Note 17 - Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Notes to Financial Statements
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	*17.* COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES **Guarantor for Pillarstone OP’s Loan** The Company, through its subsidiary Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership, L.P., guaranteed Pillarstone OP’s loan for its Uptown Tower property located in Dallas, Texas, with an aggregate principal amount of $14.4 million as of September 30, 2023. The loan was also secured by the Uptown Tower property. The debt matured on October 4, 2023, and was in default, as Pillarstone OP failed to refinance the loan. On October 24, 2023, the Lender provided notice of a planned foreclosure sale on December 5, 2023. The Lender also claimed that an additional sum of $4.6 million was due which included default interest of approximately $6.3 million and net credits from escrowed funds and other charges of approximately $1.7 million. On December 1, 2023, the Company reached an agreement with the Lender that would avoid foreclosure and secure the release of the lien and discharge of the guarantee, and the Company negotiated and satisfied a payoff as of December 4, 2023, in the amount of $13,632,764 (the “DPO Amount”). The DPO Amount included a compromise settlement of approximately $1,688,000 for the disputed default interest and other fees. The Company's share of it was recorded in the 4th quarter of fiscal year 2023 in the financial statement line equity (deficit) in earnings of real estate partnership. Per the agreement, this payment would satisfy the loan. The Company wired the DPO Amount to Lender on December 4, 2023, with accompanying releases as required by Lender, fully satisfying the agreement. On December 1, 2023, Pillarstone OP authorized and filed the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of its special purpose entity borrower that owns Uptown Tower, in the Bankruptcy Court. On January 25, 2024, the Company exercised its notice of redemption for substantially all of its investment in Pillarstone OP. On February 9, 2024, the Lender filed suit in New York County against the guarantor Whitestone OP and the Company for alleged amounts due under the guarantee. On March 4, 2024, Pillarstone REIT authorized and filed the Pillarstone Bankruptcies. On April 24, 2024, the Lender and Pillarstone OP filed a motion with the Bankruptcy Court seeking approval to settle the dispute and dismiss their mutual lawsuits including the lawsuit by the Lender against the Company as Guarantor of the loan. On or before June 10, 2024, Pillarstone OP agreed to pay to the Lender the sum of $1,123,950.24 plus all attorneys’ fees and costs (not to exceed $20,000.00) incurred by the Lender from April 10, 2024 through the date of receipt of such payment. Upon timely receipt of the cash payment from Pillarstone OP, the Lender applied the $13,632,764 tendered to it by Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership, L.P., and the guaranty was subsequently released. The Company is pursuing collection of the DPO amount from Pillarstone in the Pillarstone Bankruptcies through a subrogation claim against Pillarstone OP. On October 2, 2024, the Bankruptcy Court affirmed the Company’s right of subrogation and allowed the Company’s secured claim for the guaranty payment in the amount of $13,632,764 million. *Litigation between the Company and Pillarstone REIT* On September 16, 2022, Pillarstone Capital REIT and Pillarstone Capital REIT Operating Partnership, L.P. filed suit against the Company and certain of its subsidiaries (Whitestone TRS, Inc. and Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership, L.P.) along with certain of its executives (Peter Tropoli, Christine Mastandrea, and David Holeman) in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, alleging claims relating to the limited partnership agreement between Pillarstone Capital REIT and Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership, as well as the termination of Management Agreements between Pillarstone Capital REIT Operating Partnership, L.P. and Whitestone TRS, Inc. On November 25, 2022, the claims against Peter Tropoli, Christine Mastandrea and David Holeman were dismissed. The claimants seek monetary relief in excess of $1,000,000 in damages and equitable relief. However, the Company denies the claims, has substantial legal and factual defenses against the claims, and intends to vigorously defend against the claims. The Company does not believe a probable loss will be incurred, nor does it anticipate a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, cash flows or liquidity. Therefore, the Company has not recorded a charge as a result of this action. *Former COO Litigation* On May 9, 2023, the Company’s former COO, John Dee, filed suit against the Company in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, purporting to assert claims for breach of his change-in-control agreement arising from the Company’s termination of its former CEO James Mastandrea for cause, and is seeking monetary relief in excess of $1,000,000 in damages and equitable relief. The Company denies the claims, has substantial legal and factual defenses against the claims, and intends to vigorously defend against the claims. The Company does not believe a probable loss will be incurred, nor does it anticipate a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, cash flows or liquidity. Therefore, the Company has not recorded a charge as a result of this action. *Former CEO Litigation* On February 23, 2022, the Company’s former CEO, James Mastandrea, filed suit against the Company and certain of its trustees (Nandita Berry, Jeff Jones, Jack Mahaffey, and David Taylor) and officers (David Holeman, Christine Mastandrea, Peter Tropoli) in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, alleging $25 million in damages and equitable relief claims relating to the termination of his employment, including breach of his employment contract, negligence, tortious interference with contract, civil conspiracy, and declaratory judgment. On September 12, 2022, the claim for breach of fiduciary duty was dismissed and a claim for negligence was added (as to the trustee defendants). On December 6, 2023, the District Court of Harris County, Texas granted summary judgement and dismissed all claims against the Company related to the termination of Mr. Mastandrea. The court also dismissed all claims against certain of the Company’s trustees and officers. The dismissal is subject to appeal. The Company’s counter-claims against Mr. Mastandrea for breach of fiduciary duty, theft, and conversion of company property remain. *Pillarstone Rights Plan* On December 26, 2021, the Board of Trustees of Pillarstone REIT adopted a new shareholder rights agreement (the “Pillarstone Rights Agreement”). Because Pillarstone REIT sought to use the Pillarstone Rights Agreement to prevent Whitestone OP from exercising its contractual Redemption Right, on July 12, 2022, Whitestone OP filed suit against Pillarstone REIT in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware challenging the Pillarstone Rights Agreement. On September 8, 2022, Whitestone OP’s Motion to Preserve the Status Quo was granted by the Court, limiting Pillarstone OP from engaging in any acts outside the ordinary course of business and otherwise imposing restrictions on Pillarstone OP to ensure that Whitestone’s right of redemption is not impaired while the underlying dispute is being considered by the Court. On January 25, 2024, the Delaware Court of Chancery: held that Pillarstone breached the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing when it adopted the Pillarstone Rights Agreement that thwarted Whitestone OP from exercising the unfettered contractual redemption right it obtained in connection with its investment in the partnership; and the Court held that the Rights Plan was unenforceable as to the limited partner and allowed Whitestone OP to exercise its redemption right; allowed Pillarstone to determine the current value of the Partnership’s assets; and, as necessary, would later enter a monetary judgment against Pillarstone for the difference between the amount Whitestone would have received in or around December 2021 and the current value. On January 25, 2024, the Company exercised its notice of redemption for substantially all of its investment in Pillarstone OP. On March 4, 2024, Pillarstone REIT authorized and filed the Pillarstone Bankruptcies. As of the date of this filing, Whitestone has not received consideration for its redemption of its equity investment in Pillarstone OP as required by the partnership agreement. The Company has filed a claim in the Pillarstone Bankruptcies for the value of its redemption claim along with interest and other costs. We intend to pursue collection of amounts due from Pillarstone OP through all means necessary and while we do not know the ultimate amount to be collected, we believe the amount will be in excess of the current carrying value of our equity investment in Pillarstone OP. We are subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. These matters are generally covered by insurance. While the resolution of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes the final outcome of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows or liquidity.

