Related Parties | Note 6 - Related Parties Litigation with AFH Advisory and Amir F. Heshmatpour Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. AFH Advisory is presently a plaintiff and a counterclaim defendant in a matter that is pending in both Delaware Superior Court (Index No. N12C-09-045-MMJ [CCLD]) and Delaware Chancery Court (Index No. C.A. No. 8005-JJ). AFH Advisory brought the suit against Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. ("Emmaus") in regards to Emmaus' attempt to cancel AFH Advisory's ownership interest in Emmaus, and its refusal to reimburse AFH Advisory for expenses relating to a reverse merger. Emmaus has brought counterclaims against AFH Advisory for a declaratory judgment canceling AFH Advisory's ownership interest in Emmaus, fraud, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment. All parties completed document discovery and filed motions for summary judgment. Emmaus' motion for partial summary judgment was granted by the Court, which held that the Third Letter of Intent ("LOI III") between AFH Advisory and Emmaus was terminated, the public offering contemplated by LOI III was terminated, the advisor shares Emmaus gave to AFH Advisory and its affiliates pursuant to the terms of LOI III had been canceled, and that AFH and its affiliated must return all Emmaus shares in their possession. The partial summary judgment motion brought by individual counterclaim defendant Amir Heshmatpour, and joined in by AFH Advisory, was granted in part by the Court, which held that Emmaus was not entitled to compensatory damages on its fraud and fraud in the inducement claims. Following the Court's decision on these summary judgment motions, AFH Advisory does not have any remaining claims against Emmaus. Emmaus continues to maintain claims against AFH Advisory for breach of contract, fraud, and unjust enrichment. AFH Advisory has asserted defenses for these remaining claims, and it is defending this matter. Pursuant to a settlement agreement with Emmaus, the terms of which are confidential, the fraud claims against AFH and Heshmatpour brought by Emmaus have been dismissed. On April 7, 2015, a settlement of all claims Emerald Dairy, Inc. AFH Advisory and other entities brought a lawsuit in the Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County against Emerald Dairy, Inc. (Emerald) and its Chairman, Mr. Shan, asserting that they were entitled to a large number of shares of Emerald, both from Emerald and from shares individually owned, and pledged, by Chairman Shan. Emerald and Chairman Shan defaulted. On March 27, 2015, a default judgment was issued by the Superior Court of California in favor of AFH Advisory in the amount of $1,132,181 which includes damages of $897,121, prejudgment interest of $224,260, and attorney fees of $10,800. Banner Bank Judgment Mr. Amir Heshmatpour is a defendant in two lawsuits related to Banner Bank which have been reduced to judgment. The lawsuits arise from three loans issued in the late 1990s. The lender was Town Bank, a Washington State Bank which is no longer in existence, having been acquired by Banner Bank in the early 2000s. The borrowers on the three separate loans were H&H Holdings, Metrophone Telecom, and Amir and Kathy Heshmatpour. In the early 2000s, the three loans were consolidated into one loan, shortly before Banner Bank acquired Town Bank. Once this acquisition occurred, the relationship between the borrowers and the successor lender soured, and a default was ultimately declared on the loans. Banner Bank was awarded judgment in the Superior Court for the State of Washington in May 2003 in the amount of $11,073,409 with interest accruing at 12 percent per annum. In November 2003, Banner Bank was awarded a second, separate judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in the amount of $429,863 with interest accruing at 6.875 percent per annum. Both judgments have been renewed and extended in the state and federal courts in Washington and valid until at least 2023. Mr. Heshmatpour contends that negotiated agreements were reached for payment of the outstanding loan balance, resulting in an agreement to pay approximately $11,000,000. Mr. Heshmatpour further contends that the agreements were satisfied, but that Banner Bank failed to properly account for the payments received. In December 2012, the Federal Judgment was certified in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in the amount of $711,899 with interest accruing. In March 2013, the State Court Judgment was registered as a sister state judgment in the Los Angeles County Superior Court of California in the amount of $22,873,953 with interest accruing. Banner Bank has renewed its efforts to enforce the judgments beginning in 2013 and has consistently sought enforcement thereafter. Debtor exams of the Heshmatpours have been taken. While the parties have discussed settlement, no settlement has been reached as of the date of this filing. On June 24, 2013 and December 18, 2013, Banner Bank obtained a charging order against Mr. Heshmatpours membership interest in AFH Holding & Advisory LLC in the Central District of California and Los Angeles Superior Court, respectively. Under the charging orders, AFH and all members are directed to pay any distributions due or that become due to Mr. Heshmatpour directly to Banner Bank until the judgments plus all accrued interest are paid in full. On December 18, 2013, the Heshmatpours Motion to Vacate the State Court Judgment was denied. This was not appealed by the Heshmatpours and, therefore, fully enforceable. |