16. RELATED PARTIES

The Company paid commissions to a company owned by its Executive Chairman, such company is referred to as “FGI”, totaling $0 and $47,750, respectively, during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 for business development related to installations of EV charging stations by the Company in accordance with the support services contract. These amounts are recorded as compensation on the consolidated statements of operations. These amounts were paid pursuant to a Fee/Commission Agreement entered into by the Company and FGI on November 17, 2009.

FGI and the Company’s Chief Operating Officer (“COO”) have made certain claims for historical unpaid unquantifiable compensation pursuant to their Fee/Commission Agreements with the Company. During November 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors quantified the total claims to be approximately $475,000 for each party and, upon further analysis, determined the Company’s reasonable estimate of the aggregate liability is $445,000 (estimated as $277,000 payable in cash and $168,000 payable in stock options) which was accrued and is included within accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2016.

In addition, FGI has made a claim that expired warrants to purchase an aggregate of 5,733,335 shares of common stock should be replaced pursuant to an agreement with the Company. As of December 31, 2016, the fair value of the warrant claim is estimated to be approximately $553,000. The Company intends to vigorously defend itself with respect to this claim. 

The Company incurred accounting and tax service fees totaling $0 and $33,018, respectively for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, provided by a company that is partially owned by the Company’s former Chief Financial Officer. This expense was recorded as general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations.

See Note 11 - Notes Payable – Convertible and Other Notes – Related Party and Note 17 – Commitments and Contingencies – Patent License Agreement.