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NOTE 10 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE 10 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES


Litigation


On December 12, 2017, a product liability lawsuit was filed in Broward County, specifically Jeannine Mallard v. U.S. Stem Cell, Inc., US Stem Cell Clinics LLC., Regenestem, LLC., Regenestem Network, LLC., and Kristin C. Comella. The Company will continue to defend it vigorously.


On September 17, 2015, a product liability lawsuit was filed in Broward County, specifically Patsy Bade v. Bioheart, Inc. US Stem Cell Clinics LLC, Alejandro Perez, ARNP, and Shareen Greenbaum, M.D., and on November 30, 2015, a product liability lawsuit was filed in Broward County, specifically Elizabeth Noble v. Bioheart, Inc. US Stem Cell Clinics LLC, Alejandro Perez, ARNP, and Shareen Greenbaum, M.D. During the year ended December 31, 2016, both matters settled by the Company’s insurance policy with no additional cost to the Company, excluding the Company payment of the $100,000 insurance company deductible of which $11,000 was paid in fiscal 2017. As a result of the final settlement and determination of insurance coverage, the Company recognized $100,000 of expense due to litigation for the year ended December 31, 2017, of which $89,000 is included in accrued expenses at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018.


The Company is subject at times to other legal proceedings and claims, which arise in the ordinary course of its business.  Although occasional adverse decisions or settlements may occur, the Company believes that the final disposition of such matters should not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity.  There was no outstanding litigation as of September 30, 2019 other than that described above.


Government Claim


On May 9, 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an injunctive action, specifically United States of America v. U.S. Stem Clinic, LLC, U.S. Stem Cell, Inc., Kristin C. Comella, and Theodore Gradel. The Complaint alleges, among other matters that the defendants manufacture “stromal vascular fraction” (SVF) products from patient adipose (fat) tissue, which the companies then market as stem cell-based treatments, and which U.S. Stem Cell Clinic, LLC administers to patients, without first obtaining what the government alleges are necessary FDA approvals. Although Theodore Gradel was initially listed as a defendant, he subsequently entered into a consent agreement and is no longer party to this case.


The U.S. and the defendants filed cross motions for summary judgment, each asking for a ruling in its favor. On June 3, 2019, the Court entered an order granting Summary Judgment for the government and denying the defendants’ motion for summary judgment. The order focused on the defendants’ actions in providing and marketing SVF therapy. In an order dated June 4, 2019, the Court granted the defendants’ request to allow it the opportunity to work out the language of the form of injunction with the government, and if unsuccessful, to provide a status report to the Court by June 14, 2019, outlining areas of disagreement. The Court further ordered that the defendants (U.S. Stem Clinic, LLC, U.S. Stem Cell, Inc., and Kristin C. Comella) ‘not sell, provide or otherwise engage in any SVF therapy or any other activities to be regulated by the FDA as explained in the Court’s Order on the Parties’ Motions for Summary Judgment.” On June 25, 2019, the Court entered an Order of Permanent Injunction, generally enjoining the defendants with respect to the SVF Product and requiring other actions. On – August 23, 2019, the Company has filed a notice of appeal of this judgment, and orders entered subsequent to the judgment.  In the interim, the Company has complied with the injunction requirements of the Court. The Company, in divesting certain equipment and other assets and assigning its lease, has and will continue to experience a decrease in revenues as the Company both maintains the remainder of the business and transitions into similar or unrelated business opportunities as determined by management (see Item 2 Existing Capital Resources and Future Capital Requirements and Plan of Operations below); However, management is not able to predict the duration, scope, results, or consequences of the  summary judgment and any transition of the business plan.  There can be no assurance that the Company will prevail on its appeal and obtain a reversal of the final judgment.


Since the Court’s issuance of the Order of Permanent Injunction, the Company has received demand letters for compensation from persons who store their SVF Product and/or other tissue product with the tissue bank (several of the persons have requested refunds of the monies paid to the tissue bank and one person has requested a full refund of monies paid to an altogether separate company due to her not receiving the full amount of treatments she requested; such requests for compensation, to date, have not been material) and requests that the Company preserve cells in the Company’s possession.  The Company sought guidance from the Court, which entered an order generally staying the requirement to destroy any SVF Product, pending a decision on the Company’s appeal.


Settlement Agreement and General Release


The Company was one of the parties to a Settlement Agreement and General Release (the “Agreement”) dated June 3, 2019 related to certain medical procedures. Without admitting any liability, and as part of that Agreement, the Company agreed to provide a five-year 5.25% Promissory Note, dated June 15, 2019, in the principal amount of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000), payable in monthly increments of Five Thousand ($5,000) per month (see Note 7, Weider Promissory Note, above)