Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Item
1. Legal Proceedings
From
time to time we may be subject to litigation and arbitration claims incidental to its business. Such claims may not be covered by our
insurance coverage, and even if they are, if claims against us are successful, they may exceed the limits of applicable insurance coverage.
On July 9, 2020, the Company was
served with a civil complaint filed in the Superior Court for the State of California, County of Orange by a former employee, Robert Rankin,
who resigned as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer on March 30, 2020. The case is entitled Rankin v.
Hancock Jaffe Laboratories, Inc. et al., Case No. 30-2020-01146555-CU-WR-CJC and was filed on May 27, 2020. The complaint asserts causes
of action alleging failure to timely pay Mr. Rankin’s accrued and unused vacation and three months’ severance under his July
16, 2018 employment agreement, Labor Code violations, and unfair competition, and seeks damages for back pay, unpaid wages, compensatory
damages, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees and costs.
On September 3, 2020 the Company
and its Chief Executive Officer were served with a second complaint filed in the Superior Court for the State of California, County of
Orange by Mr. Rankin. The case is entitled Rankin v. Hancock Jaffe Laboratories, Inc. et al., Case No. 30-2020-01157857 and was filed
on August 31, 2020. The second complaint asserts causes of action alleging defamation, Labor Code violations, sex-based discrimination,
and unfair competition, and seeks damages for lost wages, emotional and mental distress, consequential damages, punitive damages, and
attorney’s fees and costs.
The Company denies all claims
in both matters (which have now been consolidated), is vigorously defending same, and has asserted counterclaims against Mr. Rankin contending
that he breached his fiduciary duty and employment agreement with the Company and the Company incurred damages as a result. The Company
continues to believe it has meritorious defenses to both matters, which are currently set for trial on October 30, 2023.
Item
1A. Risk Factors
As
a “smaller reporting company” as defined by Item 10 of Regulation S-K, we are not required to provide information required
by this Item. Our current risk factors are set forth in our Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 2, 2023.
Item
2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None.
Item
3. Defaults upon Senior Securities
None.
Item
4. Mine and Safety Disclosure
Not
applicable.
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