NOTE 11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

On January 28, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed an Order Instituting Administrative Proceedings and Notice of Hearing Pursuant to Section 12(j) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to suspend for a period not exceeding twelve months or revoke the registration of each class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act of the Company. The Division of Enforcement at the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Division”) filed a Motion for Summary Disposition in this matter and the Company filed a Response to the Motion for Summary Disposition in April 2022. On May 5, 2022, the Division filed its Response in Support of its Motion for Summary Disposition. On April 18, 2023, the Company was ordered to submit a brief by May 16, 2023, regarding the Company’s remedial efforts since these proceedings were instituted. The Company submitted the brief, the Division responded to the brief, and we responded to the Division on July 28, 2023. The ultimate outcome of the proceeding is unknown and could result in the termination of the Exchange Act registration of the Company’s common stock pursuant to Section 12(j) of the Exchange Act.

The Company and Petrolia Canada Corporation (“Petrolia Canada”), an affiliate of Petrolia, filed a lawsuit in the 133^rd Judicial District Court, Harris County Texas (Cause No. 2022-15278), against Jovian Petroleum Corporation, Zel Khan (“Khan”) and Quinten Beasley (“Beasley”) (collectively, the “Defendants”).

In the petition against the Defendants, Petrolia and Petrolia Canada alleged causes of action for fraud and breach of contract against all the named Defendants and breach of fiduciary duty claims against Defendants Zel Khan and Quinten Beasley. Defendant Zel Khan was a former CEO and Director of Petrolia, and Defendant Quinten Beasley was a former Senior Vice President and Director of Petrolia Canada.

Petrolia and Petrolia Canada demanded a jury trial and are seeking monetary relief of more than $1 million against the Defendants.

In April and May 2022, each of the Defendants filed an Original Answer, generally denying all of the allegations of Petrolia and Petrolia Canada.

Subsequently, in September 2022, Defendants filed an amended answer and counterclaims. Pursuant to the amended answer, Defendants generally denied the allegations of Petrolia and Petrolia Canada and are seeking indemnification under the Company’s governing documents and statutory provisions.

Beasley is seeking repayment of the outstanding balance of $5,000 plus accrued interest ($4,710) allegedly owed to him by the Company in connection with a promissory note entered into with the Company on July 14, 2016.

In September 2022, Joel Oppenheim (“Oppenheim”) and Critical Update, Inc., owned by Beasley (“Critical Update” and collectively with Oppenheim, the “Intervenors”), filed a Petition in Intervention. Oppenheim alleges that he advanced at least $797,000 to the Company from 2015 to 2019 (including $416,900 alleged owed under a loan agreement) and that he also provided various certificates of deposit to the Company in the aggregate amount of $258,251. Oppenheim is seeking return of amounts advanced with interest, a declaratory judgment establishing the amount of Company stock and warrants owed to him, and attorney’s fees. Separately, Critical Update is seeking $120,000 CAD alleged owed to it in consideration for services rendered to Petrolia Canada, plus interest and attorney’s fees.

On October 11, 2022, Petrolia and Petrolia Canada filed a general denial of all the Defendants’ counterclaims.

Subsequently, on December 6, 2022, Oppenheim filed a motion for severance asking the court to sever his breach of loan agreement claim from the other claims in this lawsuit and adjudicate the claim as Cause No. 2022-15278-B. The same day, Oppenheim also filed a motion for partial summary judgment on his breach of loan agreement claim. On December 22, 2022, Oppenheim filed a separate lawsuit and application for temporary injunction (Cause No. 2022-83054) in the 157^th Judicial District Court, Harris County Texas against the Company and Petrolia Canada and their individual board members. That action is a shareholder derivative lawsuit filed against the Company alleging, among other things, breach of duty of loyalty and breach of duty of obedience, as well as seeking to compel a shareholder meeting and seeking expedited discovery. On December 30, 2022, Jovian Petroleum Corporation filed a petition in intervention to join this newly filed lawsuit.

In January 2023, Petrolia and Petrolia Canada filed a motion to strike the intervention of Oppenheim and on February 3, 2023, Oppenheim filed a response to that motion arguing that such intervention is proper.

On February 9, 2023, Edna Meyer-Nelson, Suzanne Klein, and Laura S. Ward (the “First Additional Intervenors”), each a shareholder of the Company, filed a separate Petition in Intervention to join in Oppenheim’s derivative suit against the Company. This Petition has since been withdrawn.

On March 2, 2023, Dr. Marvin Chasen and Billie Mae Chasen (the “Second Additional Intervenors”, and together with the First Additional Intervenor), filed a separate Petition in Intervention to join in Oppenheim’s derivative suit against the Company.

The Additional Intervenors are seeking an order compelling an annual shareholder meeting of the Company; a temporary injunction requiring the Defendants to hold an annual and special meeting of the shareholders of the Company within 30 days to elect directors of the Company and conduct such other proper business as may come before it; a temporary injunction enjoining the Defendant Directors from voting their Series B Preferred Shares; an order combining the hearing on the temporary injunction with a trial on the merits; expedited discovery; and upon final trial, the Additional Intervenors are requesting: (i) rescission of the Series B Preferred Stock; (ii) forfeiture of all compensation paid to the Defendant Directors by the Company after the Series B Preferred Stock issuance; (iii) actual damages in an amount to be proven at trial; (iv) exemplary damages sufficient to deter the directors of other Texas corporations from disenfranchising a corporation’s shareholders, as alleged by the Additional Intervenors; (v) attorneys’ fees and expenses; and (vi) such other and further relief to which Additional Intervenors are entitled.

The outcome of the above litigation is currently unknown; however, the Company disputes the Defendants’ counterclaims and the allegations of the Intervenors and intends to defend the matter vigorously, while also continuing to seek all damages which it is due.

On March 16, 2022, Petrolia Canada Corporation received a Notice of Intention to Retain Collateral Pursuant to Section 62 of the Personal Property Security Act (Alberta) from the counsel of Blue Sky Resources Ltd. related to a Loan Agreement and General Security Agreement between Petrolia Canada Corporation and Emmett Lescroart. Petrolia Canada Corporation was notified that Blue Sky Resources Ltd., as assignee of the Emmet Lescroart loan, intends to retain the Utikuma loan collateral pursuant to the General Security Agreement with Petrolia Canada Corporation. On March 30, 2022, Petrolia Canada Corporation’s counsel responded to Blue Sky Resources, Ltd. with a Notice of Objection.

On June 27, 2023, the Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta ordered that the Application Blue Sky filed to appoint a receiver and manager over the assets, undertakings, and properties of Petrolia Canada Corporation be adjourned sine die.

On January 23, 2023, Blue Sky Resources filed a Notice of Intention to Enforce Security related to a Loan Agreement dated December 1, 2021 between Petrolia Canada Corporation and Emmet Lescroart. PCC is actively opposing this Notice through its Canadian legal representation.

In June 2023, Blue Sky Resources filed an application with the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta seeking an order to appoint a receiver and manager over the assets of PCC to remedy a Loan Agreement BSR acquired from Emmett Lescroart. PCC is actively opposing this Application through its Canadian legal representation.

On October 3, 2023, the following three documents were filed with the Creek County, OK Clerk: Abstract of Judgment, Order for Severance, and Final Judgment, related to our SUDS asset in Oklahoma.

We do not believe that a loss is probable from these actions, and no estimate can currently be made for any possible loss. Our financial statements have not been adjusted for this contingency.