17. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Litigation

The Company is currently in a dispute with a former employee of its predecessor bBooth, Inc. who has interposed a breach of contract claim in which he alleges that he is entitled to approximately $300,000 in unpaid bonus compensation from 2015. This former employee filed his complaint in the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles on November 20, 2019, styled Meyerson v. Verb Technology Company, Inc., et al. (Case No. 19STCV41816). The Company does not believe his claims have any merit as they are contradicted by documentary evidence, and barred by the applicable statute of limitations, and barred by a release executed by the former employee when the Company purchased all of his shares of stock more than 4 years ago in January 2016. On February 9, 2021, the former employee’s counsel filed a motion for summary judgment, or in the alternative, summary adjudication against the Company. On October 13, 2021, the court issued an order (i) denying the former employee’s motion for summary judgment, (ii) partly granting the former employee’s motion for summary adjudication, and (iii) partly denying the former employee’s motion for summary adjudication. The court has not set a definitive trial date for this matter but expects it to occur in the first half of 2022. The Company believes that the resolution of this matter will have no material effect on the Company or its operations.

The Company is currently in a dispute with Baker Hostetler LLP (“BH”) relating to corporate legal services provided by BH to the Company. The Company filed its complaint in the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles on May 17, 2021, styled Verb Technology Company, Inc. v. Baker Hostetler LLP, et al. (Case No. 21STCV18387). The Company’s complaint arises from BH’s alleged legal malpractice, breach of fiduciary duties owed to the Company, breach of contract, and violations of California’s Business and Professions Code Section 17200 et seq. On October 5, 2021, BH filed a cross-complaint against the Company alleging, amongst other things, that the Company owes it approximately $915,000 in legal fees. The Company disputes owing this amount to BH. The Company believes that the resolution of these matters will have no material effect on the Company or its operations.

The Company believes it has adequately reserved for all litigation within its financial statements.

Board of Directors

The Company has committed an aggregate of $475,000 in board fees to its five board members over the term of their appointment for services to be rendered. Board fees are accrued and paid monthly. The members will serve on the board until the annual meeting for the year in which their term expires or until their successors has been elected and qualified.

Total board fees expensed during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 was $356,000. As of September 30, 2021, total board fees to be recognized in future period amounted to $119,000 and will be recognized once the service has been rendered.