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Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Dec. 31, 2023
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]    
Commitments and Contingencies

Note 15. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Contingencies

 

On July 10, 2024, Barry Berler (“Berler”), a co-founder and former Chief Technology Officer of the Company, commenced a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Barry Berler v. Sharps Technology, Inc. and Alan Blackman, Case No. 2:24-cv-04787. In this case, Berler asserts claims for damages of an aggregate of $456,000 for alleged (1) failure to make full payment of certain monthly payments under his consulting agreement with the Company (the “Consulting Agreement”) in the amount of $52,500, (2) failure to pay a bonus with a target of $216,000 under the Consulting Agreement, (3) $187,500, representing 50% of the severance payment paid by the Company to Mr. Blackman, the Company’s co-founder and former Chief Operating Officer and Co-Chairman and a declaration and injunctive relief establishing that Berler is the rightful owner of 50% of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock (which preferred stock is no longer outstanding). The Company has accrued for the claim for unpaid monthly consulting fees. The Company believes that Berler’s claims are without merit, intends to defend itself vigorously and has requested dismissal of these claims. In addition, on September 17, 2024, the Company filed an answer and counterclaims with respect thereto, including for recoupment of certain compensation the Company has previously paid to Berler.

 

On June l7, 2024, Berler filed a demand for arbitration and statement of claim under the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) asserting claims for payment of $500,000 plus interest, under the Company’s royalty agreement with Berler, as amended, rescission thereof and reversion to Berler of the intellectual property rights subject thereto. The Company believes that Berler’s claims are without merit and intends to defend itself vigorously in connection with these claims.

 

On April 3, 2024, Plastomold Industries Ltd. (“Plastomold”) commenced a lawsuit against the Company in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Plastomold Industries Ltd v. Sharps Technology, Inc., Case No. 2:24-CV-02580, asserting claims for damages in the amount of $1.762 million for alleged (1) failure to pay invoices, of which approximately $1 million would relate to a maintenance agreement for units allegedly manufactured and sold using machinery that was defective and has never successfully produced any saleable products, (2) breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, (3) unjust enrichment, and (4) conversion. Plastomold asserts it provided certain products and services to the Company for which its invoices were not fully paid. The Company believes that Plastomold’s claims are without merit and intends to defend itself vigorously. On June 3, 2024, the Company filed an answer and affirmative defenses and counterclaim, which counterclaim is for damages that the Company believes would exceed the claims asserted by Plastomold, based on the insufficiency of Plastomold’s services and the results thereof, including the failure to provide machinery capable of reliably manufacturing the designated products in compliance with design specifications and functionality requirements, and with respect to which test results failed.

 

Commitments

 

On August 1, 2022, the Company cancelled the consulting agreement with Alan Blackman, Co- Chairman and Chief Operating Officer and entered into an Employment Agreement. which provided for annual salary of $256,000, which provides for increases, and provisions compensation adjustments, expense and tax differential reimbursements, benefits and bonuses. As of September 1, 2022, the annual salary is $320,000. At September 30, 2022, the Company approved and accrued a $250,000 bonus to Mr. Blackman for services provided in 2022, of which $65,000 was paid subsequent to December 31, 2022. The Company terminated Mr. Blackman’s Employment Agreement effective May 1, 2023. Mr. Blackman continued to serve as the Co-Chairman and a member of the Board of Directors. Subsequent to June 30, 2023, the Company and Mr. Blackman entered into a separation agreement whereby, Mr. Blackman was paid severance payments of approximately $346,000 plus other medical benefits of approximately $29,000 which were fully paid by August 31, 2024. Further, all unvested options were fully vested, and the Company recorded a charge of $60,000 in 2023. In connection with the separation agreement, Mr. Blackman no longer served as Co-Chairman or Board member and agreed to vote his Series A Preferred Stock in favor of the election, reelection, and/or designation of each individual nominated to serve as a director on the Board of Director as shall be identified in an applicable proxy statement filed by the Company for such election of directors. Once the payments due Mr. Blackman were fully paid, the Series A Preferred Stock were deemed immediately cancelled and forfeited and without further consideration. The Series A Preferred has been returned to the status of an authorized but unissued share of preferred stock of the Company.

 

On May 20, 2024, the Company entered into an amendment to the Asset Purchase agreement (“Asset Purchase”) with InjectEZ, LLC (“Seller”) for the purchase of certain assets for $35M. In connection with the Asset Purchase agreement the Company paid a non-refundable deposit of $1M to be held in escrow under an agreeable escrow agreement as a deposit on the purchase price. The Asset Purchase agreement stipulated that the $1M deposit would be maintained until July 19, 2024, at which date, if the contemplated transaction was not consummated, through no fault of the Seller, the escrow would be released to the Seller by the escrow agent. The escrow deposit of $1,000,000 was released to the Seller and recorded a forfeited agreement cost in Other Expenses in the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The Company and Seller are currently working towards a further amendment of the Asset Purchase Agreement. To the extent a further amendment is executed, the closing of the Asset Purchase Agreement will be contingent on obtaining the necessary financing and there can be no assurance that the closing of the asset sale will occur.

Note 15. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Fixed Assets and Other

 

At December 31, 2023, the remaining amounts due under outstanding orders of $56,874 is recorded in Accounts Payable. At December 31, 2022, the Company has outstanding orders to purchase equipment, molds and component parts for research and development of $609,953 of which advance payments of $209,678 have been made and recorded in Other Assets (See Note 6).

