COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
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9 Months Ended |
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Sep. 30, 2012
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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
NOTE 9—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Litigation The Company discloses material loss contingencies deemed to be reasonably possible and accrues for loss contingencies when, in consultation with its legal advisors, management concludes that a loss is probable and reasonably estimable. The ability to predict the ultimate outcome of such matters involves judgments, estimates, and inherent uncertainties. The actual outcome of such matters could differ materially from management’s estimates. Intellectual Property On April 24, 2012, CAO Group, Inc. (“CAO”) filed a lawsuit against the Company in the United States District Court for the District of Utah, Central Division, alleging patent infringement of U.S. Patent No. 7,485,116 involving the Company’s ezLase diode laser. On September 12, 2012, CAO filed a First Amended Complaint, which added claims for (1) business disparagement/injurious falsehood and (2) unfair competition. The new claims are based on a press release that the Company issued on or about April 30, 2012, which CAO alleges contain statements that are factually inaccurate and falsities that are disparaging to CAO and its diode product. The First Amended Complaint seeks unspecified damages, punitive damages, injunctive relief, treble damages, costs, interest, and attorneys’ fees. On September 14, 2012, the Company filed an inter partes reexamination request with respect to the asserted patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The Company’s response to the First Amended Complaint is due on November 13, 2012. Management plans to vigorously defend against the allegations. Other Matters In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to other legal proceedings, lawsuits and other claims. Although the ultimate aggregate amount of probable monetary liability or financial impact with respect to these matters is subject to many uncertainties and is therefore not predictable with assurance, management believes that any monetary liability or financial impact to the Company from these other matters, individually and in the aggregate, would not be material to the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, there can be no assurance with respect to such result, and monetary liability or financial impact to the Company from these other matters could differ materially from those projected. |