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Note 10 - Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Notes to Financial Statements  
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]
NOTE
10
. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
Minimum Processing Commitments
 
We have non-exclusive agreements with several processors to provide services related to transaction processing and transmittal, transaction authorization and data capture, and access to various reporting tools. Certain of these agreements require us to submit a minimum monthly number of transactions for processing. If we submit a number of transactions that is lower than the minimum, we are required to pay to the processor the fees it would have received if we had submitted the required minimum number of transactions. As of
December 31, 2019,
such minimum fee commitments were as follows:
 
2020
  $
680,730
 
2021
   
60,000
 
2022
   
70,000
 
2023
   
80,000
 
Thereafter
   
-
 
Total
  $
890,730
 
 
Leases
 
North American Transaction Solutions
 
During
May 2013,
we entered into a lease agreement, for approximately
4,101
square feet of office space located at
3363
N.E.
163rd
Street, Suites
705
through
707,
North Miami Beach, Florida
33160.
The term of the lease agreement was from
May 1, 2013
through
December 31, 2016,
with monthly rent increasing from
$16,800
per month at inception to
$19,448
per month (or
$233,377
per year) for the period from
January 1, 2016
through
December 31, 2016. 
The lease was extended for a period of
five
years commencing
August 1, 2017
and expiring
July 31, 2022
with equal monthly base rent installments of
$14,354
(
$172,248
per year) plus sales tax. On
September 26, 2019,
we entered into a lease for additional office space in the building that our current office space is located for our North American Transactions Solutions, due to our growth in the labor force. The space is for
5,875
square feet and the term is for
5
years commencing on
September 23, 2019
and expiring on
September 30, 2024.
The monthly base rent is
$16,156
(
$193,875
per year) plus sales tax. Rent payments will commence once the landlord's work is completed and the space is ready to be occupied by us. The Company has
not
 taken physical possession of the premises or moved to the premises, at this time, due to the fact that occupational permits are still open.
 
Net Element Software, our subsidiary, currently leases approximately
1,654
square feet of office space in Yekaterinburg, Russia, where we develop value added services, mobile applications, smart terminals applications, sales central ERP system development and marketing activities, at an annual rent of approximately
$24,300.The
lease term expired on
June 1, 
2019
and was renewed with indefinite terms.
 
 
International Transaction Solutions
 
            PayOnline leased approximately
4,675
square feet of office space in Moscow, Russia at an annual rent of
$84,457
which expired on
September 30,
2018.The
Company then moved to a reduced space of
3,385
square feet and signed a lease at an annual rent of approximately
$56,000
that                    expired on
August 31, 2019.  
On
March 11, 2019,
the Company terminated their lease and moved their operations to another office building occupying approximately
1600
square feet at an annual rent of
$50,900,
which expires on
February 10, 2020.
This lease was renewed with indefinite              terms.
 
The following table presents a reconciliation of the undiscounted future minimum lease payments, under the lease for the premises we occupy for our North American Transaction Solutions segment's U.S. headquarters, to the amounts reported as operating lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet as of
December 31, 2019:
 
   
Operating Lease
 
Undiscounted future minimum lease payments:
       
2020
  $
172,248
 
2021
   
172,248
 
2022
   
100,478
 
Total
  $
444,974
 
Amount representing imputed interest
   
(63,988
)
Total operating lease liability
   
380,986
 
Current portion of operating lease liability
   
(133,727
)
Operating Lease Liability, non-current
  $
247,259
 
 
   
As of December 31, 2019
 
Remaining term on Lease
   
2.50
 
Incremental borrowing rate
   
12
%
 
Liti
gation, Claims, and Assessments
 
With respect to all legal, regulatory and governmental proceedings, and in accordance with ASC
450
-
20,
Contingencies—Loss
Contingencies
, we consider the likelihood of a negative outcome. If we determine the likelihood of a negative outcome with respect to any such matter is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, we record an accrual for the estimated amount of loss for the expected outcome of the matter. If the likelihood of a negative outcome with respect to material matters is reasonably possible and we are able to determine an estimate of the amount of possible loss or a range of loss, whether in excess of a related accrued liability or where there is
no
accrued liability, we disclose the estimate of the amount of possible loss or range of loss. However, management in some instances
may
be unable to estimate an amount of possible loss or range of loss based on the significant uncertainties involved in, or the preliminary nature of, the matter, and in these instances we will disclose the nature of the contingency and describe why we are unable to determine an estimate of possible loss or range of loss.
 
