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Contingencies
3 Months Ended
May 31, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Contingencies

(24) Contingencies

The Company is currently, and has in the past, been a party to various routine legal proceedings incident to the ordinary course of business. If management determines, based on the underlying facts and circumstances of each matter, that it is probable a loss will result from a litigation contingency and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, the estimated loss is accrued for.

The products the Company sells are continually changing as a result of improved technology. As a result, although the Company and its suppliers attempt to avoid infringing known proprietary rights, the Company may be subject to legal proceedings and claims for alleged infringement by patent, trademark, or other intellectual property owners. Any claims relating to the infringement of third-party proprietary rights, even if not meritorious, could result in costly litigation, divert management’s attention and resources, or require the Company to either enter into royalty or license agreements that are not advantageous to the Company, or pay material amounts of damages.

 

In March 2007, the Company entered into a contract with Seaguard Electronics, LLC (“Seaguard”) relating to the Company’s purchase from Seaguard of a stolen vehicle recovery product and back-end services. In August 2018, Seaguard filed a demand for arbitration against the Company with the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) alleging claims for breach of contract and patent infringement. Seaguard originally sought damages of approximately $10,000 and on the seventh day of an eight-day fact witness portion of the arbitration in June 2021, amended its damages demand to $40,000, which was effected by the service of Claimant’s notice dated July 14, 2021.

 

On November 29, 2021, the Arbitrator issued an interim award (the “Interim Award”) with Seaguard prevailing on its breach of contract claim. The Company’s affirmative defenses relating to those claims, however, were denied in their entirety. Seaguard was awarded damages in the amount of $39,444 against the Company. On March 3, 2022, the Arbitrator issued a Partial Final Award on Bifurcated Issue in the amount of $39,444, plus $798 for its attorneys’ fees and costs. On March 11, 2022, the Arbitrator fixed the schedule of the patent portion of the bifurcated arbitration, with a trial date set for October 16, 2023. The Company has put its suppliers on notice of its indemnification rights with respect to the alleged infringing products.

 

On March 14, 2022, Seaguard filed a Petition in the United States District Court, Central District of California, Western Division, to confirm the Partial Final Award. On April 25, 2022, the Company filed its opposition to Seaguard’s Petition to Confirm and a Counter-Petition to Vacate the Partial Final Award. On May 31, 2022, the Court ordered the matter taken under submission for decision without oral hearing.

 

During Fiscal 2022, the Company recorded an accrual for the interim arbitration award in the amount of $39,444. During the three months ended May 31, 2022, the Company accrued an additional charge of $986 representing interest due on the award when paid. At May 31, 2022, the Company has a total accrued balance of $40,431 on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet related to the interim arbitration award. The Company made its accrual determination in accordance with reports and evaluations from its damages expert, as well as from the guidance and opinion letters received from the Company’s trial attorneys.