Annual report pursuant to section 13 and 15(d)

Note 15: Commitments and Contingencies

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Note 15: Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Note 15: Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Leases and Service Contracts

 

The Company leases its office space and certain equipment under long-term operating leases expiring through fiscal year 2016. Rent expense under these leases was $152,372 and $350,822 for the years ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company has also entered into several non-cancelable service contracts.

 

As of September 30, 2013, future minimum annual lease payments under operating lease agreements and non-cancelable service contracts for fiscal years ended September 30 are as follows:

 

2014     211,767  
2015     201,630  
2016     57,283  
2017      
2018      
Thereafter      
    $ 470,680  

 

Litigation

 

The Company is party to certain legal proceedings incidental to the conduct of its business. Management believes that the outcome of pending legal proceedings will not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on its business, financial position, and results of operations, cash flows or liquidity.

 

Except as described below, as of September 30, 2013, the Company was not a party to any pending material legal proceedings other than claims that arise in the normal conduct of its business. While management currently believes that the ultimate outcome of these routine proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition or results of operations, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties. If an unfavorable ruling were to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on the Company’s net income in the period in which a ruling occurs. The Company’s estimate of the potential impact of the following legal proceedings on its financial position and its results of operation could change in the future.

 

Global Education Services, Inc. v. LiveDeal, Inc.

 

On June 6, 2008, Global Education Services, Inc., which we refer to as GES, filed a consumer fraud lawsuit against us in the King County Superior Court in the State of Washington, alleging that our use of activator checks violated the Washington Consumer Protection Act and seeking class certification pursuant to Washington law. GES sought injunctive relief against our use of activator checks, damages in an amount equal to three times the damages allegedly sustained by the members of the putative class, exemplary damages for the alleged violation of law, and its fees and costs. We denied the allegations of the complaint and commenced defending the litigation.

 

Early in 2010, the Court denied both parties’ dispositive motions, at which time they commenced settlement discussions. The parties reached a settlement and entered into a settlement agreement on or about November 5, 2012.

 

The settlement agreement required $150,000 to be paid to plaintiff’s counsel, $10,000 to be paid to GES as the “representative plaintiff,” and $70 to be paid to each eligible class member. The Court granted final approval of the settlement on April 26, 2013 and the Court’s order became final on May 27, 2013. All class member claims have been paid and the last attorneys’ fee payment was made on November 23, 2013. Accordingly, the litigation is fully resolved and the matter closed.

 

J3 Harmon LLC v. LiveDeal, Inc.

 

On February 9, 2012, J3 Harmon LLC, which we refer to as J3, filed a lawsuit against us in the Superior Court for Maricopa County in the State of Arizona, alleging breach of a commercial lease agreement. J3 sought damages for alleged unpaid rents during the lease term as well as alleged damages for storage costs after the expiration of the lease term. We denied the allegations and asserted various affirmative defenses. In September 2012, the Maricopa County Superior Court entered a judgment in favor of J3 in the sum of $62,886.13.   We appealed this judgment.

 

On October 1, 2013, the Arizona Court of Appeals affirmed in part and reversed in part on the principal damages and remanded the matter for judgment. Subsequently, the Maricopa County Superior Court entered Judgment on Mandate against the Company in the principal sum of $46,636.31 and attorneys’ fees of $5,624.40, with post-judgment interest from October 3, 2012. There is no further basis for appeal by the Company. The Company anticipates paying the judgment during the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2014 and, upon such payment, the matter will be resolved. As of September 30, 2013, the Company maintained an accrual of $52,261 related to this.

 

LEC Billings

 

The Company has historically billed a significant amount of our legacy business revenues through LEC billing channels. The largest LEC billing companies ceased billing for third parties in 2012. .If we are not able to obtain alternative billing methods for these customers, the number of legacy subscribers and our revenues will decline, which could materially and adversely affect our operating results and financial condition. The Company had approximately $73,000 of revenues billed through LEC billing channels for the year ended September 30, 2013. LEC billing channel costs related to those revenues equaled approximately $171,000 for the year ended September 30, 2013.

 

Except as referenced above, the Company has not recorded any accruals pertaining to its legal proceedings as they do not meet the criteria for accrual under FASB ASC 450.