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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

NOTE 10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

We are subject to litigation that arises from time to time in the ordinary course of our business activities. In February 2019, the Company filed a patent infringement lawsuit, asserting that Stabil Drill Specialties, LLC’s (“Stabil Drill”) SmoothboreTM Eccentric Reamer infringes several patents of Extreme Technologies, LLC (one of our subsidiaries) on our patented Drill-N-Ream® well bore conditioning tool. This lawsuit is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. On May 12, 2021, the Court denied Stabil Drill’s motion for summary judgment of non-infringement. On May 23, 2022, the Court issued its Order on Claim Construction of the patents, adopting Extreme Technologies’ proffered interpretation on the disputed claim terms. On October 12, 2022, the Court granted Extreme’s motion for leave to add its exclusive licensee Hard Rock Solutions, LLC, as a necessary party and co-plaintiff. On February 13, 2023, the lawsuit was reassigned to United States District Judge Drew B. Tipton and United States Magistrate Judge Peter Bray. On August 29, 2023, Judge Tipton granted Extreme’s and Hard Rock’s motion for summary judgment striking Stabil Drill’s patent invalidity affirmative defenses. Discovery ended on August 31, 2021, and the parties have fully briefed dispositive and Daubert motions. The parties are preparing this case for trial and expect a jury trial setting in summer of 2024.

 

We are not currently involved in any other litigation which management believes could have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.