Note 17 - Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

17. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Guarantor for Pillarstone OP’s Loan

The Company, through its subsidiary Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership, L.P., guaranteed Pillarstone OP’s loan for its Uptown Tower property located in Dallas, Texas, with an aggregate principal amount of $14.4 million as of September 30, 2023. The loan was also secured by the Uptown Tower property. The debt matured on October 4, 2023, and was in default, as Pillarstone OP failed to refinance the loan. On October 24, 2023, the Lender provided notice of a planned foreclosure sale on December 5, 2023. The Lender also claimed that an additional sum of $4.6 million was due which included default interest of approximately $6.3 million and net credits from escrowed funds and other charges of approximately $1.7 million.

On December 1, 2023, the Company reached an agreement with the Lender that would avoid foreclosure and secure the release of the lien and discharge of the guarantee, and the Company negotiated and satisfied a payoff as of December 4, 2023, in the amount of $13,632,764 (the “DPO Amount”). The DPO Amount included a compromise settlement of approximately $1,688,000 for the disputed default interest and other fees. The Company's share of it was recorded in the 4th quarter of fiscal year 2023 in the financial statement line equity (deficit) in earnings of real estate partnership. Per the agreement, this payment would satisfy the loan. The Company wired the DPO Amount to Lender on December 4, 2023, with accompanying releases as required by Lender, fully satisfying the agreement.

On December 1, 2023, Pillarstone OP authorized and filed the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of its special purpose entity borrower that owns Uptown Tower, in the Bankruptcy Court. On January 25, 2024, the Company exercised its notice of redemption for substantially all of its investment in Pillarstone OP. On February 9, 2024, the Lender filed suit in New York County against the guarantor Whitestone OP and the Company for alleged amounts due under the guarantee. On March 4, 2024, Pillarstone REIT authorized and filed the Pillarstone Bankruptcies.

On April 24, 2024, the Lender and Pillarstone OP filed a motion with the Bankruptcy Court seeking approval to settle the dispute and dismiss their mutual lawsuits including the lawsuit by the Lender against the Company as Guarantor of the loan. On or before June 10, 2024, Pillarstone OP agreed to pay to the Lender the sum of $1,123,950.24 plus all attorneys’ fees and costs (not to exceed $20,000.00) incurred by the Lender from April 10, 2024 through the date of receipt of such payment. Upon timely receipt of the cash payment from Pillarstone OP, the Lender applied the $13,632,764 tendered to it by Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership, L.P., and the guaranty was subsequently released. The Company is pursuing collection of the DPO amount from Pillarstone in the Pillarstone Bankruptcies through a subrogation claim against Pillarstone OP. On October 2, 2024, the Bankruptcy Court affirmed the Company’s right of subrogation and allowed the Company’s secured claim for the guaranty payment in the amount of $13,632,764 million.

