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LITIGATION
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
LITIGATION [Abstract]  
LITIGATION
NOTE 7:LITIGATION

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 the Defendants’ 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 has submitted its list of claim constructions/definitions and a list of the supporting authority.  Each party has filed its opening brief and its respective responsive brief. 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.  Mediation on this matter was held on April 24, 2015. 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, granting the Company’s partial motion for summary judgment and issuing 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. This matter remains open.

Mannatech, Incorporated v. RBC Life Sciences, Inc. and RBC Life Sciences USA, Inc,. Case No. 3:15-cv-01321-N, U.S. District Court, for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division

On April 28, 2015 the Company filed a patent infringement lawsuit against RBC Life Sciences, Inc. and RBC Life Sciences USA, Inc. (“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. The Defendants filed their answer and have asserted counterclaims alleging, among other things, invalidity and non-infringement. 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. The parties filed the Case Management Report with the Court on June 24, 2015. The Company filed its answer to Defendants’ counterclaims on June 29, 2015.

The parties reached a settlement on July 28, 2015, and the Final Judgment and Permanent Injunction was entered on August 5, 2015. The Defendants are enjoined from making the infringing products in the United States; importing the infringing products into the United States; and marketing products marked with the trademarks VITALOE® and IMMUNE 360® as “glyconutrients.” As of October 31, 2015, Defendants have been enjoined from selling the infringing products as currently formulated in the United States for the terms of the Patents. Subject to Defendants performance of the above obligations, the Company will release Defendants of all infringement claims asserted in the lawsuit and the Defendants, subject to the Company’s performance of its obligations under the Agreement will release the Company from all claims asserted in its counterclaims and further agree to not challenge, or cause to be challenged, the validity or enforceability of the Patents. This matter is closed.
 
These lawsuits continue 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, 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.
 
Breach of Contract

Diana Anselmo and New Day Today Corporation v. Mannatech, Incorporated, Case No. DC-15-01904, 192nd Judicial District Court, Dallas County, Texas

On February 18, 2015 Ms. Diana Anselmo and New Day Today Corporation (collectively, the “Plaintiffs”) filed suit against Mannatech alleging breach of contract pertaining to a portion of  proceeds from a Mannatech Associate position once held by Ms. Anselmo’s former husband, Ray Gebauer. Plaintiffs are seeking damages in excess of $1,000,000 and a declaration that the Company continue to pay Plaintiffs proceeds from Mr. Gebauer’s former account.

The Company filed its answer on March 23, 2015 denying the Plaintiffs’ allegations.  The Court set the case for trial on March 7, 2016.  The Court has appointed a mediator and has ordered that mediation must be conducted no later than February 7, 2016. The parties remain engaged in the discovery process. 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.

Trademark Opposition – U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”)

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

On April 15, 2015 the Company received notice that Shaklee Corporation filed a Notice of Opposition to the Company’s trademark application for UTH (stylized as Ūth) 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. On September 15, 2015, Shaklee filed two more Notices of Opposition. The Company will seek consolidation of all three oppositions and file any necessary counterclaims by November 24, 2015.

It is not possible at this time to predict the outcome of this USPTO 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.

Administrative Proceedings

On 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, which was paid in January 2014. No court date has been set. This matter remains open.

There are other ongoing audits in various international jurisdictions that the Company does not expect will have a material effect on our financial statements.

Arbitration Proceeding
 
Mannatech v. Samuel L. Caster and Wonder Enterprises, LLC, Demand for Arbitration
 
On May 29, 2015 the Company initiated arbitration proceedings against Samuel L. Caster and Wonder Enterprises, LLC (“Respondents”) alleging breach of contract by Mr. Caster and his company, Wonder Enterprises, 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. 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 and mediation was held on August 17, 2015. A settlement was not reached. A preliminary hearing for arbitration was held on September 18, 2015, and a final hearing will commence on April 25, 2016. A Scheduling Order has been entered and depositions and discovery must be completed by March 25, 2016. This matter remains open.
 
Litigation in General

The Company is or may become subject to 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 or are 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. The Company believes it has adequately reserved for the contingencies arising from current legal matters where an outcome was deemed to be probable, and the loss amount could be reasonably estimated.