 

 

SHARPS TECHNOLOGY, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023 AND 2022

 

 

Note 15. Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

 

Contingencies

 

At each reporting period, the Company evaluates whether or not a potential loss amount or a potential range of loss is probable and reasonably estimable under the provisions of the authoritative guidance that addresses accounting for contingencies. The Company is currently not involved in any material litigation or other loss contingencies.

 

Royalty Agreement

 

In connection with the purchase of certain intellectual property in July 2017, Barry Berler and Alan Blackman entered into a royalty agreement which provides that Barry Berler will be entitled to a royalty of four percent (4%) of net sales derived from the use, sale, lease, rent and export of products related to the intellectual property. The royalty continues until the patent expires or is no longer used in the Company’s product. The royalty agreement was assumed by the Company in December 2017.

 

In September 2018, the Royalty Agreement was amended to reduce the royalty to 2% and further provided for a single payment of $500,000 to Barry Berler within three years in return for cancellation of all further royalty obligations of the Company. In May 2019, the Royalty Agreement was further amended to change the payment date to on or before May 31, 2021 or during the term of the amended Royalty Agreement should the Company be acquired or a controlling interest be acquired. The Company has not made the aforementioned payment or incur any change in control as such the 2% royalty remains in place.

 

Employment Agreements

 

On August 1, 2022, the Company cancelled the consulting agreement with Alan Blackman, Co- Chairman and Chief Operating Officer and entered into an Employment Agreement which provides for annual salary of $256,000, which provides for increases, and provisions compensation adjustments, expense and tax differential reimbursements, benefits and bonuses. As of September 1, 2022, the annual salary is $320,000. At June 30, 2022, the Company approved and accrued a $250,000 bonus to Mr. Blackman for services provided in 2022, of which $65,000 was paid subsequent to December 31, 2022. The Company terminated Mr. Blackman’s Employment Agreement effective May 1, 2023. Mr. Blackman continued to serve as the Co-Chairman and a member of the Board of Directors. Subsequent to June 30, 2023, the Company and Mr. Blackman entered into a separation agreement whereby, Mr. Blackman will be paid severance payments of approximately $346,000, which was recorded as an expense and an accrued expense as of June 30, 2023, over thirteen months, continue his medical benefits for such period with a cost of approximately $29,000 which has been accrued at June 30, 2023. At December 31, 2023, the outstanding balance due Mr. Blackman is $218,000, which is recorded in accrued expenses. Further, all unvested options were fully vested and the Company recorded a charge of $60,000. In connection with the separation agreement, Mr. Blackman no longer serves as Co-Chairman or Board member and has agreed to vote his Series A Preferred Stock in favor of the election, reelection, and/or designation of each individual nominated to serve as a director on the Board of Director as shall be identified in an applicable proxy statement filed by the Company for such election of directors. Once the payments due Mr. Blackman are fully paid, the Series A Preferred Stock shall be deemed immediately cancelled and forfeited and without further consideration. The Series A Preferred shall at such time be returned to the status of an authorized but unissued share of preferred stock of the Company.

 

 

SHARPS TECHNOLOGY, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023 AND 2022

 

 

Note 15. Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

 

On September 30, 2022, the Company entered into a formal employment agreement, effective on such date and will continue until terminated by either party, subject to the terms of the agreement, with Andrew R. Crescenzo who has been serving as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer on a contract services basis for the last three years. The agreement provided for annual compensation of $225,000 and plus a one-time $18,750 incentive payment upon the commencement of the agreement. During the course of the term, Mr. Crescenzo will be eligible for (i) performance bonuses to be granted at the discretion of the Company’s Compensation Committee and (ii) to participate in the Company’s 2022 Equity Incentive Plan. The agreement contains customary employment terms and conditions.

 

In October 2022, the Company entered into a service agreement (“Service Agreement”) with an unrelated third-party for marketing and investor relations services. The Service Agreement, which has a term of one year, has various deliverables and provides payments to the third party as follows; a) an initial fee of $90,000, b) monthly fees through the term of $12,500, c) 200,000 shares of restricted common stock and d) $300,000 specifically related to digital marketing activities. As stated in Note 8, the 200,000 shares of restricted common stock were valued at $230,000, representative of the trading price on the issuance.

 

On February 9, 2023, the Company, appointed Justin Page, as Vice President of Technical Operations with a start date of February 15, 2023. The agreement provides for annual compensation of $235,000 and Options to purchase 50,000 shares of Common Stock at the exercise price of $1.30, the closing price on the grant date. During the course of the term, Mr. Paige will be eligible for (i) performance bonuses to be granted at the discretion of the Company’s Compensation Committee and (ii) to participate in the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan. The agreement contains customary employment terms and conditions and provides for severance of six months if a change in control occurs, as defined.

 

On November 10, 2023, the Company executed an Employment Agreement with Robert Hayes, its Chief Executive Officer amending the employment letter dated September 6, 2021. The agreement term automatically renews for successive one-year terms as of the commencement date unless prior written notice by either party within ninety days prior to end of the current term. The agreement provides for termination of employment and severance benefits under stated conditions and restrictive covenants. The agreement provides for annual compensation retroactive to June 1, 2023 of $600,000 from $400,000 and a stated increase with the successful acquisition of InjectEZ and other terms of the acquisition agreement (See Note 5). The agreement provides for bonus compensation for: (i) closing the Nephron acquisition agreement, (ii) long-term incentives for achieving revenue targets and market caps for the Company’s stock and (iii) other Company achievements. In addition, the agreement provides for benefits and paid time off.