| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] |
14. Commitments and Contingencies
From
time-to-time, the Company is involved in legal proceedings. The Company records a liability for those legal proceedings when it determines
it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company also discloses when
it is reasonably possible that a material loss may be incurred, however, the amount cannot be reasonably estimated. From time to time,
the Company may enter into discussions regarding settlement of these matters, and may enter into settlement agreements, if it believes
settlement is in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders. The
following is a summary of our current outstanding litigation. Note that references to GreenBox POS are for historical purposes. GreenBox
POS changed its name to RYVYL Inc. on October 13, 2022.
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On
November 8, 2022, the Company filed a complaint against its former Chief Operating Officer Vanessa Luna, Luna Consultant Group, LLC
and Does 1 through 50 in San Diego Superior Court (the “Company Filing”). The Company alleged that Ms. Luna abused her
position for additional compensation, failed to follow proper protocols and breached her fiduciary duties and duty of loyalty by
secretly maintaining alternative employment. The action sought damages, including interest and costs of suit incurred. On November
10, 2022, Ms. Luna filed her own complaint against the Company and Fredi Nisan in San Diego Superior Court (the “Luna Filing”).
Ms. Luna alleged that Mr. Nisan used contract negotiations to coerce her, that the Company improperly coded transactions and misled
investors, and that when her concerns were reported to management, she was wrongfully terminated, resulting in a number of claims.
Ms. Luna also alleged sexual misconduct on the part of Mr. Nisan. Ms. Luna sought damages including compensatory damages, unpaid
wages (past and future), loss of wages and benefits (past and future), and other damages to be proven at trial. The Company and Mr.
Nisan deny all allegations of the Luna Filing. In April 2023, Ms. Luna sought and was granted permission to add Coyni, Inc. as a
defendant with regard to her claims. In addition, in August 2024, the Company and Mr. Nisan were granted leave to file a Second Amended
Complaint to add additional claims against Ms. Luna, including securities fraud. After vigorously defending against all claims asserted
by Ms. Luna and vigorously prosecuting its own claims against Ms. Luna, on October 17, 2024, the parties entered into a confidential
settlement agreement. On February 4, 2025, the parties filed with the San Diego Superior Court Requests for Dismissal, dismissing
their respective cases with prejudice. |
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On
December 12, 2022, Jacqueline Dollar (aka Jacqueline Reynolds), former Chief Marketing Officer of the Company, filed a complaint
against the Company, Fredi Nisan, and Does 1-20 in San Diego Superior Court. Ms. Dollar is alleging she was undercompensated compared
to her male counterparts and retaliated against after raising concerns to management resulting in sex discrimination in violation
of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”) and failure to prevent discrimination in violation of FEHA.
Ms. Dollar is also claiming intentional infliction of emotional distress. Ms. Dollar is seeking an unspecified amount of damages
related to, among other things, payment of past and future lost wages, stock issuances, bonuses and benefits, compensatory damages,
and general, economic, non-economic, and special damages. As the Company cannot predict the outcome of the matter, the probability
of an outcome cannot be determined. The Company intends to vigorously defend against all claims. The parties are currently in the
discovery phase. |
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Since
December 2022, the Company has been cooperating with an ongoing investigation by the SEC regarding possible violations of the federal
securities laws, which in its course has included a review of the Company’s blockchain technology and former QuickCard business.
The Company intends to continue to cooperate fully with the SEC in its investigation. The Company cannot predict the outcome of such
investigation or whether it will have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash
flow. |
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On
February 1, 2023, a putative class action lawsuit titled Cullen v. RYVYL Inc. fka GreenBox POS, Inc., et al., Case No. 3:23-cv-00185-GPC-AGS,
was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California against several defendants, including the Company
and certain of our current and former directors and officers (the “Cullen Defendants”). The complaint was filed on behalf
of persons who purchased or otherwise acquired the Company’s publicly traded securities between January 29, 2021 and January 20,
2023. The complaint alleged that the Cullen Defendants violated Sections 11, 12(a)(2), and 15 of the Securities Act and Sections 10(b)
and 20(a) of the Exchange Act by making false and/or misleading statements regarding the Company’s financial controls, performance
and prospects. On June 30, 2023, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint. On March 1, 2024, the Court issued an order granting in part
and denying in part defendants’ motions to dismiss, which included dismissing all Securities Act claims and narrowing the potential
class period. The plaintiff filed a second amended complaint on April 30, 2024, which alleges claims against the Cullen Defendants under
Exchange Act Sections 10(b) and 20(a) only and a class period of May 13, 2021 through January 20, 2023. The Company filed its motion
to dismiss the second amended complaint on July 1, 2024. On October 21, 2024, the Court issued an order granting in part and denying
in part defendants’ motions to dismiss. The scope of the remaining claims is consistent with the Court’s last motion to dismiss
decision dated March 1, 2024. On November 12, 2024, Plaintiff filed a Third Amended Complaint, which asserts the same legal causes of
action and proposed class period as the previous complaint. On February 28, 2025, the Parties executed a Memorandum of Understanding
(“MOU”) that reflects their agreement in principle to settle the claims asserted in this class action. Lead Plaintiff has
begun the process of drafting the Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement and exhibits thereto, which, after negotiation and execution
by the Parties, will be filed with the Court in connection with Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement. The Parties
intend to move for preliminary approval of the proposed settlement as soon as practicable after the final settlement agreement is executed.
