Quantum Biopharma in Court With Dr. Raza Bokhari on January 24, 2025 Seeking a Court Order to Declare Him to Be a Vexatious Litigant and Other Litigation Updates

Rhea-AI Summary

Quantum BioPharma (NASDAQ:QNTM) announced upcoming court proceedings against former CEO Dr. Raza Bokhari on January 24, 2025, seeking to declare him a vexatious litigant. The company has previously won multiple legal battles against Bokhari, who was terminated for cause in July 2021, resulting in approximately $3 million in awards in favor of Quantum BioPharma.

An arbitrator dismissed Bokhari's wrongful dismissal claim and awarded the company CDN$2.81 million plus interest. Additional court costs awarded include $175,000 from Justice Conway and $5,000 from the Court of Appeal. The U.S. District Court granted judgment in favor of Quantum BioPharma, including various monetary awards with interest rates ranging from 4% to 6%. Bokhari has appealed this judgment and provided a supersedeas bond for USD $2,882,441.48 pending the United States Court of Appeals decision.

Positive

• Favorable arbitration award of CDN$2.81 million plus interest
• Additional court cost awards totaling $180,000
• Successful judgment confirmation in U.S. District Court
• Secured supersedeas bond of USD $2.88 million during appeal process

Negative

• Ongoing legal proceedings consuming company resources
• Appeal process delaying collection of awarded damages

Insights

Legal Expert

The ongoing legal battle between Quantum BioPharma and former CEO Dr. Raza Bokhari represents a significant monetary value of approximately $3 million in awarded damages and costs. The company's pursuit of a vexatious litigant declaration is a strategic move to prevent further litigation costs and management distraction.

The multiple court victories, including the arbitrator's dismissal of wrongful dismissal claims and subsequent cost awards, strongly favor Quantum BioPharma. The secured supersedeas bond of $2,882,441.48 is particularly noteworthy as it guarantees the company's ability to collect damages once appeals are exhausted. The interest rates of 4% and 6% on various judgments continue to accumulate, increasing the total recoverable amount.

The international scope of enforcement, involving both Canadian and U.S. courts, demonstrates a comprehensive legal strategy to ensure collection. The Pennsylvania District Court's confirmation of the arbitration award significantly strengthens the company's position for eventual recovery.

Financial Analyst

This legal development has positive implications for Quantum BioPharma's financial position. The potential recovery of $3 million represents approximately 45.8% of the company's current market capitalization of $6.55 million. The secured supersedeas bond effectively eliminates collection risk, making this a guaranteed future cash inflow pending final appeals.

The daily interest accruals of $462.61 CAD on the largest judgment portion continue to enhance the total recoverable amount. This additional liquidity, once received, could significantly strengthen the company's balance sheet and provide capital for its drug development programs in neurodegenerative, metabolic and alcohol misuse disorders.

The market should view this positively as it represents a substantial non-dilutive capital source. The vexatious litigant declaration, if granted, would reduce future legal expenses and management distraction, allowing better focus on core business operations.

Awards in favour of Quantum BioPharma Total Approximately $3 Million

TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / January 17, 2025 / Quantum BioPharma Ltd. (NASDAQ:QNTM)(CSE:QNTM)(FRA:0K91) (Upstream: QNTM) ("Quantum BioPharma" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to building a portfolio of innovative assets and biotech solutions for the treatment of challenging neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders and alcohol misuse disorders with drug candidates in different stages of development, today announced that it will be back in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on January 24, 2025. Quantum BioPharma is seeking a Court Order declaring Dr. Raza Bokhari, current CEO of Medicus Pharma, Ltd., to be a vexatious litigant. Dr. Raza Bokhari was CEO of FSD Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ:HUGE) (CSE:HUGE) now Quantum BioPharma, in 2019 and was terminated for cause in July 2021.

As previously disclosed in Quantum BioPharma's news releases issued May 11, 2023, October 4, 2023 and February 5, 2024 (https://feeds.issuerdirect.com/news-release.html?newsid=4924606685100137), Arbitrator Cunningham dismissed Dr. Bokhari's claim that the Company had wrongfully dismissed him, awarding FSD Pharma approximately CDN$2.81 million in costs of the arbitration plus interest. Also, $175,000 in costs were awarded by Justice Conway in respect of the set aside application, and $5,000 in costs were awarded by the Court of Appeal in respect of Dr. Raza Bokhari's failed motion for leave to appeal. Dr. Raza Bokhari filed a re-consideration motion with the Court of Appeal of Ontario which is pending.

