Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Contingencies

Contingencies

The Company is named from time to time as a party to other legal proceedings, product liability, intellectual property disputes, commercial disputes, employee disputes, and contractual lawsuits. A liability and related charge are recorded to earnings in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for legal contingencies when the loss is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The assessment is re-evaluated each accounting period and is based on all available information, including discussion with outside legal counsel. If a reasonable estimate of a known or probable loss cannot be made, but a range of probable losses can be estimated, the low-end of the range of losses is recognized if no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other. If a material loss is reasonably possible, but not probable and can be reasonably estimated, the estimated loss or range of loss is disclosed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. The Company expenses legal fees as incurred. Certain of the cases below are still in the preliminary stages, and the Company is not able to quantify the extent of its potential liability, if any, other than as described. The outcome of litigation is inherently unpredictable and subject to significant uncertainties. If any of these matters are resolved adversely to the Company, this could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. In addition, defending these legal proceedings is likely to be costly, which may have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, and may divert management's attention from the day-to-day operations of its business.

On January 31, 2020, the Company filed a lawsuit against Lutronic Aesthetics in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. Lutronic employs numerous former Cutera employees. The complaint against Lutronic generally alleges claims for (1) misappropriation of trade secrets in violation of state and federal law; (2) violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ("RICO"); (3) interference with contractual relations; (4) interference with prospective economic advantage; (5) unfair competition; and (6) aiding and abetting. On March 13, 2020, the court entered a temporary restraining order ("TRO") against Lutronic generally prohibiting it from using or disseminating the Company's confidential, proprietary, or trade secret information. The order also prohibits Lutronic, for two years, from using such information for the purpose of soliciting, or conducting business with, certain specified customers. On April 9, 2020, the parties stipulated to the entry of a preliminary injunction providing for the same relief afforded by the TRO. On August 4, 2022, Cutera filed a second amended complaint. In addition to the above referenced claims, Cutera alleged claims for violation of the Lanham Act, unlawful business practices, false advertising and trademark infringement. Discovery is ongoing. No trial date has been scheduled.

In March 2023, Serendia, LLC (“Serendia”), filed patent infringement complaints against the Company with the International Trade Commission (“ITC”) and in U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware alleging infringement of six Serendia patents by the Secret RF and Secret Pro systems, which the Company distributes in the U.S. on behalf of ILOODA Co. Ltd., a Korean company. If, following a successful third-party action for infringement, the Company cannot obtain a license for its products, the Company may have to stop selling the applicable products.

On April 11, 2023, J. Daniel Plants, the Company’s former Executive Chairperson, and David Mowry, the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer, filed a complaint in the Delaware Court of Chancery against directors Gregory Barrett, Sheila Hopkins, Timothy O’Shea, Juliane Park and Janet Widmann, as defendants, and the Company, as nominal defendant (the “Delaware Litigation”) seeking a declaration that the individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties and enjoining them from enforcing the nomination deadline under the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws in connection with the 2023

annual meeting of stockholders, or in the alternative, a declaration that the Company must hold a special meeting of the stockholders on June 2, 2023. Mr. Plants and Mr. Mowry filed a motion for expedited proceedings with their complaint. Mr. Plants and Mr. Mowry subsequently agreed that the determination made by the Special Committee of the Board to hold a special meeting of the stockholders on June 9, 2023 mooted their request in the Delaware Litigation for a declaration that the Company hold a special meeting of the stockholders. On April 18, 2023, the Court of Chancery denied Mr. Plants and Mr. Mowry’s motion for expedited proceedings.

As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had accrued $0.8 million and $0.5 million, respectively, related to various pending commercial and product liability lawsuits. The Company does not believe that a material loss in excess of accrued amounts is reasonably likely.