COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
6 Months Ended |
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Sep. 30, 2021 | |
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | |
14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
NOTE 14 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Executive Employment Agreements –Gerald Easterling
On April 1, 2015, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Gerald Easterling at the time as the Company’s President, effective as of April 1, 2015 (the “Employment Agreement”).
The Employment Agreement is terminable at will and each provide for a base annual salary of $96,000. In addition, the Employment Agreement provides that the employee is entitled, at the sole and absolute discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors, to receive performance bonuses. Mr. Easterling will also be entitled to certain benefits including health insurance and monthly allowances for cell phone and automobile expenses.
The Employment Agreement provides that in the event the employee is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason (as defined in their Employment Agreement), the employee will receive, as severance the employee’s base salary for a period of 60 months following the date of termination. In the event of a change of control of the Company, the employee may elect to terminate the Employment Agreement within 30 days thereafter and upon such termination would receive a lump sum payment equal to 500% of the employee’s base salary.
The Employment Agreement contains certain restrictive covenants relating to non-competition, non-solicitation of customers and non-solicitation of employees for a period of one year following termination of the employee’s Employment Agreement.
RGA Labs, Inc.
On February 18, 2020, RGA Labs, Inc. (“RGA”) filed suit against the Company in the Illinois Circuit Court (23rd District) alleging that the Company owed RGA money pursuant to a written contract for the design and manufacture of certain water treatment equipment commissioned by the Company. The Company disputed the allegations and has counterclaimed against RGA for additional costs and expenses incurred by the Company in correcting, repairing and retro-fitting the equipment to enable it to work in the Company’s facilities. As a result of RGA’s failure to respond to written discovery served by the Company and failure of RGA to satisfy requirements imposed by an order compelling response, the court issued an order prohibiting RGA from introducing any evidence at the time of trial other than the original agreement between RGA and the Company. Further, the Court sustained the Company’s objection to RGA’s written discovery obviating the Company’s obligation to respond. On August 10, 2021, pursuant to a court order, RGA and the Company participated in a mediation wherein a settlement of all claims was reached. The settlement consisted of the agreement of the Company to pay RGA the sum of $8,000, execution of joint and mutual releases and the execution of a non-competition agreement by RGA and its principals restricting them from competing against the Company in the aquaculture business using electrocoagulation technology. The settlement has not yet been finalized at this time due to the negotiation of the terms and breadth of the non-competition agreement.
Gary Shover
A shareholder of NaturalShrimp Holdings, Inc. (“NSH”), Gary Shover, filed suit against the Company on August 11, 2020 in the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, alleging breach of contract for the Company’s failure to exchange common shares of the Company for shares Mr. Shover owns in NSH. The federal District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, has set the claims of Gary Shover against the Company for a hearing scheduled for November 15, 2021. At this hearing, the parties will have the opportunity to present to the Court reasons why the Court should approve the proposed settlement agreed to by all parties. |