XML 38 R22.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.6.0.2
LITIGATION
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
LITIGATION [Abstract]  
LITIGATION
LITIGATION

Breach of Contract

Uniscience Solution v. Chang, et al.; Chang, et al. v. Uniscience Solution, Randy Lee, and Mannatech, Inc. (cross-defendant), Case No. 16K03995 (Superior Court of California, Los Angeles Co.)

On June 1, 2016, the Company received notice that on May 20, 2016 Vivian Hsiaoling Chang and Alan Jyh Woei Hsu (collectively, the “Cross-plaintiffs”) filed an unverified cross-complaint against the Company, Uniscience Solution, and Randy Lee alleging breach of contract. Cross-plaintiffs, Uniscience Solution and Randy Lee are independent distributors of the Company who entered into an agreement, separate and apart from their respective distributor agreements with the Company. The Cross-plaintiffs assert that Mannatech is somehow a party to that other agreement; which it is not. Cross-Plaintiffs are seeking damages in the amount of $22,229, plus special and punitive damages according to proof at trial and costs of suit. The Company filed an answer denying the assertions in the unverified cross-complaint. On September 23, 2016, the Cross-plaintiffs and Uniscience Solution entered into a settlement agreement. On September 27, 2016, the Cross-plaintiffs filed a Request for Dismissal with the Court dismissing all claims against the Company with prejudice. On October 26, 2016, the Company received notice from its counsel that the Court entered the Dismissal on October 3, 2016. This matter is closed.

Diana Anselmo and New Day Today Corporation v. Mannatech, Incorporated, Case No. DC-15-01904, Judicial District Court, Dallas County, Texas

On February 18, 2015, Diana Anselmo and New Day Today Corporation (collectively, the “Plaintiffs”) filed suit against the Company alleging breach of contract pertaining to a portion of proceeds from a Mannatech Associate position once held by Ray Gebauer, alleged to be Ms. Anselmo’s former husband.  Plaintiffs seek damages under the contract of approximately $600,000 in past commissions and between $2 million and $3.1 million in future commissions, an award of attorney’s fees, and a declaration that the Company must continue to pay Plaintiffs proceeds from Mr. Gebauer’s former account.

The Company filed its original answer on March 25, 2015, denying Plaintiffs’ allegations.  The Company asserts that Plaintiffs cannot establish the conditions precedent to their breach of contract claim and thus are not entitled to any damages.  The Company further asserts affirmative defenses of failure of consideration, lack of standing, prior breach, and estoppel.  The Company also seeks a declaratory judgment of its rights under the contract and seeks return of certain commissions paid to Plaintiffs that were not earned under the contract.

The Company filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on June 15, 2016, on the ground that Plaintiffs could not establish conditions precedent to their recovery as a matter of law.  Mediation was conducted on June 17, 2016; however a final settlement could not be reached. The Court denied the Company’s Motion for Summary Judgment on August 31, 2016.  Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on July 22, 2016, seeking dismissal of the Company’s counterclaim for damages.  The Court denied that motion on November 18, 2016.  The parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment on November 1, 2016, asking the Court to interpret certain provisions of the contract as a matter of law.  By order dated November 21, 2016, the Court denied the Company’s motion and granted the Plaintiffs’ motion on contract interpretation, finding that the contract affords Ms. Anselmo an ownership interest in Mr. Gebauer’s former account and that account remains eligible to earn commissions.

Discovery is complete. On March 3, 2017, the parties received notice from the Court that the case is scheduled for trial on June 5, 2017. It is not possible at this time to predict whether the Company will incur any liability, or to estimate the ranges of damages, if any, which may be incurred in connection with this matter. However, the Company believes it has a valid defense and will vigorously defend this claim. This matter remains open.


Administrative Proceedings

Mannatech Korea, Ltd. v. Busan Custom Office, Busan District Court, Korea

On or before April 12, 2015, Mannatech Korea, Ltd. filed a suit against the Busan Custom Office (“BCO”) to challenge BCO’s method of calculation regarding its assessment notice issued on July 11, 2013.  The assessment notice included an audit of the Company’s imported goods covering fiscal years 2008 through 2012 and required the Company to pay $1.0 million for this assessment, all of which was paid in January 2014. Both parties submitted a response to the Court’s inquiry on January 15, 2016. The final hearing for the case was held on May 26, 2016 where each party presented their respective arguments. The Court set the decision hearing on October 27, 2016, and the Court decided the case in the Company’s favor. However, on November 18, 2016, BCO filed an appeal to the Busan High Court. On March 7, 2017, the Company received notice that the first hearing for the appeal is scheduled for March 31, 2017. This matter remains open.

