XML 53 R28.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.25.0.1
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
On September 28, 2021, Aortic Innovations LLC, a non-practicing entity, filed a lawsuit against Edwards Lifesciences Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries (“Edwards”) in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware alleging that Edwards’ SAPIEN 3 Ultra product infringes certain of its patents. The Company is unable to predict the ultimate outcome of this matter or estimate a range of possible exposure; therefore, no amounts have been accrued. The Company is vigorously defending itself in this litigation.

The European Commission (the “Commission”) is investigating certain business practices of Edwards including its unilateral pro-innovation (anti-copycat) policy and patent practices. The Company is cooperating with the Commission and believes its business practices support healthy competition. The Company cannot predict the outcome of the investigation or the potential impact on its financial statements.

On March 22, 2024, Fortis Advisors, LLC, in its capacity as the designated representative of the former stockholders of Harpoon Medical, Inc. filed suit against the Company in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, alleging breach of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated December 8, 2015, by and between Harpoon Medical, Inc. and Edwards (the “Agreement”). Fortis seeks acceleration and payment of all contingent milestone payments in the Agreement. The trial is scheduled for December 2025. The Company is unable to predict the ultimate outcome of this matter or estimate a range of possible exposure; therefore, no amounts have been accrued. The Company is vigorously defending itself in this litigation.
On October 14, 2024, a purported stockholder of Edwards filed a putative securities class action complaint against the Company and certain of its executive officers in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, captioned Patel v. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, et al., No. 24-cv-02221. The complaint alleges violations of various securities laws based on alleged false or misleading statements regarding our business prospects. The complaint seeks damages, interest, costs and other fees. The Company is unable to predict the ultimate outcome of this matter or estimate a range of possible exposure; therefore, no amounts have been accrued. The Company intends to defend itself against the lawsuit vigorously.

The Company is or may be a party to, or may otherwise be responsible for, pending or threatened lawsuits including those related to products and services currently or formerly manufactured or performed, as applicable, by the Company, workplace and employment matters, matters involving real estate, the Company's operations or health care regulations, contingent consideration, commercial matters, or governmental investigations (the “Lawsuits”). The Lawsuits raise difficult and complex factual and legal issues and are subject to many uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the facts and circumstances of each particular case or claim, the jurisdiction in which each suit is brought, and differences in applicable law. Management does not believe that any loss relating to the Lawsuits would have a material adverse effect on the Company's overall financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, the resolution of one or more of the Lawsuits in any reporting period, could have a material adverse impact on the Company's financial results for that period. The Company is not able to estimate the amount or range of any loss for legal contingencies related to the Lawsuits for which there is no reserve or additional loss for matters already reserved.
The Company is subject to various environmental laws and regulations both within and outside of the United States. The Company's operations, like those of other medical device companies, involve the use of substances regulated under environmental laws, primarily in manufacturing and sterilization processes. While it is difficult to quantify the potential impact of continuing compliance with environmental protection laws, management believes that such compliance will not have a material impact on the Company's financial results. The Company's threshold for disclosing material environmental legal proceedings involving a governmental authority where potential monetary sanctions are involved is $1 million.