6. Commitments and Contingencies

Lease Obligations – The Company leases office space and equipment under various operating lease agreements, including an office for its headquarters, as well as office spaces for its events business, sales and administrative offices under non-cancelable lease arrangements that provide for payments on a graduated basis with various expiration dates.

Rent expense, amounting to approximately $94,000 and $162,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and approximately $407,000 and $445,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, is included in general and administrative expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Legal Proceedings

The Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, NAPW, Inc., are parties to a proceeding captioned In re Professional Diversity Network, Cases 31-CA-159810 and 31-CA-162904, filed with the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) in June 2015 and alleging violations of the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”) against the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, NAPW, Inc., where an employee was allegedly terminated for asserting rights under Section 7 of the NLRA. While the Company disputes that any rights were impacted, the NLRB has issued its order requiring the Company to take certain remedial actions in the form of posting notices and revising certain policies, as well as to pay the claimant certain back pay and offer reinstatement. The Company has complied with the order by posting notices, revising certain policies and offering the claimant reinstatement. In April of 2018 the Company settled the remaining backpay portion of the case.

The Company is a party to a proceeding captioned Paul Sutcliffe v. Professional Diversity Network, Inc., No. 533-2016-00033 (EEOC), filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) in April 2016 and alleging violations of Title VII and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, where an employee was allegedly terminated due to his race (Caucasian) and his age (over 40). The EEOC has not yet notified the Company that it has issued a right-to-sue letter, and the complainant has not yet filed a lawsuit.

In a letter dated October 12, 2017, White Winston Select Asset Funds (“White Winston”) threatened assertion of claims against the Company. The letter alleges that White Winston suffered $2,241,958 in damages as a result of the Company’s alleged conduct that caused a delay in White Winston’s ability to sell shares in the Company during a period when the Company’s stock price was generally falling. The Company investigated White Winston’s claims and communicated to White Winston that the Company denies liability for any such claims. White Winston filed an action, entitled White Winston Select Asset Funds, LLC v. Professional Diversity Network, Inc., No. 18-cv-10844, on April 30, 2018 in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts making similar claims and alleging that it suffered a loss of $1,708,233 as a result of the delay in selling shares. White Winston seeks to recover compensatory damages, double or treble damages under M.G.L. ch. 93A, and costs and attorneys’ fees. White Winston served its complaint on July 12, 2018. The court has granted the Company an extension to September 4, 2018 to answer or otherwise respond.

NAPW and PDN are two of the named Respondents in a Nassau County District Court Landlord/Tenant Summary Proceeding, and they have been sued by Hoegh Autoliners Inc, their former Landlord, having to do with a Jericho NY premises (the “Jericho Premises”). NAPW and PDN had sublet the Jericho Premises to a subtenant, who has agreed to repay to the Landlord the sums due in rent, to the date of vacancy. The Jericho Premises have been surrendered to the Landlord, and the Landlord has agreed to release both NAPW and PDN if the subtenant continues to make payments pursuant to the agreed upon payment schedule. The former Landlord has also released both NAPW and PDN from the balance of the Lease Term. The matter was settled amongst all of the parties by a written Stipulation of Settlement on May 31, 2018.

NAPW is a named Respondent in a Nassau County District Court Landlord/Tenant Summary Proceeding, and is being sued by TL Franklin Avenue Plaza LLC, the former Landlord of NAPW’s Garden City, NY premises, which has now been vacated. The Petitioner, TL Franklin Avenue Plaza LLC, has alleged that NAPW is in breach of its Lease Agreement, and the matter involves the payment of back rent owing to Petitioner. The matter was settled on May 30, 2018 by a written Stipulation of Settlement, whereby NAPW has agreed to make the payments to the former Landlord, which sums represent back rents due to the former Landlord.

NAPW is a defendant in a Nassau County (NY) Supreme Court case, whereby TL Franklin Avenue Plaza LLC has sued NAPW with respect to NAPW’s former Garden City NY Premises. NAPW had surrendered the Premises to the Landlord, and the Landlord is suing NAPW for the balance of the rent due under the Lease Term – which term is less than one year remaining. The case is currently being litigated, and we are currently in the pleadings phase of the litigation.

The Company is a party to a proceeding captioned Gerbie, et al. v. Professional Diversity Network, Inc. (U.S. Dist. Ct., N.D. Ill.), a putative class action alleging violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. This matter is in a very early stage and the Company is in the process of evaluating any potential exposure. However, the Company generally believes that its practices and procedures are compliant with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The Company plans to vigorously defend itself in court and simultaneously explore any reasonable settlement opportunities.

NAPW and PDN are two of the named Respondents in a Superior Court of New Jersey Proceeding, and they are being sued by Shore Digital LLC. The Petitioner in this matter, Shore Digital LLC is alleging that both NAPW and PDN are in breach of contract, and the matter involves the payment of the entire value of the contract plus counsel feels, interests, and costs owing to the Petitioner. The case is on-going, and discussions are taking place to assess the company’s options to settle the matter without further litigation.

The Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, NAPW, Inc., are parties to a proceeding captioned Deborah Bayne, et al. vs. NAPW, Inc. and Professional Diversity Network, Inc., No. 18-cv-3591 (E.D.N.Y.), filed in June of 2018 and alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and certain provisions of the New York Labor Law. The Company disputes that it or its subsidiary violated the applicable laws or that either entity has any liability and intends to vigorously defend against these claims. While any lawsuit involves inherent uncertainty, Management does not expect the resolution of this matter to have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition.

The Company is a party to a proceeding captioned Jacqueline M. Jefferson v. Noble Voice, No. 440-2018-06979 (EEOC), filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) on July 10, 2018 and alleging violations of Title VII and the Equal Pay Act of 1963, where an employee alleges she was terminated by the Company due to her age on May 25, 2018. Ms. Jefferson’s termination was as a result of the sale of the Noble Voice business on May 25, 2018. The Company is in the process of providing a response to the EEOC.

General Legal Matters

From time to time, the Company is involved in legal matters arising in the ordinary course of business. While the Company believes that such matters are currently not material, there can be no assurance that matters arising in the ordinary course of business for which the Company is, or could be, involved in litigation, will not have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition or results of operations.