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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

NOTE 4 - Commitments and Contingencies

 

WARF License Agreement

 

The Company has entered into an exclusive start-up company license agreement with the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation ("WARF") for WARF's neural probe array and thin film micro electrode technology (the "WARF Agreement"). The Company is obligated to pay royalties to WARF based on a percentage of net sales of products of licensed technology with minimum royalties of $50,000 and $100,000 for calendar years 2019 and 2020, respectively, and $150,000 per year beginning in 2021 through the duration of the WARF Agreement. Subject to earlier termination, the WARF Agreement otherwise expires by its terms on the date that no valid claims on the patents licensed thereunder remain. The Company expects the latest expiration of a licensed patent to occur in 2030. The WARF Agreement is also subject to certain cancellation provisions with 90 days' notice should the Company elect not to continue to use the licensed technology. As of September 30, 2019, no royalty payments under the WARF Agreement were made or due to WARF.

 

The Company has agreed to diligently develop, manufacture, market and sell products under the WARF Agreement in the United States during the term of the agreement and, specifically, that the Company would submit a business plan to WARF by February 1, 2018, which the Company submitted on January 18, 2018, and file an application for 510(k) marketing clearance with the FDA by February 1, 2019, which the Company submitted on a timely basis. WARF may terminate the WARF Agreement in the event that the Company fails to meet these milestones on 30 days' written notice, if the Company defaults on the payments of amounts due to WARF or fails to timely submit development reports, actively pursue the development plan or breaches any other covenant in the WARF Agreement and fails to remedy such default in 90 days or in the event of certain bankruptcy events involving the Company. WARF may also terminate this license (i) on 90 days' notice if the Company fails to have commercial sales of one or more FDA-approved products under the WARF Agreement by March 31, 2020 or (ii) if, after royalties earned on sales begin to be paid, such earned royalties cease for more than four calendar quarters.

 

Mayo Agreement

 

The Company has an exclusive license and development agreement with the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research ("Mayo") related to certain intellectual property and development services for thin film micro electrode technology ("Mayo Agreement"). If the Company is successful in obtaining regulatory approval, the Company is to pay royalties to Mayo based on a percentage of net sales of products of the licensed technology through the term of the Mayo Agreement, set to expire May 25, 2037.

 

Legal 

 

From time to time, the Company is subject to litigation and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. In May 2017, NeuroOne received a letter from PMT Corporation ("PMT"), the former employer of Mark Christianson and Wade Fredrickson. PMT claimed that these officers had breached their restrictive covenant obligations with PMT by virtue of their work for NeuroOne and such officer's prior work during employment with the prior employer, that these officers had breached their confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations to PMT and federal and state law by misappropriating confidential and trade secret information, and that the Company is responsible for tortious interference with contracts. The letter which purported to attach a noncompete agreement signed by Mr. Fredrickson demanded that Mr. Fredrickson (who resigned from the Company in June 2017), Mr. Christianson and NeuroOne cease and desist all competitive activities, that Mr. Fredrickson step down from his position and that Mr. Christianson and NeuroOne provide the former employer access to NeuroOne's systems to demonstrate that it is not using trade secrets or proprietary information nor competing with the former employer.

 

On March 29, 2018, the Company was served with a complaint filed by PMT adding the Company, NeuroOne and Mr. Christianson to its existing lawsuit against Mr. Fredrickson in the Fourth Judicial District Court of the State of Minnesota. The complaint purported to attach Mr. Fredrickson's noncompete agreement as Exhibit A. In the lawsuit, PMT claims that Mr. Fredrickson and Mr. Christianson breached their non-competition, non-solicitation and non-disclosure obligations, breached their fiduciary duty obligations, were unjustly enriched, engaged in unfair competition, engaged in a civil conspiracy, tortiously interfered with PMT's contracts and prospective economic advantage, and breached a covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Against Mr. Fredrickson, PMT also alleges that he intentionally or negligently spoliated evidence, made negligent or fraudulent misrepresentations, misappropriated trade secrets in violation of Minnesota law, and committed the tort of conversion and statutory civil theft. Against the Company and NeuroOne, PMT alleges that the Company and NeuroOne were unjustly enriched and engaged in unfair competition. PMT asked the Court to impose a constructive trust over the shares held by Mr. Fredrickson and Mr. Christianson and to award compensatory damages, equitable relief, punitive damages, attorneys' fees, costs and interest.

 

On April 18, 2018, Mr. Christianson, the Company and NeuroOne, Inc. filed a motion for dismissal, which was heard by the Court on October 11, 2018. The motion for dismissal states that: the contract claims against Mr. Christianson fail because his agreement was not supported by consideration; the Minnesota Uniform Trade Secrets Act preempts plaintiff's claims for unfair competition, civil conspiracy and unjust enrichment; plaintiff fails to state a claim regarding alleged breach of the duties of loyalty and good faith/fair dealing; plaintiff cannot legally obtain a constructive trust; plaintiff has insufficiently pled its tortious interference claims; and Plaintiff has not stated a claim for unfair competition. On January 7, 2019, the judge granted the motion for dismissal with respect to PMT's claim for breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing, and denied the motion for dismissal with respect to the other claims presented.

 

In April 2019, PMT served the Company, NeuroOne, Inc and Christianson with a proposed Second Amended Complaint which included new claims against the Company and NeuroOne, Inc for tortious interference with contract and tortious interference with prospective business advantage and punitive damages against the Company, NeuroOne Inc. and Christianson. On June 28, 2019 the Company presented evidence indicating that PMT had participated in a fraud on the Court, and sought an Order that PMT had waived the attorney client privilege.

 

On July 16, 2019, Defendants served PMT with a joint notice of motion for sanctions seeking a variety of sanctions for litigation misconduct including, but not limited to, dismissal of the case and an award of attorneys' fees. The Company, NeuroOne Inc and Mr. Christianson further intend to move for summary judgment on all remaining claims asserted against them as well as for leave to assert counterclaims against PMT for abuse of process.

 

On August 30, 2019, the Hennepin County District Court heard dispositive motions in this case. The district court judge indicated some claims would likely be tried to a jury and encouraged the parties to settle.

 

On September 12, 2019, the district court heard NeuroOne's motion for sanctions. The district court has set the sanctions hearing for December 17, 2019 and December 18, 2019, and indicated any remaining claims would be tried in May 2020. NeuroOne and Mark Christianson (who has not worked for PMT since February 2012) intend to continue to defend themselves vigorously.

 

Facility Lease

 

The Company entered into a non-cancellable facility lease for its operations and headquarters for an eleven month term beginning on December 1, 2018. The monthly rent under the lease is $4,763. During the year ended September 30, 2019, rent expense associated with the facility lease amounted to $47,630.  See Note 13 - Subsequent Events regarding a new facility lease that was executed in October 2019.