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Contingencies
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 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 prohibited 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. The Company filed a First Amended Complaint on September 14, 2020. On August 4, 2022, Cutera filed a second amended complaint. On April 24, 2023 Lutronic filed a complaint for trade libel, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, misappropriation of trade secrets and unfair business practices in violation of California Business and Professions Code §17200 against Cutera in California State Court. The Company has not yet been served in this case. 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. The Company is defending the lawsuits. Given the inherent uncertainties of litigation, the Company cannot guarantee that it will not be held liable for infringing one or more claims of Serendia patents. If the Company is held liable for infringement, it may be subject to monetary damages and/or an injunction prohibiting the applicable products in the United States.
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 to enjoin them from enforcing the nomination deadline under the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “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 in part Mr. Plants and Mr. Mowry’s motion for expedited proceedings.

On May 16, 2023, Mr. Mowry filed a letter with the Court of Chancery disclosing that he had resolved his dispute with the defendants and agreed to dismiss his claims with prejudice. On May 17, 2023, the Court of Chancery granted an order for voluntary dismissal of Mr. Mowry as a plaintiff in the Delaware Litigation. Mr. Plants subsequently publicly voiced opposition to certain aspects of the Company's corporate governance and strategy but did not submit a notice of nomination of director candidates for the Company’s 2023 annual meeting of stockholders and did not purport to nominate any director candidates at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders held on July 13, 2023. On August 7, 2023, the defendants filed a motion for an order to show cause why the Delaware Litigation should not be dismissed with prejudice. The Delaware litigation remains pending.
On May 24, 2023, purported shareholder Erie County Employees’ Retirement System filed a putative class action securities fraud complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against the Company, David H. Mowry, Rohan Seth, and J. Daniel Plants, asserting claims for violation of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The California litigation remains pending.
As of June 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, the Company had accrued $0.6 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.