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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Operating Leases

 

The Company has entered into various leases for office space. The Company leases offices in New York and Washington states. Those leases expire in March 2018 and December 2016, respectively. The Washington office is owned by a related party and is discussed in Note 13. Future minimum lease payments under these lease agreements are as follows for the years ended December 31:

 

2016   $ 437,511  
2017     322,913  
2018     82,327  
Total   $ 842,751  

 

The above commitments include a $100,000 early termination fee to be paid on March 31, 2016 as a result of the Company’s amended lease agreement on its office in the state of Washington dated February 24, 2016. The Company will significantly reduce its space on March 31, 2016 by closing its office facility and to occupy storage space that will expire on December 31, 2016. This fee will also satisfy all other obligations under its original lease.

 

Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 amounted to $409,460 and $486,009, respectively.

 

Royalty and License Agreements

 

The Company entered into an agreement with a former officer of the Company during 1996 to license certain software. The agreement stipulated, among other provisions, that the officer would receive royalties equal to a percentage of the Company’s gross sales. This agreement was terminated in May 1999 and was superseded by a new agreement which calls for payment of royalties of 0.005% on gross sales from $2,000,000 to $52,000,000 and .0025% on gross sales in excess of $52,000,000 pertaining to those patents on which Mr. Messina was identified as an inventor. As of December 31, 2015, total fees paid under this agreement amounted to approximately $1,757.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

The Company is not aware of any infringement by our products or technology on the proprietary rights of others.

 

The Company is not currently involved in any legal or regulatory proceeding, or arbitration, the outcome of which is expected to have a material adverse effect on its business.

 

Severance and Change-in-Control Agreements

 

On September 30, 2014, the Company entered into a Severance Agreement with Bill White, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Under the agreement, if Mr. White is terminated for any reason other than cause, the Company would pay Mr. White one (1) year base salary in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll schedule. Mr. White would also be entitled to a gross amount equal to any quarterly bonus target applicable during the quarter, accelerated vesting of all outstanding stock options and coverage of health benefits for a period of up to 12 months. The agreement has a term of three years.

 

Effective October 1, 2014, the Company entered into an Executive Employment Agreement with Dr. William Roof, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. The agreement provides for an annual base salary of $250,000. Under the agreement, if Dr. Roof is terminated for any reason other than cause, it would pay Dr. Roof the greater as follows: (a) 12 months if the Separation Date occurs less than 24 months after commencement of Dr. Roof’s employment as Chief Executive Officer, and (b) 24 months if the Separation Date occurs 24 months or more after the commencement of Dr. Roof’s employment as Chief Executive Officer.

 

Each of the agreements requires the executive to devote substantially all his time and efforts to our business and contains non-competition and nondisclosure covenants of the officer for the term of his employment and for a one year period thereafter. Each agreement provides that we may terminate the agreement for cause.

 

401(k) Plan

 

The Company has a retirement savings 401(k) plan. The plan permits eligible employees to make voluntary contributions to a trust, up to a maximum of 35% of compensation, subject to certain limitations. The Company has elected to contribute a matching contribution equal to 50% of the first 6% of an eligible employee’s deferral election. The Company may also make discretionary contributions, subject to certain conditions, as defined in the plan. The Company’s matching contributions were $32,398 and $39,994 for 2015 and 2014, respectively.