Patent Litigation

Mannatech, Incorporated v. Wellness Quest, LLC and Harley Reginald McDaniel, Case No. 3:14-cv-2497, U.S. District Court, for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division

On July 11, 2014 the Company filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Wellness Quest, LLC and Dr. H. Reginald McDaniel (“Defendants”) alleging the Defendants infringe United States Patent Nos. 7,157,431 and 7,202,220, both entitled “Compositions of Plant Carbohydrates as Dietary Supplements,” (the “Patents”) and seeking to stop their manufacture, offer, and sale of infringing glyconutritional dietary supplement products. On July 16, 2014, the Company filed a Motion for Preliminary Injunction preventing Defendants from infringing the Patents pending a final decision on the merits. On August 29, 2014, the Defendants filed their Response to Plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction and Brief in Support along with their Answer and Affirmative Defenses. On November 4, 2014, the Court denied the Company’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction and Motion to Expedite Discovery.  On December 15, 2014, the Company deposed Dr. Reginald McDaniel. Each party submitted its list of claim constructions/definitions and a list of the supporting authority.  Each party filed its opening brief and their respective responsive briefs. Defendants have designated an expert and the Company deposed the expert on January 27, 2015 regarding his claim construction opinions while reserving the right to examine him later regarding other matters.  The parties remain engaged in the claim construction process. Mediation on this matter was held on April 24, 2015 and a settlement was not reached.

On May 12, 2015, the Company received notice of an Order of Transfer advising that the case had been reassigned from Judge Ed Kinkeade to Judge David C. Godbey for all further proceedings. On July 20, 2015, the Court issued its Markman ruling adopting the Company’s proposed claim construction for all disputed terms except for “dietary supplement composition” which it found needed no construction. On August 20, 2015, Defendants filed a request for an interlocutory appeal, and the Company filed a reply on October 6, 2015. The Company also filed a separate motion requesting entry of a final judgment and permanent injunction on September 8, 2015.

On November 5, 2015, the Court issued an Order accepting Defendant’s stipulation of infringement under the Court’s claim interpretation and granted the Company’s partial motion for summary judgment and issued a permanent injunction against Defendants’ infringement of the Patents. The Court stayed the permanent injunction until the conclusion of Defendants’ appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (the “Court of Appeals”). On December 3, 2015, Defendants filed their Notice of Appeal which was docketed by the Court of Appeals on December 8, 2015. Defendants-Appellants filed their brief with the Court of Appeals on February 28, 2016. The Company-Appellee filed its brief with the Court of Appeals on March 24, 2016. Oral argument for the appeal was held on August 1, 2016. On August 5, 2016, the Court of Appeals issued a per curium opinion affirming the trial court’s judgment in favor of the Company. On August 10, 2016, the Company filed a motion to lift the stay of permanent injunction previously issued by the trial court. On August 24, 2016, the Company received confirmation from its counsel that Defendants changed the formulation of the infringing product to a formulation proposed by the Company. Defendants filed their response to the Company’s motion on August 31, 2016. The parties conferred via telephone and electronic mail on August 31, 2016 and September 1, 2016 regarding the Company’s motion and Defendants’ response. On September 1, 2016, the Company filed an Amended Certificate of Conference with the Court advising that the Company’s motion was now unopposed. On October 18, 2016, the Court entered an order lifting the stay and putting the permanent injunction back into full effect. The case is now in the damages phase and the Company will seek attorneys’ fees and have initiated collection of discovery for the assessment of damages. This matter remains open.

This lawsuit continues the Company’s enforcement of its patent rights, and the Company intends to vigorously prosecute these matters.  Based on the previous successful patent infringement lawsuits against Country Life, LLC, Glycobiotics International, Inc., Techmedica Health, Inc., IonX Holdings, Inc., Boston Mountain Laboratories, Inc., Green Life, LLC, and Xiong Lo and RBC Life Sciences, Inc. and RBC Life Sciences USA, Inc., the Company believes there is a strong likelihood that it will obtain permanent injunctions against the manufacture and sale of any infringing products for the duration of the Company’s patents.
Arbitration Proceeding

Mannatech v. Samuel L. Caster and Wonder Enterprises, LLC, Demand for Arbitration, Case No. 01-15-0003-6812

