitration and a motion to stay the action. After a hearing for the petition and motion on April 14, 2015, the Court granted the Company’s petition to compel arbitration and a motion to stay the action. On January 8, 2016, the plaintiff filed an arbitration demand with the American Arbitration Association. No arbitration hearing has yet been scheduled. The Company believes this matter is without merit and intends to defend the arbitration vigorously. Because this matter is in an early stage, the Company is unable to predict its outcome and the possible loss or range of loss, if any, associated with its resolution or any potential effect the matter may have on the Company’s financial position. Depending on the outcome or resolution of this matter, it could have a material effect on the Company’s financial position. On September 21, 2015, David Schmidt, a former member of Diffusion LLC and current stockholder of the Company, filed suit (the “Original Complaint”) in the Circuit Court for Albemarle County, Virginia (Case. No. CL15 - 791, David G. Schmidt v. Diffusion Pharmaceuticals LLC), which Complaint was amended on April 14, 2016 (the “Amended Complaint”). The Original Complaint alleged that a breach of contract with respect to Mr. Schmidt’s previously converted convertible note, and requested relief of specific performance requiring Diffusion LLC to issue him additional units, representing the additional number of units he would have received had he converted at the renegotiated conversion price. On September 27, 2016, the Company, Diffusion LLC, Mr. Schmidt and the other parties thereto entered into a Settlement Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things, (i) Mr. Schmidt and Diffusion each agreed to submit a consent order to the Court dismissing all claims set forth in the Amended Complaint with prejudice and without an admission of liability by any party, (ii) Mr. Schmidt and Diffusion each released, on behalf of such party and its heirs, assigns, representatives, affiliates and agents, all claims and causes of action of any nature against the other party existing as of the date of the Settlement Agreement and (iii) as consideration therefor, the Company agreed to issue and sell, to Mr. Schmidt and the other parties to the Settlement Agreement, the 2016 Convertible Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $1.9 million and are convertible into shares of Common Stock at an initial conversion price of $3.50 per share. The Company recognized a litigation settlement charge of $2.5 million which represents the difference between the fair value of the 2016 Convertible Notes issued and the cash received from Mr. Schmidt and other parties. The settlement charge was recorded as a component of general and administrative expenses within the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2016.

10.

Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Lease

The Company leases office and laboratory facilities in Charlottesville, Virginia under a month-to-month cancelable operating lease. Rent expense related to the operating lease was

$66.0

thousand for each of the years ended

December

31,

2016

and

2015.

Legal Proceedings

August

2014,

a complaint was filed in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California by Paul Feller, the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer under the caption

Paul Feller v. RestorGenex Corporation, Pro Sports & Entertainment, Inc., ProElite, Inc. and Stratus Media Group, GmbH

(Case No.

BC553996).

The complaint asserts various causes of action, including, among other things, promissory fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract, breach of employment agreement, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, violations of the California Labor Code and common counts. The plaintiff is seeking, among other things, compensatory damages in an undetermined amount, punitive damages, accrued interest and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs. On

December

30,

2014,

the Company filed a petition to compel arbitration and a motion to stay the action. On

April

2015,

the plaintiff filed a petition in opposition to the Company’s petition to compel arbitration and a motion to stay the action. After a hearing for the petition and motion on

April

14,

2015,

the Court granted the Company’s petition to compel arbitration and a motion to stay the action. On

January

2016,

the plaintiff filed an arbitration demand with the American Arbitration Association. No arbitration hearing has yet been scheduled. The Company believes this matter is without merit and intends to defend the arbitration vigorously. Because this matter is in an early stage, the Company is unable to predict its outcome and the possible loss or range of loss, if any, associated with its resolution or any potential effect the matter

may

have on the Company’s financial position. Depending on the outcome or resolution of this matter, it could have a material effect on the Company’s financial position.

September

21,

2015,

David Schmidt, a former member of Diffusion LLC and current stockholder of the Company, filed suit (the “Original Complaint”) in the Circuit Court for Albemarle County, Virginia (Case. No.

CL15

791,

David G. Schmidt v. Diffusion Pharmaceuticals LLC), which Complaint was amended on

April

14,

2016

(the “Amended Complaint”). The Original Complaint alleged that a breach of contract with respect to Mr. Schmidt’s previously converted convertible note, and requested relief of specific performance requiring Diffusion LLC to issue him additional units, representing the additional number of units he would have received had he converted at the renegotiated conversion price.

September

27,

2016,

the Company, Diffusion LLC, Mr. Schmidt and the other parties thereto entered into a Settlement Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things, (i) Mr. Schmidt and Diffusion each agreed to submit a consent order to the Court dismissing all claims set forth in the Amended Complaint with prejudice and without an admission of liability by any party, (ii) Mr. Schmidt and Diffusion each released, on behalf of such party and its heirs, assigns, representatives, affiliates and agents, all claims and causes of action of any nature against the other party existing as of the date of the Settlement Agreement and (iii) as consideration therefor, the Company agreed to issue and sell, to Mr. Schmidt and the other parties to the Settlement Agreement, the

2016

Convertible Notes in an aggregate principal amount of

$1.9

million and are convertible into shares of Common Stock at an initial conversion price of

$3.50

per share.

The Company recognized a litigation settlement charge of

$2.5

million which represents the difference between the fair value of the

2016

Convertible Notes issued and the cash received from Mr. Schmidt and other parties. The settlement charge was recorded as a component of general and administrative expenses within the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the year ended

December

31,

2016.