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Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies  
Note 7: Commitments and Contingencies

Note 7: Commitments and Contingencies

 

Litigation

 

From time to time, we are involved in legal proceedings and regulatory proceedings arising from operations. We establish reserves for specific liabilities in connection with legal actions that management deems to be probable and estimable.

 

On May 4, 2018, we reached a settlement of the claims at issue in Ocean Thermal Energy Corp. v. Robert Coe, et al., Case No. 2:17-cv-02343SHL-cgc, before the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. Between May 30 and July 19, 2018, we received three payments totaling $100,000 from the defendants. On August 8, 2018, an $8 million judgment was entered against the defendants and in our favor. On May 28, 2019, we further settled the claims at issue with two of the defendants, Brett M Regal and his company, Trade Base Sales, Inc. (“Regal Debtors”), for $17,500,000, bringing the combined judgment and settlement amount owed to us is $25,500,000. On July 1, 2019, the United States District Judge for the Central District of California (case number: 2:19-cv-05299-VAP-JPR), approved our stipulated application for an order permitting us to levy on property and appointing a receiver to carry out the levy on Regal Debtors’ property, such that it may be sold (subject to further order of the court approving and confirming such sales), to satisfy the $25,500,000 settlement and judgment amounts in our favor. On August 15, 2019, the court-appointed receiver notified the court that he had taken custody, possession, and control of certain gemstone and mineral specimens, known as the “Ophir Collection” and 350,000 pounds of unrefined gold and other precious metal bearing ore. By order of the court, the receiver was given the authority to assign, sell, and transfer the debtor property. The proceeds of any sales will be used to satisfy the judgment and settlement agreement, receivership’s reasonable costs and fees, as well as any other claims as determined by the court. Various parties have come forward asserting ownership and priority lien rights to the property. In our ongoing efforts to collect the $25,500,000 judgment obtained, a third party has intervened in our case in the Central District of California (case number: 2:19-cv-05299-VAP-JPR), asserting that it is the rightful owner of the “Ophir Collection” of gems and mineral specimens that is now in possession of the court-appointed receiver. The court has not yet addressed the claims of that third party.

 

On May 21, 2019, Theodore T. Herman filed a complaint against us in Theodore T. Herman v. Ocean Thermal Energy Corporation, Case No. CI-19-04780, in the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, asserting that he is entitled to payment on the promissory note described in Note 4: Convertible Notes and Notes Payable. On July 1, 2019, we filed preliminary objections to the complaint, and subsequently filed an answer and new matter on August 20, 2019, to which the plaintiff filed a reply on September 9, 2019. We will continue to defend our position that no further payment on this note is owed.

 

On August 22, 2018, Fugro USA Maine, Inc. (“Fugro”), filed suit against us in Fugro USA Marine, Inc. v. Ocean Thermal Energy Corp., Cause No. 2018-56396, in the District Court for Harris County, TX, 165th Judicial District, seeking approximately $500,000 allegedly owed for engineering services provided. On June 23, 2020, a settlement was reached under which we would pay Fugro $375,000 by June 30, 2021. We have recorded the amount of accrued legal settlement as of September 30, 2021. We repaid $130,000 and the balance at September 30, 2021 was $245,000. We were unable to pay the remaining balance and therefore entered into a second amendment to the settlement agreement extending the deadline for full payment, with 18% interest per annum, to December 31, 2021.

 

Consulting Agreements

 

On June 4, 2018, we entered into a consulting agreement to pay 20,000 shares of common stock when one of the conditions of the contract was satisfied. Although this condition was satisfied on August 31, 2018, as of September 30, 2021, we have not issued the shares, and we have accrued the share compensation at fair value totaling $1,600.

 

On August 14, 2018, we entered into a consulting agreement to pay $40,000 by issuing shares of common stock. As of September 30, 2021, we have not issued the shares and have accrued the amount.

 

Employment Agreements

 

On January 1, 2011, we entered into a five-year employment agreement with our chief executive officer, which provides for successive one-year term renewals unless it is expressly cancelled by either party100 days prior to the end of the term. Under the agreement, our chief executive officer will receive an annual salary of $350,000, a car allowance of $12,000, and company-paid health insurance. The agreement also provides for bonuses equal to one times his annual salary plus 500,000 shares of common stock for each additional project that generates $25 million or more in revenue to us. Our chief executive officer is entitled to receive severance pay in the lesser amount of three years’ salary or 100% of the remaining salary if the remaining term is less than three years. On September 15, 2017, an addendum was added to the employment agreement stating that effective June 30, 2017, his salary will be increased to $388,220 per year; that he will receive interest at a rate of 8% on his accrued unpaid wages; and that the term of employment agreement is extended for an additional five years.