Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
We may be involved from time to time, as a plaintiff or a defendant, in various routine legal proceedings incidental to the ordinary course of our business. In the ordinary course, we are involved in the policing of our intellectual property rights. As part of our policing program, from time to time we file lawsuits in the United States and abroad, alleging acts of trademark counterfeiting, trademark infringement, trademark dilution, and ancillary and pendent state and foreign law claims. These actions often result in seizure of counterfeit merchandise and negotiated settlements with defendants. Defendants sometimes raise as affirmative defenses, or as counterclaims, the purported invalidity or unenforceability of our proprietary rights.
In August of 2019, Vesi Incorporated (“Vesi”) filed suit against the Company in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio related to the Company’s licensing business and alleging breach of fiduciary duty, unfair competition, defamation, and tortious interference with prospective business relationships. The complaint seeks damages in an amount not less than $ 10.0 million for punitive damages, attorney fees, prejudgment interest, and any other additional relief. The Company has denied any liability and intends to vigorously defend itself in the case. In November 2019, the Company filed a counterclaim against the principals of Vesi as personal guarantors for monies owed to the Company by Vesi. The Company filed a motion for summary judgement asking the Court to dismiss all claims with prejudice and grant judgment on its counterclaim. On January 4, 2023, the Court granted the Company’s motion for summary judgment dismissing Vesi’s claims and also granted judgment on the Company’s counterclaims against the principals of Vesi for an immaterial amount. Vesi appealed this decision. On November 9, 2023 the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued an opinion
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affirming the District Court’s judgment in favor of the Company dismissing Vesi’s claims and granting the Company’s counterclaims.
The Company is subject to other legal proceedings from time to time in the ordinary course of business but does not believe any of these such claims would have a material adverse impact on the Company at this time.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure
Not Applicable
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PART II
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.