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(9) Litigation
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Notes to Financial Statements  
(9) Litigation

 

The Internal and Government Investigations

As previously disclosed, both the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York (“USAO”) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) commenced investigations of the Company in October, 2010, in response to the Company’s announcement that it had accepted the resignation of ReiJane Huai, its President and Chief Executive Officer, and the Chairman of its Board of Directors, following his disclosure to the Company that certain improper payments allegedly were made in connection with the Company’s licensing of software to one customer.

The Company conducted its own investigation into the matter and cooperated with the USAO and SEC investigations.

On June 27, 2012, the Company announced that it had entered into settlements with the USAO and the SEC.

The Company entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) with the USAO. Under the DPA, the USAO agrees that it will defer prosecution of the Company in connection with the matter, and ultimately not prosecute the Company if the Company satisfies its obligations during the 18 month term of the DPA. The DPA acknowledges the remedial actions taken by the Company in response to its discovery of the improper payments and does not require the Company to make any additional control or compliance changes. Under the DPA, the Company will forfeit $2.9 million over eighteen months.

The Company agreed with the SEC to the entry of a Consent Judgment (CJ) to settle a civil action filed by the SEC. Pursuant to the CJ, the Company agreed not to violate the anti-fraud and registration provisions of Sections 17(a)(2), 5(a) and 5(c) of the Securities Act of 1933, and the books and records provisions of Sections 13(b)(2)(A) and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company further agreed to pay a civil penalty of $2.9 million to the SEC.

As of June 30, 2012, the Company has paid a total of $2.9 million of the total $5.8 million for which the Company had previously accrued. In addition, in July 2012, the Company paid another $1.2 million with the balance of $1.7 million payable in December 2013.

Stockholder Litigation

The Company is a defendant in a class action lawsuit brought in United Stated District Court for the Eastern District of New York, by Company shareholders (the “Class Action”). The other defendants are James Weber, our former CFO and Vice President for Operations, and the estate of ReiJane Huai. Mr. Huai was the Company’s former Chairman, President and CEO.

The Class Action complaint alleges that the defendants defrauded shareholders by falsely certifying in the Company’s SEC filings that they had disclosed any fraud, whether or not material, that involved management or other employees who had a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. The Class Action complaint alleges that the defendants were in fact aware of fraud.

The Company has filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. That motion is now fully briefed.

Certain of the defendants may be entitled to indemnification by the Company under the laws of Delaware and/or our by-laws.

The Company cannot predict when the Class Action will be resolved or its outcome. While the Company has insurance policies that it believes covers the Company, at least in part, for the allegations of the Class Action, there can be no assurance that the amount of insurance will be adequate to cover the costs of its defense of the Class Action or any damages that might be awarded against the Company or any defendant(s) to whom we owe indemnification. The Company’s insurers may deny coverage under the policies. If the plaintiffs are awarded damages and the Company’s insurance is not adequate to cover the amounts, or its insurers deny coverage, the amounts to be paid by the Company could have a significant negative impact on our financial results, our cash flow and our cash reserves. As a result, the Company recorded an accrual of $0.4 million in the second quarter of 2012 for certain costs associated with the possible resolution of the Class Action.

Company shareholders filed actions in the Suffolk County Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, putatively derivatively on behalf of the Company, against the Company, each of the Company’s Directors, Mr. Weber, Wayne Lam, a former Vice president of the Company, the estate of Mr. Huai, and Jason Lin, a former employee of the Company (the “Derivative Action”). The consolidated amended Derivative Action complaint alleges that the defendants breached their duties to the Company by: (1) causing or allowing the dissemination of false and misleading information; (2) failing to maintain internal controls; (3) failing to manage the Company properly; (4) unjustly enriching themselves; (5) abusing their control of the Company; and (6) wasting Company assets.

The Company has filed a motion to dismiss the Derivative Action.

Certain of the defendants may be entitled to indemnification by the Company under the laws of Delaware and/or the Company’s by-laws.

The Company cannot predict when the Derivative Action will be resolved or its outcome. While the Company has insurance policies that it believes covers the Company for the allegations of the Derivative Action, there can be no assurance that the amount of insurance will be adequate to cover the costs of the Company’s defense of the Derivative Action or any damages that might be awarded against it or any defendant(s) to whom the Company owes indemnification. The Company’s insurers may deny coverage under the policies. If the plaintiffs are awarded damages and the Company’s insurance is not adequate to cover the amounts, or the Company’s insurers deny coverage, the amounts to be paid by the Company could have a significant negative impact on its financial results, cash flow and cash reserves.

The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims, asserted or unasserted, which arise in the ordinary course of business. While the outcome of any such matters cannot be predicted with certainty, such matters are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or operating results.