Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Note 12 - Commitments and Contingencies

American International Industries, Inc. v. William W. Botts. American filed this lawsuit against William W. Botts ("Botts") seeking damages as a result of a Stock Purchase Agreement and Consulting Agreement that American entered into with Botts on September 12, 2007. Under the Stock Purchase Agreement, American gave Botts $1,000,000 in cash and 288,000 shares of restricted AMIN stock (240,000 original shares plus a 20% stock dividend) for 170,345 shares of OI Corporation. As part of the original agreement, Botts had the right to sell the 288,000 shares back to American for $4.17 per share. Under the Consulting Agreement, American agreed to pay Botts $14,000 per month, plus expenses for performing consulting services. On or about November 5, 2008, American paid Botts $100,000 to terminate the Consulting Agreement to stop the accrual of monthly consulting payments to Botts. In February 2010, the case was mediated and the parties attempted to settle the case. Effective February 25, 2011, the parties settled the proceedings against each other, pursuant to which American paid Botts $1,250,000 and executed a $400,000 one year promissory note (note 8) with 5% annual interest paid in monthly installments to Botts due by February 1, 2012. The 288,000 restricted American shares in Botts name were transferred to the Dror Family Trust in consideration for the cash payment to American of approximately $1,400,000 and the issuance to certain Dror related entities and an entity controlled by Mr. Dror's brother, of 1,100,000 restricted American shares. The cash proceeds from the restricted share sale were used to fund the settlements to Botts.

American International Industries, Inc. v. Rubicon Financial Incorporated.  On March 5, 2010, American filed suit against Rubicon Financial Corporation (OTCBB: RBCF.OB), a Nevada corporation with offices in Irvine, CA ("Rubicon"), and Rubicon's control person, Joe Mangiapane, in the District Court, 281st Judicial District, Harris County, TX, for breach of contract, rescission, fraudulent inducement, common law fraud and fraud in the sale of securities. The action related to the acquisition by American on November 27, 2007, of 1,000,000 restricted shares of Rubicon's common stock for a $1,000,000 cash payment and the issuance of 200,000 restricted shares of American's common stock, valued at $4.90 per common share based upon the closing market price on the date of acquisition.

On August 19, 2011, American received a default judgment for fraud and breach of contract against Rubicon in the amount of $2,000,000 plus attorney's fees and accrued interest at 5% per annum by the 281st District Court, following which American, through California counsel, commenced a separate proceeding seeking to enforce the judgment against Rubicon in a court of competent jurisdiction in Orange County, CA.

Rubicon has filed a separate action with the same District Court in Harris County, TX, seeking to have the judgment vacated and seeking sanctions against American. On May 1, 2012, the default judgment was vacated by the District Court but Rubicon's demand for sanctions was denied. The District Court determined that American would not suffer injury because a new trial was granted. As a result of the order vacating the default judgment, the proceeding to enforce the default judgment in California has been stayed until July 9, 2012.

American is currently evaluating with its counsel whether to appeal the order of the 281st Judicial District Court. Notwithstanding the foregoing, American believes that it will prevail in this matter either upon appeal or following a new trial on the merits of its causes of action against defendants Rubicon and Mangiapane, seeking damages of approximately $2 million.