Item 3. Legal Proceedings
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
A lawsuit was filed on December 17, 2015 by SRAM Corporation (“SRAM”) in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, against the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, RFE Canada Holding Corp. (“RFE Canada”). The lawsuit alleges patent infringement of U.S. Patent number 9,182,027 ("027 Patent") and violation of the Lanham Act. SRAM filed a second lawsuit in the same court against RFE Canada on May 16, 2016, alleging patent infringement of U.S Patent number 9,291,250 ("'250 Patent"). The Company believes that the lawsuits are without merit and intends vigorously to defend itself. As such, the Company has filed, before the U. S. Patent and Trademark Appeals Board ("PTAB"), for Interparties Reviews ("IPR") of the '027 Patent and separately the same for the '250 Patent. In April 2018, the PTAB issued opinions in the ‘027 Patent petition cases stating that the Company has not shown the claims of the ‘027 Patent to be obvious. Regarding the PTAB ‘027 opinions, the Company has filed an Appeal to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ("CAFC"). The CAFC found in favor of the Company and has vacated and remanded all of the PTAB findings with the exception of their finding that the ‘027 patent met the prima facia test for obviousness, which was affirmed. The CAFC has declined to rehear the case and has issued the final remand order sending the case back to the PTAB. SRAM filed ‘027 appeal cert before the Supreme Court of the United States, cert was denied and that case is before the PTAB on remand. The PTAB has issued an opinion in the ‘250 Patent case stating that the Company has not shown the claims of the ‘250 Patent to be obvious. The Company has appealed that PTAB opinion to the CAFC and the CAFC has affirmed the PTAB opinion. The U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, has again stayed the SRAM lawsuits against the Company pending outcome of the remanded ‘027 PTAB issue.
In a separate action, the Company filed a lawsuit on January 29, 2016 in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California against SRAM. That lawsuit alleges SRAM’s infringement of two separate Company owned patents, specifically U.S. Patent numbers 6,135,434 and 6,557,674. The Company filed a second lawsuit on July 1, 2016 in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California against SRAM alleging infringement of the Company’s U.S. Patent numbers 8,226,172 and 8,974,009. These lawsuits have been moved to U.S. District Court, District of Colorado and are otherwise proceeding.
Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation, the Company is not able to predict either the outcome or a range of reasonably possible losses, if any, at this time. Accordingly, no amounts have been recorded in the consolidated financial statements for the settlement of these matters. Were an unfavorable ruling to occur, or if factors indicate that a loss is probable and reasonably estimable, the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. The Company is involved in other legal matters that arise in the ordinary course of business. Based on information currently available, management does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
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