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Note 14 - Commitments and Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022
Notes to Financial Statements  
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE 14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

PPP Audit Contingency

 

In April 2020, we received $1.8 million on a Small Business Administration (SBA) Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan as provided for in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES), enacted into U.S. law in March 2020. Under certain conditions, the loan and accrued interest were forgivable, if the loan proceeds were used for maintaining workforce levels. The loan proceeds were used for maintaining workforce levels and the entire loan, and related accrued interest, was forgiven, in its entirety in January 2021. The SBA may audit any PPP loan at its discretion through January 2027, six years after the date the SBA forgave the loan. The SBA may review any or all of the following when auditing a PPP loan: whether the borrower qualified for the PPP loan, whether the PPP loan amount was appropriately calculated and the proceeds used for allowable purposes, and whether the loan forgiveness amount was appropriately determined. We could be deemed ineligible for the PPP loan received in 2020 upon audit by the SBA. We believe the SBA’s stated intention is to focus its reviews on borrowers with loans greater than $2 million, thereby mitigating our future risk of an audit. The SBA continues to develop and issue new and updated guidance regarding required borrower certifications and requirements for forgiveness of loans made under the program.

 

 

Employment Contracts and Severance Payments

 

In the normal course of business, we periodically enter into employment agreements which incorporate indemnification provisions. While the maximum amount to which we may be exposed under such agreements cannot be reasonably estimated, we maintain insurance coverage, which we believe will effectively mitigate our obligations under these indemnification provisions. No amounts have been recorded in our financial statements with respect to any obligations under such agreements.

 

We have employment contracts with certain officers and key management that include provisions for potential severance payments in the event of without-cause terminations or terminations under certain circumstances after a change in control. In addition, vesting of outstanding nonvested equity grants would accelerate following a change in control.

 

Legal Matters

 

From time to time, we are involved in litigation incidental to the conduct of our business. These matters may relate to employment and labor claims, patent and intellectual property claims, claims of alleged non-compliance with contract provisions and claims related to alleged violations of laws and regulations. When applicable, we record accruals for contingencies when it is probable that a liability will be incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. While the outcome of lawsuits and other proceedings against us cannot be predicted with certainty, in the opinion of management, individually or in the aggregate, no such lawsuits are expected to have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations. Defense costs are expensed as incurred and are included in professional fees.