Litigation between the Company and Pillarstone REIT

On September 16, 2022, Pillarstone Capital REIT and Pillarstone Capital REIT Operating Partnership, L.P. filed suit against the Company and certain of its subsidiaries (Whitestone TRS, Inc. and Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership, L.P.) along with certain of its executives (Peter Tropoli, Christine Mastandrea, and David Holeman) in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, alleging claims relating to the limited partnership agreement between Pillarstone Capital REIT and Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership, as well as the termination of Management Agreements between Pillarstone Capital REIT Operating Partnership, L.P. and Whitestone TRS, Inc. On November 25, 2022, the claims against Peter Tropoli, Christine Mastandrea and David Holeman were dismissed. The claimants seek monetary relief in excess of $1,000,000 in damages and equitable relief. However, the Company denies the claims, has substantial legal and factual defenses against the claims, and intends to vigorously defend against the claims. The Company does not believe a probable loss will be incurred, nor does it anticipate a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, cash flows or liquidity. Therefore, the Company has not recorded a charge as a result of this action.

Former COO Litigation

On May 9, 2023, the Company’s former COO, John Dee, filed suit against the Company in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, purporting to assert claims for breach of his change-in-control agreement arising from the Company’s termination of its former CEO James Mastandrea for cause, and is seeking monetary relief in excess of $1,000,000 in damages and equitable relief. The Company denies the claims, has substantial legal and factual defenses against the claims, and intends to vigorously defend against the claims. The Company does not believe a probable loss will be incurred, nor does it anticipate a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, cash flows or liquidity. Therefore, the Company has not recorded a charge as a result of this action.

Former CEO Litigation

On February 23, 2022, the Company’s former CEO, James Mastandrea, filed suit against the Company and certain of its trustees (Nandita Berry, Jeff Jones, Jack Mahaffey, and David Taylor) and officers (David Holeman, Christine Mastandrea, Peter Tropoli) in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, alleging $25 million in damages and equitable relief claims relating to the termination of his employment, including breach of his employment contract, negligence, tortious interference with contract, civil conspiracy, and declaratory judgment. On September 12, 2022, the claim for breach of fiduciary duty was dismissed and a claim for negligence was added (as to the trustee defendants).

On December 6, 2023, the District Court of Harris County, Texas granted summary judgement and dismissed all claims against the Company related to the termination of Mr. Mastandrea. The court also dismissed all claims against certain of the Company’s trustees and officers. The dismissal is subject to appeal. The Company’s counter-claims against Mr. Mastandrea for breach of fiduciary duty, theft, and conversion of company property remain.

Pillarstone Rights Plan

On December 26, 2021, the Board of Trustees of Pillarstone REIT adopted a new shareholder rights agreement (the “Pillarstone Rights Agreement”). Because Pillarstone REIT sought to use the Pillarstone Rights Agreement to prevent Whitestone OP from exercising its contractual Redemption Right, on July 12, 2022, Whitestone OP filed suit against Pillarstone REIT in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware challenging the Pillarstone Rights Agreement.

On September 8, 2022, Whitestone OP’s Motion to Preserve the Status Quo was granted by the Court, limiting Pillarstone OP from engaging in any acts outside the ordinary course of business and otherwise imposing restrictions on Pillarstone OP to ensure that Whitestone’s right of redemption is not impaired while the underlying dispute is being considered by the Court.

On January 25, 2024, the Delaware Court of Chancery: held that Pillarstone breached the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing when it adopted the Pillarstone Rights Agreement that thwarted Whitestone OP from exercising the unfettered contractual redemption right it obtained in connection with its investment in the partnership; and the Court held that the Rights Plan was unenforceable as to the limited partner and allowed Whitestone OP to exercise its redemption right; allowed Pillarstone to determine the current value of the Partnership’s assets; and, as necessary, would later enter a monetary judgment against Pillarstone for the difference between the amount Whitestone would have received in or around December 2021 and the current value.

On January 25, 2024, the Company exercised its notice of redemption for substantially all of its investment in Pillarstone OP.

On March 4, 2024, Pillarstone REIT authorized and filed the Pillarstone Bankruptcies.

As of the date of this filing, Whitestone has not received consideration for its redemption of its equity investment in Pillarstone OP as required by the partnership agreement. The Company has filed a claim in the Pillarstone Bankruptcies for the value of its redemption claim along with interest and other costs. We intend to pursue collection of amounts due from Pillarstone OP through all means necessary and while we do not know the ultimate amount to be collected, we believe the amount will be in excess of the current carrying value of our equity investment in Pillarstone OP.

We are subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. These matters are generally covered by insurance. While the resolution of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes the final outcome of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows or liquidity.