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Legal Matters
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Legal Matters 
Legal Matters

 

 

Note H. Legal Matters

 

From time to time, the Company is a party to routine litigation and proceedings in the ordinary course of business.  Except as described below, the Company is not aware of any current or pending litigation in which the Company is or may be a party that it believes could materially adversely affect the results of operations or financial condition.

 

The Company is party to various claims and suits pending for alleged damages to persons and property, alleged violations of certain laws and alleged liabilities arising out of matters occurring during the normal operation of its business.

 

In accordance with ASC 450-20, the Company accrues for legal proceedings when losses become probable and reasonably estimable. As of the end of each applicable reporting period, the Company reviews each of its legal proceedings to determine whether it is probable, reasonably possible or remote that a liability has been incurred and, if it is at least reasonably possible, whether a range of loss can be reasonably estimated under the provisions of ASC 450-20-25-2. In instances where the Company determines that a loss is probable and the Company can reasonably estimate a range of losses the Company may incur with respect to such a matter, the Company records an accrual for the amount within the range that constitutes its best estimate of the possible loss. If the Company is able to reasonably estimate a range but no amount within the range appears to be a better estimate than any other, the Company records an accrual in the amount that is the low end of such range. When a loss is reasonably possible but not probable, the Company will not record an accrual but will disclose its estimate of the possible range of loss where such estimate can be made in accordance with ASC 450-20-25-3. As of September 30, 2011, the Company had accrued approximately $0.4 million related to the FuelCell Arbitration noted below.  There were no other accruals established related to the Company’s outstanding legal proceedings at September 30, 2011.

 

The Company offers no prediction of the outcome of any of the proceedings or negotiations described below. The Company is vigorously defending each of these lawsuits and claims. However, there can be no guarantee the Company will prevail or that any judgments against it, if sustained on appeal, will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

FuelCell Arbitration.  On February 17, 2011, FuelCell Energy, Inc. (“FuelCell Energy”) filed a Demand for Arbitration with the American Arbitration Association seeking recovery of damages related to allegedly defective transformers that the Company procured for them.  In its Demand for Arbitration, FuelCell Energy asserts that it is entitled to recovery of approximately $2.8 million from the Company.  On October 27, 2011, the Company and FuelCell Energy reached a settlement in regards to these claims. The Company, among other considerations, agreed to pay FuelCell Energy approximately $225,000.  In addition, the Company guaranteed discounts on future purchases of approximately $160,000.  These amounts have been included in the Company’s result of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011.

 

Class Action Litigation.  In July 2011, two purported securities class action complaints were filed against us, our Chief Executive Officer and our former Chief Financial Officer by the following plaintiffs, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, in the U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts: Allan Edwards (filed July 19, 2011) and Larry Ziegler (filed July 21, 2011).  The virtually identical complaints are purportedly brought on behalf of persons who acquired our common stock during the period of March 4, 2010, through July 5, 2011, and allege claims against all defendants for violations under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, as well as claims against the individual defendants for violations of Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act.  Putative plaintiffs claim that the defendants caused our common stock to trade at artificially inflated prices through false and misleading statements and/or omissions related to our business.  The complaints seek compensatory damages for all damages sustained as a result of the defendants’ actions, including reasonable costs and expenses, and other relief as the court may deem just and proper.  The Company believe these allegations are baseless and the Company intends to defend against them vigorously.

 

Shareholder Derivative Litigation.  On August 2, 2011, a shareholder derivative action was brought by plaintiff purportedly on behalf of our company against several of our senior officers and directors, in the U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts.  The complaint alleges that the officer and director defendants breached their fiduciary duties by providing allegedly misleading and inaccurate information regarding our business.  The shareholder derivative action generally seeks compensatory damages for all alleged losses sustained as a result of the individual defendants’ actions, including reasonable costs and expenses, and other relief as the court may deem just and proper.  The Company believe that these allegations are baseless and the Company intends to defend against them vigorously.