There is no assurance, however, that the settlement will be completed and/or that the Court will approve it. The Cullen Defendants continue
to deny any and all liability and allegations set forth in the pending Third Amended Complaint. |
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On
June 22, 2023, a shareholder derivative complaint was filed in the United States District
Court for the Southern District of California against certain of the Company’s current
and/or former officers and directors (the “Hertel Defendants”), Christy Hertel,
derivatively on behalf of RYVYL Inc., f/k/a GreenBox POS v. Ben Errez et al., Case No. 3:23-CV-01165-GPC-SBC.
On August 4, 2023, a second shareholder derivative complaint was filed in the United States
District Court for the Southern District of California against the Hertel Defendants, Marcus
Gazaway, derivatively on behalf of RYVYL Inc., f/k/a GreenBox POS v. Ben Errez et al., Case
No. 3:23-CV-01425-LAB-BLM. Both derivative complaints generally allege that the Hertel Defendants
failed to implement adequate internal controls that would prevent false and misleading financial
information from being published by the Company and that controlling shareholders participated
in overpayment misconduct resulting in violations of Sections 10(b), 14(a) and 20 of the
Exchange Act and breached their fiduciary duties and, purportedly on behalf of the Company.
On April 2, 2024, the Court granted the parties’ joint motion for an order consolidating
the Hertel and Gazaway cases under the caption In re RYVYL Inc. Derivative Litigation, Lead
Case No. 3:23-CV-01165-GPC-SBC (S.D. Cal.). On May 6, 2024, the Court issued an order staying
the action until after the final resolution of any motion to dismiss the securities class
action detailed above. On May 1, 2024, a third nearly identical shareholder derivative complaint
was filed in Clark County, Nevada by plaintiff Christina Brown, derivatively on behalf of
RYVYL, Inc., v. Ben Errez et al., Case No. A-24-892382-C. The Company currently is working
with Ms. Brown’s counsel to coordinate a stay of the Nevada action on the same terms
as the stay of the Hertel and Gazaway cases.
The
complaint seeks damages and contribution from the Hertel Defendants and a direction that the Company and the Hertel Defendants take
actions to reform and improve corporate governance and internal procedures to comply with applicable laws. The Hertel Defendants
deny all allegations of liability and intend to vigorously defend against all claims. However, given the preliminary stage of the
lawsuits, the uncertainty of litigation, and the legal standards that must be met for success on the merits, the Company cannot predict
the outcome of either case at this time. |
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On
October 1, 2023, the Company filed a demand for arbitration against Sky Financial with the American Arbitration Association in San
Diego, California (the “Arbitration”). In the Arbitration, the Company seeks to recover for breach of contract and Sky
Financial’s failure to perform its obligations On October 2, 2023, the Company filed a complaint against Sky Financial in San
Diego Superior Court asserting the same claims asserted in the Arbitration, solely to toll any applicable statutes of limitations
pending the Arbitration and, if necessary, provide jurisdiction for the court to compel arbitration. The action seeks damages, including
interest and costs of suit incurred. The parties agreed to proceed in the Arbitration and to implement the steps needed to extend
the current stay of the San Diego Superior Court action pending the Arbitration. Subsequently, the parties agreed to stay the Arbitration
and attend mediation. A mediation was scheduled but then vacated by stipulation of the parties. The parties have agreed to continue
the stay of the Arbitration pending a mediation, which is to be re-scheduled. |
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On
July 6, 2022, the Company’s subsidiary, RYVYL EU (formerly known as Transact Europe OOD), received a notary invitation from
Satya Consulting PTE Limited (“Satya”) filed in Bulgaria. In the filed claim, Satya alleges nonpayment of its fee in
the amount of EUR 900,000, to which statutory default interest is to be added, for failure of payment under the Company’s stock
purchase agreement for Transact Europe Holdings OOD. RYVYL EU has retained Bulgarian counsel to assist in the defense of the asserted
claim and denies all allegations. As RYVYL EU cannot predict the outcome of the matter, the probability of an outcome cannot be determined.
RYVYL EU intends to vigorously defend against all claims. On October 18, 2024, RYVYL EU entered into a confidential settlement agreement
with no material impact to the Company. The Court approved the settlement and the case was dismissed on November 23, 2024. |
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On
January 2, 2024, the Company filed a Statement of Claim against Chessa Sabourin in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Case No.
CV-24-00712190-0000. The Company seeks to recover funds unlawfully held by Sabourin, or in the alternative, damages in the equivalent
amount. Additionally, punitive and exemplary damages. In September 2023, the Company mistakenly sent funds to Ms. Sabourin and attempted
to reverse or recall the transfers but was unable to do so. To date, Ms. Sabourin has failed and/or refused to return the funds mistakenly
sent to her. On October 21, 2024, the Court issued a default judgment against Sabourin. |
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On
June 25, 2024, J. Drew Byelick, a former Chief Financial Officer of the Company, filed a complaint against the Company in the United
States District Court for the Southern District of California, Case No. ’24CV1096 JLS MSB. Mr. Byelick alleged breach of contract,
fraudulent inducement of employment, along with intentional misrepresentation and concealment. The Company moved to dismiss the complaint
for failure to state a claim and for other violations of the federal rules of civil procedure. The Court granted that motion on December
20, 2024, but permitted Mr. Byelick to file an amended complaint. Mr. Byelick filed his first amended complaint on January 19, 2025,
asserting the same core claims. The Company filed a motion to dismiss the first amended complaint on February 3, 2025, which has
been set for hearing on April 11, 2025. The Company denies all allegations of liability and intends to vigorously defend against
all claims. However, given the preliminary stage of the lawsuit, the uncertainty of litigation, and the legal standards that must
be met for success on the merits, the Company cannot predict the outcome at this time or estimate a reasonably possible loss or range
of loss that may result from this action. |
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