Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2024

Loss Contingency [Abstract]

Contingencies

8. Contingencies

As part of the global settlement with Steward discussed in Note 3, upon completion of the transfers to the new operators and satisfaction of certain other conditions, in addition to approval by relevant state and local regulators, each of the Company and Steward have agreed, subject to specified exceptions, to the mutual release of claims against each other, including payment by Steward of any accrued or future rent under its master leases with the Company and accrued or future payments of principal and interest on outstanding loans from the Company. Steward’s asset backed lenders also forfeited their right to cause the Company to purchase up to $60 million of bridge loans made to Steward during the first quarter of 2024. In connection with the global settlement with Steward and reciprocal release of claims, the Company had an approximate $31 million liability at December 31, 2024, for property taxes, other property related expenses, and other obligations due to third parties.

We are party to various lawsuits as described below:

Securities and Derivative Litigation

On April 13, 2023, we and certain of our executives were named as defendants in a putative federal securities class action lawsuit alleging false and/or misleading statements and/or omissions resulted in artificially inflated prices for our common stock, filed by a purported stockholder in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (Case No. 2:23-cv-00486). The complaint seeks class certification on behalf of purchasers of our common stock between July 15, 2019 and February 22, 2023 and unspecified damages including interest and an award of reasonable costs and expenses. This class action complaint was amended on September 22, 2023 and alleges that we made material misstatements or omissions relating to the financial health of certain of our tenants. On September 26, 2024, the Court dismissed the amended complaint with prejudice, and the plaintiff thereafter moved the Court to alter its judgment. That motion has been fully briefed and is currently pending before the Court.

Members of our Board of Directors were also named as defendants in two related shareholder derivative lawsuits filed by purported stockholders in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama on October 19, 2023 (Case No. 2:23- cv-01415) and December 7, 2023 (Case No. 2:23-cv-01667). The Company was named as a nominal defendant in both complaints. These shareholder derivative complaints both make allegations similar to those made in the Alabama securities lawsuit described above relating to purported material misstatements or omissions relating to the financial health of certain of our tenants. These derivative actions have been consolidated and stayed pending further developments in the Alabama securities lawsuit. Members of our Board of Directors were also named as defendants in three related shareholder derivative lawsuits filed by purported stockholders in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland on February 16, 2024 (Case No. 1:24-cv-00471), June 28, 2024 (Case No. 1:24-cv-01899), and July 26, 2024 (Case No. 1 24-cv-02173). The Company was named as a nominal defendant. These shareholder derivative complaints make allegations similar to those made in the Alabama securities and derivative lawsuits described above relating to purported material misstatements or omissions relating to the financial health of certain of our tenants. Defendants have not been required to respond to these complaints pending further developments in the Alabama securities lawsuit.

On September 29, 2023, we and certain of our executives were named as defendants in a putative federal securities class action lawsuit filed by a purported stockholder in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Case No. 1:23-cv- 08597). The complaint seeks class certification on behalf of purchasers of our common stock between May 23, 2023 and August 17, 2023 and alleges false and/or misleading statements and/or omissions in connection with certain transactions involving Prospect. This class action complaint was amended on October 30, 2024 and alleges that we made material misstatements or omissions in connection with certain transactions involving Prospect. Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint on January 14, 2025.

Members of our Board of Directors were also named as defendants in two related shareholder derivative lawsuits filed by purported stockholders in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on December 18, 2023 (Case No. 1:23-cv- 10934) and March 1, 2024 (Case No. 1:24-cv-01589). The Company was named as a nominal defendant in both complaints. These shareholder derivative complaints both make allegations similar to those made in the New York securities lawsuit described

above relating to purported false and/or misleading statements and/or omissions in connection with certain transactions involving Prospect. The two cases have been consolidated and stayed pending further developments in the New York securities lawsuit described above. On February 21, 2024, members of our Board of Directors were named as defendants in a shareholder derivative lawsuit filed by a purported stockholder in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland (Case No. 1:24-cv-00527). The Company was named as a nominal defendant. This shareholder derivative complaint makes allegations similar to those made in the New York securities and derivative lawsuits described above relating to purported false and/or misleading statements and/or omissions in connection with certain transactions involving Prospect. This action has been stayed pending further developments in the New York securities action described above.

We believe these claims are without merit and intend to defend the remaining open cases vigorously. We have not recorded a liability related to the lawsuits above because, at this time, we are unable to determine whether an unfavorable outcome is probable or to estimate reasonably possible losses.

Defamation Litigation

On March 30, 2023, we commenced an action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (Case No. 2:23-cv-00408), against short-seller Viceroy Research LLC ("Viceroy") and its members. We were seeking injunctive relief and damages for defamation, civil conspiracy, tortious interference, private nuisance, and unjust enrichment based on defamatory statements expressed against us. On June 29, 2023, we won a preliminary ruling in this lawsuit after Viceroy's motion to dismiss the case was denied by a judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. On December 18, 2024, we reached an agreement with Viceroy and its members to mutually settle and dismiss this defamation lawsuit.

From time-to-time, we are a party to other legal proceedings, claims, or regulatory inquiries and investigations arising out of, or incidental to, our business. While we are unable to predict with certainty the outcome of any particular matter, in the opinion of management, after consultation with legal counsel, the ultimate liability, if any, with respect to those proceedings is not presently expected to materially affect our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.