Quantum BioPharma filed and served a Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to formally begin the process to collect the monies awarded from Dr. Raza Bokhari. An Order was granted and Judgment was entered in favor of FSD Pharma, now Quantum BioPharma, and against respondent Dr. Raza Bokhari on June 27, 2024 as follows: 1. USD $147,301.04 plus interest at a rate of 4% per annum from November 9,2022, until the date the Judgment is satisfied, accruing interest of USD $16.14 per day; 2. CAD $31,912.55 plus interest at a rate of 4% per annum from November 9,2022, until the date the Judgment is satisfied, accruing interest of CAD $3.49 per day; 3. CAD $15,000, plus interest at a rate of 4% per annum from March 1, 2023,until the date the Judgment is satisfied, accruing interest of CAD $1.64 per day; and 4. CAD $2,814,229.15, plus interest at a rate of 6% per annum from May 7, 2023 until the date the Judgment is satisfied, accruing interest of CAD $462.61 per day. Dr. Raza Bokhari also appealed this Order and Judgment and was granted stay and provided the supersedeas bond for USD $2,882,441.48 through the date of the issuance of the mandate by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Judgment by the United States Court of Appeals is pending.

About Quantum BioPharma Ltd.

Quantum BioPharma is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to building a portfolio of innovative assets and biotech solutions for the treatment of challenging neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders and alcohol misuse disorders with drug candidates in different stages of development. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Lucid Psycheceuticals Inc. ("Lucid"), Quantum BioPharma is focused on the research and development of its lead compound, Lucid-MS. Lucid-MS is a patented new chemical entity shown to prevent and reverse myelin degradation, the underlying mechanism of multiple sclerosis, in preclinical models. Quantum BioPharma invented UNBUZZD™ and spun out its OTC version to a company, Celly Nutrition Corp. ("Celly Nutrition"), led by industry veterans. Quantum BioPharma retains ownership of 25.71% (as of June 30, 2024) of Celly Nutrition at www.unbuzzd.com. The agreement with Celly Nutrition also includes royalty payments of 7% of sales from unbuzzd ™ until payments to Quantum BioPharma total $250 million. Once $250 million is reached, the royalty drops to 3% in perpetuity. Quantum BioPharma retains 100% of the rights to develop similar products or alternative formulations specifically for pharmaceutical and medical uses. Quantum BioPharma maintains a portfolio of strategic investments through its wholly owned subsidiary, FSD Strategic Investments Inc., which represents loans secured by residential or commercial property.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements related to such.

Forward-looking information in this press release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events.

These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to additional information relating to Quantum BioPharma, including its annual information form, can be located on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca and on the EDGAR section of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward- looking information, except as required by applicable law.

Contacts:

Quantum BioPharma Ltd.
Zeeshan Saeed, Founder, CEO and Executive Co-Chairman of the Board
Email: Zsaeed@quantumbiopharma.com
Telephone: (833) 571-1811
Investor Relations
Email: ir@quantumbiopharma.com, info@quantumbiopharma.com
Website: www.quantumbiopharma.com

SOURCE: Quantum BioPharma Ltd.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

FAQ

What is the total amount awarded to Quantum BioPharma (QNTM) in the litigation against Dr. Raza Bokhari?

The total awards in favor of Quantum BioPharma amount to approximately $3 million, including CDN$2.81 million in arbitration costs plus interest, and additional court costs of $175,000 and $5,000.

When will Quantum BioPharma (QNTM) appear in court regarding the vexatious litigant declaration?

Quantum BioPharma will appear in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on January 24, 2025, seeking a Court Order to declare Dr. Raza Bokhari a vexatious litigant.

What is the value of the supersedeas bond provided by Dr. Bokhari in the QNTM legal case?

Dr. Bokhari provided a supersedeas bond for USD $2,882,441.48 through the date of the issuance of the mandate by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

What interest rates were awarded in the U.S. District Court judgment for QNTM?

The judgment included interest rates of 4% per annum on certain amounts and 6% per annum on the CAD $2,814,229.15 amount until the date the judgment is satisfied.