Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

7. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

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7. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments

 

The Company leases its office space pursuant to a month-to-month lease agreement dated April 1, 2013, which provides for a monthly rent of $1,500. The landlord is a limited liability company of which a former director of the Company is the sole member.

 

On March 18, 2013, the Company entered into a purchasing contract with a third party supplier of CBD to provide up to a maximum of 1,000 kg of product. In addition, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with the third party supplier to provide consulting oversight for the growth and production of the product from the period beginning March 1, 2013 through August 30, 2014. Approximately $2.3 million is due by the Company pursuant to the terms of these agreements by October 2014.

 

On December 19, 2013, the Company entered into a purchasing contract with a third party supplier of CBD to provide up to a maximum of 1 million kilograms of raw product to the Company. There is approximately $1.7 million remaining to be paid by the Company under the contract.

 

On August 13, 2013, the Company entered into a lease for approximately 2,400 square feet laboratory space in San Diego, California. The monthly base rent was approximately $4,200 per month for a term of 12 months. On April 1, 2014 the Company entered into an amendment to the lease for laboratory space, which increased the amount of laboratory space under the lease and extended the term of the lease for one additional year through August 2015. This amendment increased the amount of lab space under lease to 3,276 and added storage space for an additional 887 square feet. The monthly base rent under the lease was increased to approximately $6,320 per month.

  

On March 27, 2014, the Company entered into a lease for 5,325 square feet of office space in San Diego, California for a term of 39 months. The monthly base rent under the lease is approximately $12,250, subject to an increase of 3% annually. The lease allows for rent abatement allowing one month free rent following each 12 month period of paid rent during the term of the lease. The lease commenced on May 7, 2014, the date the Company took possession of the new space.

 

Contingencies

 

On March 8, 2008, Far West Industries (“Far West”) sued Michael J. Mona, Jr, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and others for damages resulting from fraud arising out of a land transaction in California (the “California Action”). On February 23, 2012, a judgment was entered in the California Action in favor of Far West against Mr. Mona and others in the amount of $17,777,562. On October 18, 2012, the judgment in the California Action was domesticated in Nevada and enforcement proceedings commenced including, but not limited to an examination of Mr. Mona as a judgment debtor, and garnishments of various accounts belonging to Mr. Mona. During the period, Mr. Mona loaned $3,000,000 to Roen Ventures, which was subsequently loaned to the Company. The suit alleges that the loan transactions were intended to prejudice creditors like Far West by concealing and wasting assets that would otherwise be available to satisfy the judgment that Far West has against Mr. Mona. Pursuant to a Second Amendment Complaint filed by Far West Industries on February 20, 2014, the Company was added as a defendant to the suit. On March 17, 2014, the Company was served with a complaint from Far West Industries. In summary, Far West alleges that the Company is in possession of funds as a result of an allegedly fraudulent transfer between Mr. Mona, Roen Ventures, LLC, and the Company. On May 13, 2014, a motion to dismiss filed by the Company was granted and thus, the Company will no longer be a defendant in the lawsuit.

 

On April 23, 2014, a stockholder filed a purported class action complaint alleging securities fraud and related claims against the Company and certain officers and directors. The Company has not yet answered the complaint and management intends to vigorously defend the allegations.