On May 29, 2015 the Company initiated arbitration proceedings against Samuel L. Caster and Wonder (“Respondents”) alleging breach of contract by Mr. Caster and his company, Wonder, in a series of consulting agreements entered into by the parties. Mannatech seeks to recover actual damages, costs of court and prejudgment interest together with disgorgement of all benefits received by Caster and Wonder. The Company estimates its damages to be between $500,000 and $3,500,000. On June 12, 2015 Respondents contacted the Company’s counsel to request mediation. The parties have agreed to mediate this dispute; mediation was held on August 17, 2015, and a settlement was not reached. A preliminary hearing for arbitration was held on September 18, 2015, and a final hearing commenced on April 25, 2016. A Scheduling Order was entered and depositions and discovery were to be completed by March 25, 2016. A hearing was held on March 2, 2016 where the arbitrator granted Respondents’ request to file a motion for summary judgment and granting the Company until March 21, 2016 to issue its response. The arbitrator also granted the Company’s motion to compel the Respondents to produce the customer list for Mr. Caster’s former company, EM Squared. The arbitrator further ordered that each party will be limited to 12 fact depositions and denied Respondents request for reconsideration of the arbitrator’s ruling denying advancement of fees to the Respondents. The Company filed its response to Respondents’ Motion for Summary Judgment on March 21, 2016. The arbitration hearing was scheduled to begin on August 29, 2016; however, both parties reached a settlement agreement, and on August 25, 2016 the arbitrator entered the Agreed Order of Dismissal, dismissing all claims with prejudice. This matter is closed.

Trademark Opposition - U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

United States Trademark Opposition No. 91221493, Shaklee Corporation v. Mannatech, Incorporated re: UTH

On April 15, 2015, the Company received notice that Shaklee Corporation (“Shaklee”) filed a Notice of Opposition to the Company’s trademark application for UTH (stylized as Û th) with the USPTO. On May 19, 2015, the Company filed an answer to the opposition and also filed a counterclaim seeking to cancel Shaklee’s registration of its YOUTH mark. Shaklee filed an extension to oppose the UTH mark on June 18, 2015, and the request to extend time to oppose was granted until July 18, 2015. Shaklee filed a second extension on July 17, 2015, and the request to extend time to oppose was granted until September 16, 2015. Shaklee filed motions to strike the Company’s Affirmative Defenses to the Opposition and Counterclaim to cancel their registrations.  The Company filed responses and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTAB”) ruled in Shaklee’s favor. The Company filed an amended Answer to the Opposition and Amended Counterclaim on November 18, 2015. Shaklee then filed an answer to the Company’s Counterclaim on December 30, 2015.

On September 15, 2015, Shaklee filed two more Notices of Opposition for the UTH & Design and ÛTH applications. The Company filed Answers and Counterclaims on November 20, 2015. On January 25, 2016, the Company filed a motion to strike Shaklee’s affirmative defense on cancellation. On May 17, 2016, the TTAB granted the Company’s motion to strike Shaklee’s affirmative defense on cancellation. On August 9, 2016, Shaklee filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on the Company’s cancellation filing of its YOUTH mark stating that their mark is in use and they have not abandoned their rights. On September 9, 2016, the Company filed a Motion for Request for Discovery to Respond to Summary Judgment under Rule 56(d) stating that the Company cannot respond without sufficient information due to lack in discovery. On September 28, 2016, Shaklee filed a response to the Company’s motion to cancel the request for discovery. The Company filed a response in support of the motion under Rule 56(d) on October 18, 2016. On December 22, 2016, the TTAB requested the Company to send copies of the request for discovery to Shaklee by January 6, 2017. Upon receipt of those documents, the TTAB will rule on the Rule 56(d) motion and the Company will then answer Shaklee’s Motion for Summary Judgment. The case remains suspended pending the ruling on the motion under Rule 56(d).

It is not possible at this time to predict the outcome of this office action or whether the Company will incur any liability, or to estimate the ranges of damages, if any, which may be incurred in connection with this matter.  However, the Company believes it has a valid defense and will vigorously defend this claim. This matter remains open.


Litigation in General

The Company has incurred several claims in the normal course of business. The Company believes such claims can be resolved without any material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

The Company maintains certain liability insurance; however, certain costs of defending lawsuits are not covered by or only partially covered by its insurance policies, including claims that are below insurance deductibles. Additionally, insurance carriers could refuse to cover certain claims, in whole or in part. The Company accrues costs to defend itself from litigation as they are incurred or as they become determinable.

The outcome of litigation is uncertain, and despite management’s views of the merits of any litigation, or the reasonableness of the Company’s estimates and reserves, the Company’s financial statements could nonetheless be materially affected by an adverse judgment.