In addition, we are involved in ordinary course legal proceedings, which include all claims, lawsuits, investigations and proceedings, including unasserted claims, which are probable of being asserted, arising in the ordinary course of business and otherwise
not
described below. We have considered all such ordinary course legal proceedings in formulating our disclosures and assessments, which are
not
expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements.
 
Aptito.com, Inc.
 
On
August 6, 2014,
our subsidiary (Aptito, LLC) filed a lawsuit against Aptito.com, Inc. and the shareholders of Aptito.com, Inc., in state court in the
11th
Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County. This is an interpleader action in regards to
125,000
shares of our stock. Aptito, LLC acquired Aptito.com, Inc. in exchange for, among other things,
125,000
shares (prior to adjustment for
two one
-for-
ten
reverse stock splits) of our stock. There has been disagreements among the Aptito.com, Inc. shareholders as to proper distribution of the
125,000
shares (prior to adjustment for
two one
-for-
ten
reverse stock splits). To avoid any liability in regards to improper distribution, Aptito, LLC filed the interpleader action so as to allow the Defendants to litigate amongst themselves as to how the shares (prior to adjustment for
two one
- for-
ten
reverse stock splits) should be distributed. Aptito.com, Inc. opposed the motion to interplead and filed counterclaims relative to Aptito, LLC for non-delivery of the
125,000
shares (prior to adjustment for
two one
-for-
ten
reverse stock splits).
           
              On
July 18, 2017,
the Court granted Aptito LLC’s motion to interplead and also indicated that Aptito, LLC could
not
be held liable for any alleged damages relative to the purported non- delivery of the
125,000
shares after the interpleader action was filed on
August 6, 2014.
         
In
March 2018,
a new Judge in the case ruled that Aptito.com, Inc. was entitled to receive
125,000
newly issued shares of our common stock, but indicated that he was
not
ruling that we were required to issue such shares. We plan to appeal this ruling, and our legal counsel is addressing    the counterclaims filed by Aptito.com, Inc. in this matter.
   
In
July 2018,
our counsel was disqualified due to a conflict of interest. We engaged a new law firm to represent our ongoing interests in this case. Since that time, there have been multiple Motions and claims brought by Aptito.com, Inc., including the request for rescission of the asset purchase agreement that gave rise to the share issuance obligation. All of these Motions and claims are being vigorously defended.
 
              A court ordered mediation conference was held on
April 24, 2019
but the parties were unable to reach a settlement. On
May 1, 2019
the Court denied Aptito.com, Inc.’s Motion for Summary Judgement and further hearings on a variety of Motions were scheduled in this matter.
         
On
August 14, 2019,
the court granted final Summary Judgment in favor of the Company, removing Net Element as a party to the lawsuit and denying Aptito.com, Inc’s Motion for rehearing and reconsideration of this matter.  Aptito, LLC, in which the Company has a majority ownership interest, remains a Defendant in this litigation.  On
September 17, 2019,
the court granted the Company’s Motion for sanctions against the attorney representing Aptito.com, Inc. in this matter. The Company is pursuing collection of legal fees incurred from the Plaintiff and their attorney. This matter is pending a special set hearing to be held on 
March 23, 2020.
This hearing has been postponed.
 
Gene Zell
 
In
June 2014,
we, as plaintiff, commenced an action in the Miami-Dade Circuit Court, Florida against Gene Zell ("Zell") for defamation of our Company and CEO and tortious interference with our business relationships. In
October 2014,
the court granted a temporary injunction against Zell enjoining him from posting any information about our Company and CEO on any website and enjoining him from contacting our business partners or investors. Zell violated the Court Order and the Court granted a Motion imposing sanctions against Zell. We continue to seek enforcement of the Court Order.
 
In
April 2015,
Zell filed a Motion to set aside the Court Order alleging he was unaware of the Court Proceedings. The Court, on
August 26, 2015,
dismissed Zell’s Motion to dissolve the injunction. In
March 2017
the Court dismissed another Motion brought by Zell to dissolve the injunction. Accordingly, the injunction order prohibiting Zell from making further defamatory posts remains in place.
 
           In
2018,
we filed a motion to enforce the injunction and contempt orders against Zell. The court upheld the injunction and we continue to vigorously protect its interests. We are pursuing an action for damages sustained as a result of the defamation.
 
           On
September 20, 2019,
the Court granted a Permanent Injunction against Zell. The Company is evaluating pursuing actions against Zell for collection of legal fees and damages.
 
              A trial was scheduled for
April 2020
on the issue of Net Element’s damages. However, Zell recently filed bankruptcy, so that trial and all further legal proceedings involving Zell will be stayed as a result of the automatic bankruptcy.