Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
We are involved in various regulatory issues, claims and lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business, none of which, in the opinion of management, is expected to have a material, adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.
Schneyer
On February 25, 2019, Dr. Mark Schneyer (“ Schneyer ”) filed a lawsuit in Minnesota District Court, Fourth District (the “ Court ”), on his own behalf and, derivatively, on behalf of Dorchester Capital, LLC, naming Vireo Health, Inc. (“ Vireo U.S. ”), Dorchester Management, LLC (“ Dorchester Management ”), and Dorchester Capital, LLC (“ Capital ”), as defendants. The essence of the claims made by Schneyer is Vireo U.S. paid an inadequate price for MaryMed, LLC (“ MaryMed ”), which it purchased it from Capital in 2018, and that the consideration given – shares of preferred stock in Vireo U.S. – was distributed inappropriately by Capital at the direction of Dorchester Management (the managing member of Capital). Schneyer, who is a Class B member of Capital, sought unspecified damages in excess of $50,000 and other relief. Dorchester Management, LLC is an affiliated entity to Vireo U.S. and was previously used as a management company over Dorchester Capital, LLC. It no longer has active operations following Vireo Health, Inc.’s acquisition of MaryMed, LLC in 2018. It is owned and controlled by Kyle E. Kingsley and Amber H. Shimpa, executive officers and directors of Vireo U.S. and the Company.
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While Vireo U.S. continues to believe that Schneyer’s claims lack merit, it agreed to settle the litigation in April 2023 to avoid the expense, distraction and risk of the pre-trial and trial processes. Entering into this settlement in no way changed the defendants’ belief that they did nothing wrong and that the claims were baseless.
Verano
On January 31, 2022, the Company entered into the Arrangement Agreement with Verano, pursuant to which Verano was to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Goodness Growth pursuant to a Plan of Arrangement. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Arrangement Agreement and the Plan of Arrangement, holders of Goodness Growth Shares would receive 0.22652 of a Verano Subordinate Voting Share, subject to adjustment as described below, for each Subordinate Voting Share held, and 22.652 Verano Subordinate Voting Shares for each Multiple Voting Share and Super Voting Share held, immediately prior to the effective time of the Arrangement.
On October 13, 2022, Goodness Growth received a notice of purported termination of the Arrangement Agreement (the “ Notice ”) from Verano. The Notice asserted certain breaches of the Arrangement Agreement, including claims the Company’s public filings and communications with respect to its business and ongoing operations were misleading and that the Company breached its representations to Verano under the Arrangement Agreement. Verano also claimed, as a result of such breaches, it is entitled to payment of a $14,875,000 termination fee and its transaction expenses. Goodness Growth denies all of Verano’s allegations and affirmatively asserts that it has complied with its obligations under the Arrangement Agreement, and with its disclosure obligations under US and Canadian law, in all material respects at all times. The Company believes that Verano has no factual or legal basis to justify or support its purported termination of the Arrangement Agreement, which the Company determined to treat as a repudiation of the Arrangement Agreement.
On October 21, 2022, Goodness Growth commenced an action in the Supreme Court of British Columbia against Verano after Verano wrongfully repudiated the Arrangement Agreement. The Company is seeking damages, costs and interest, based on Verano's breach of contract and of its duty of good faith and honest performance.
On November 14, 2022, Verano filed counterclaims against the Company for the termination fee and transaction expenses described above. Due to uncertainties inherent in litigation, it is not possible for Goodness Growth to predict the timing or final outcome of the legal proceedings against Verano or to determine the amount of damages, if any, that may be awarded.
On July 31, 2023, the Company filed a requisition for adjournment of its application filed July 14, 2023, and set for hearing on July 31, 2023 to compel Verano’s compliance with document production based upon the Company’s belief that Verano was engaging in tactics to delay the litigation.
Throughout 2023, the Company served 4 lists of documents, reviewed document production from Verano, and prepared for examinations for discovery. The Company also prepared materials in anticipation of seeking summary determination of its claim, which it anticipates filing within 30 days.
Due to uncertainties inherent in litigation, it is not possible for Goodness Growth to predict the timing or final outcome of the legal proceedings against Verano or to determine the amount of damages, if any, that may be awarded. The damages sought will be significant and material given that Verano’s breach left the Company in a vulnerable position resulting in the Company being constrained in its ability to fund growth initiatives that were desirable and that its competitors were able to undertake, most notably in Minnesota and New York markets.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
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PART II