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Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies  
Note 10. Commitments and Contingencies

Note 10. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Litigation

 

From time to time, claims are made against the Company in the ordinary course of its business, which could result in litigation. Claims and associated litigation are subject to inherent uncertainties and unfavorable outcomes could occur, such as monetary damages, fines, penalties, or injunctions prohibiting the Company from selling one or more products or engaging in other activities. The occurrence of an unfavorable outcome in any specific period could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations for that period or future periods.

In the third quarter of 2015, the Company commenced an action for the cancellation of the 37,500,000 shares issued to Soex (the “Shares”) in connection with a Securities Purchase Agreement, dated January 21, 2014 (“Soex SPA”), and 3,750,000 shares issued to Zan Investment Advisory Limited (“Zan”), which is affiliated with Soex through Aifan Liu, who was appointed as a Company board observer by SOEX and her husband, Xinghong Hua. Sharon Han, General Manager and Chairwoman of Soex, served on our board pursuant to the provisions of the Soex SPA. Ms. Han resigned from the Board of Directors effective February 1, 2016.

 

On April 24, 2014, we entered into a Distribution Agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”), with Soex to distribute certain of the Company’s products in China. As reported in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2015, the Company was entitled to receive, pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, royalties, and a $500,000 payment, of which $50,000 has been received, that was due on or before October 24, 2014. Further, the Company reported it had not received any royalties from Soex. Soex is in breach of the Distribution Agreement.

 

As first reported in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, the Company began pursuing legal action against Soex for breach of the Soex SPA and Distribution Agreement. On July 8, 2015, the Company filed a lawsuit in state courts in Florida against Soex and Zan.

 

Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, Soex is in material breach of the following:

 

 

(1)

Section 1(a) of the Distribution Agreement for Soex’s failure to make a $225,000 payment to the Company for the appointment of Soex as the exclusive distributor of the Products in the Field and Territory (the “Distribution Payment Default”) in accordance with the terms set forth in the Distribution Agreement. Such payment was due on October 20, 2014 (the “Payment Date”).

 

(2)

Section 8(b) of the Distribution Agreement for Soex’s failure to make a $225,000 payment to the Company for the grant of the license and right to manufacture, sell, lease and distribute Products (excluding manufacture of MTM), and to use the Intellectual Property in connection therewith (the “License Payment Default” and, together with the Distribution Payment Default, the “Payment Default”) in accordance with the terms set forth in the Distribution Agreement. Such payment was due on the Payment Date.

 

(3)

Section 15(b) of the Distribution Agreement for Soex’s failure to issue to the Company 25% of the equity (the “Equity Default”) of SOEX (Beijing) Environmental Protection Technology Company Limited (the “China Subsidiary”).

 

As a result of the above, we terminated the Soex Distribution Agreement. As provided in Section 14€ of the Soex Distribution Agreement, the Company has the right to enforce any obligation due to us by Soex. As a result, Soex still must (a) pay the remaining $450,000 due under the Distribution Agreement and the amount of Royalties due, plus interest at 1.5% per month (18% per year) with interest accruing from the date that payment was due and (b) issue to us 25% of the equity of SOEX (Beijing) Environmental Protection Technology Company Limited. As provided in Section 14(b), neither us nor Soex shall be liable for compensation, reimbursement, or damages due to loss of profits on sales or anticipated sales or losses due to expenditures, investments or commitments made or in connection with the establishment, development or maintenance of the business.

 

The Soex Litigation was moved to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida where Soex has instituted a counterclaim (Civil Docket Case #: 8:15-CV-02362-MSS-EAJ). On September 19, 2018, a pre-trial conference was held in Tampa finding a trial date set for October 22, 2018. The trial for the original case was held between October 22 and 24, 2018. The jury at the conclusion of the trial did not award monetary damages to either party for claims or counterclaims.

 

On October 24, 2018, the Company initiated a third lawsuit against an affiliate of Soex, Zhongshan Trans-Tech New Material Technology Co. Ltd. Zhongshan, China, (“Transtech”), and the Chairperson of the affiliate and Soex, based on new information learned by the Company. The Company will seek maximum relief and damages for this on-going and growing illegal misuse the Company’s Intellectual Property. The Company feels this third action will lead in a judgment in favor of the Company.

Accounts Payable

 

The firms below have pursued legal action against the Company to collect overdue accounts payable sums. The Company is working with each to enter into a settlement plan, or “pay over time” payment plan. To date the Company has one agreement in place with SoftinWay.

 

Company

 

Sum Owned

 

 

Payment Plan

 

Legal Action

 

Old Dominion Freight Line

 

$

13,575.95

 

 

No

 

Yes

 

Power Plant Services

 

$

85,199.11

 

 

No

 

Yes

 

SoftinWay

 

$

15,350.00

 

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

The O-Ring Store

 

$

10,334.00

 

 

No

 

Yes

 

Total

 

$

124,459.06