COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2024

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Three former employees of Absolute Consulting, Inc. and Hyperspring, LLC, filed putative class action lawsuits against the Company, alleging that the Company failed to pay overtime wages as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act and state law. The three cases Natalie Adams v. Absolute Consulting, Inc., Case No. 6:20-cv-01099, Matthew Waldecker v. Hyperspring, LLC, Case No. 2:20-cv-1948, Don Pharr v. Absolute Consulting, Inc., Case No. 23-cv-01558-JRR were filed on December 2, 2020, December 15, 2020, and June 8, 2023, respectively.

On August 22, 2023, Plaintiffs in Adams, Waldecker and Pharr and GSE Systems, Inc., Hyperspring and Absolute participated in private mediation. The mediation was successful and an agreement in principle was reached before the conclusion of the mediation to resolve and dismiss all three pending matters in exchange for a settlement payment.

The parties’ settlement agreement was executed on October 30, 2023, and resulted in the dismissal of all three cases. In addition to customary terms, GSE Systems, Hyperspring and Absolute are obligated to make a series of payments in 2024, eventually totaling $750 thousand inclusive of attorneys’ fees and costs. As this amount was included in accrued legal settlements as of December 31, 2023, and included as a part of selling, general and administrative costs for the year ended December 31, 2023.

On December 4, 2020, Hyperspring, LLC filed a Verified Complaint and Motion for Temporary Restraining Order (“TRO”) against a former Hyperspring employee in the Chancery Court of Loudon County, Tennessee, related to her retention of confidential and proprietary information belonging to Hyperspring following the termination of her employment. On January 25, 2021, the employee filed a counterclaim against Hyperspring, seeking payment for alleged unpaid commissions and expenses. On December 19, 2023, the former employee filed a complaint in the United States Eastern District of Tennessee against GSE Systems, Inc and its subsidiaries. On or about February 29, 2024, a settlement agreement was executed by the parties, which resulted in the dismissal of both cases with Hyperspring incurring an obligation to pay approximately $260 thousand inclusive of attorneys’ fees. As the amount was probable and estimable, it was included in accrued legal settlements as of December 31, 2023, and included as a part of selling, general and administrative costs for the year ended December 31, 2023.

There is a remaining accrued legal settlement amount of $529 thousand at June 30, 2024 associated with these legal matters.

Per ASC 450 Accounting for Contingencies, the Company reviews potential items and areas where a loss contingency could arise. In the opinion of management, we are not a party to any legal proceeding, the outcome of which, in management’s opinion, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows, other than as noted above. We expense legal defense costs as incurred.