Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2021

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. Seaguard is seeking reimbursement of its attorneys’ fees and expenses. The Arbitrator has deferred scheduling, until late February 2022, the balance of the bifurcated arbitration which principally relates to patent infringement claims against the Company; however, the Company has an indemnification from its supplier with respect to the alleged infringing products. A schedule has not been established for the issuance of a final arbitration award. The Company is reviewing its legal options, and has moved in the arbitration proceeding to modify the interim award and if unsuccessful, the Company will seek to have a court vacate, modify, or correct the interim award. At November 30, 2021, the Company has recorded a charge of $39,444 within Other (expense) income in the accompanying Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income. No accrual or reserve was included in the Company’s previously issued financial statements based on an assessment that an award of damages in the arbitration proceeding would not be material and that the amount as determined by the Arbitrator’s award was not probable. 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.