Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	10. 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. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, right of use assets were $365,324 and $427,652, and related lease obligations were $444,720 and $516,763, as recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company made approximately $101,100 and $25,100 of cash payments for lease expenses related to the office space for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. *Other -* PDN China’s bank account with a balance of approximately $195,000, at December 31, 2022, was frozen by Guangzhou Police due to the Gatewang Case. The Company has classified this entire cash balance as a long-term assets presented in discontinued operations (see Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Discontinued Operations). *Legal Proceedings* In a letter dated October 12, 2017, White Winston Select Asset Funds (“White Winston”) threatened to assert claims against the Company in excess of $2 million based on White Winston’s contention that the Company’s conduct delayed White Winston’s ability to sell shares in the Company during a period when the Company’s stock price was generally falling. On October 28, 2020, the Company and White Winston reached a settlement agreement, in which the Company made a cash payment of $250,000 on October 29, 2020 and a second cash payment of $350,000 was paid on February 16, 2021. In addition, the Company issued 75,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in January 2021. On June 7, 2022, the Company settled a lawsuit whereby NAPW Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, was named as a defendant in a Nassau County (NY) Supreme Court case [NAPW Case index No. LT 000421/2018; NAPW’s former Garden City, NY, office], and whereby TL Franklin Avenue Plaza LLC had sued and obtained a judgment against NAPW in the amount of $855,002, plus accrued interest through the settlement date. The settlement was for a cash payment of $70,000 to be made to the plaintiff, resulting in the reduction of the Company’s reserve and a one-time, non-cash gain to the Company of $908,564 reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. A stipulation for settlement was filed with the court on June 7, 2022, and the lawsuit was effectively terminated with prejudice upon such filing. 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 on June 20, 2018, and alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and certain provisions of the New York Labor Law. Plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages and equitable relief. 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. The matter is in the final stages of discovery, and we have completed depositions of relevant witnesses. During the first quarter of 2020, the Company recorded a $450,000 litigation settlement reserve in the event of an unfavorable outcome in this proceeding. In November 2020, both parties entered into mediation proceedings, but a settlement was not reached. While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused delays to the litigation, it is expected that these delays will decrease as the disruption caused by the pandemic subsides. *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.

Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

10. 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.

As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, right of use assets were $365,324 and $427,652, and related lease obligations were $444,720 and $516,763, as recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company made approximately $101,100 and $25,100 of cash payments for lease expenses related to the office space for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Other - PDN China’s bank account with a balance of approximately $195,000, at December 31, 2022, was frozen by Guangzhou Police due to the Gatewang Case. The Company has classified this entire cash balance as a long-term assets presented in discontinued operations (see Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Discontinued Operations).

Legal Proceedings

In a letter dated October 12, 2017, White Winston Select Asset Funds (“White Winston”) threatened to assert claims against the Company in excess of $2 million based on White Winston’s contention that the Company’s conduct delayed White Winston’s ability to sell shares in the Company during a period when the Company’s stock price was generally falling. On October 28, 2020, the Company and White Winston reached a settlement agreement, in which the Company made a cash payment of $250,000 on October 29, 2020 and a second cash payment of $350,000 was paid on February 16, 2021. In addition, the Company issued 75,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in January 2021.

On June 7, 2022, the Company settled a lawsuit whereby NAPW Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, was named as a defendant in a Nassau County (NY) Supreme Court case [NAPW Case index No. LT 000421/2018; NAPW’s former Garden City, NY, office], and whereby TL Franklin Avenue Plaza LLC had sued and obtained a judgment against NAPW in the amount of $855,002, plus accrued interest through the settlement date. The settlement was for a cash payment of $70,000 to be made to the plaintiff, resulting in the reduction of the Company’s reserve and a one-time, non-cash gain to the Company of $908,564 reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. A stipulation for settlement was filed with the court on June 7, 2022, and the lawsuit was effectively terminated with prejudice upon such filing.

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 on June 20, 2018, and alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and certain provisions of the New York Labor Law. Plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages and equitable relief. 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. The matter is in the final stages of discovery, and we have completed depositions of relevant witnesses. During the first quarter of 2020, the Company recorded a $450,000 litigation settlement reserve in the event of an unfavorable outcome in this proceeding. In November 2020, both parties entered into mediation proceedings, but a settlement was not reached. While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused delays to the litigation, it is expected that these delays will decrease as the disruption caused by the pandemic subsides.

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.