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LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

On January 28, 2019, Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. and Evalve, Inc., both subsidiaries of Abbott Laboratories (collectively "Abbott") filed a lawsuit against Edwards Lifesciences Corporation and Edwards Lifesciences, LLC, (“Edwards”) in the Federal District Court in the District of Delaware alleging that the Edwards PASCAL heart valve repair system infringes certain claims of Abbott’s U.S. Patent Nos. 7,288,097, 6,752,813, 7,563,267, 7,736,388, and 8,057,493, seeking unspecified monetary damages and preliminary and permanent injunctive relief. Thereafter, Abbott sought a preliminary injunction and a
temporary restraining order and the court denied these requests. Trial is scheduled for May 6, 2020.

On January 28, 2019, Abbott and its Abbott Medical UK Limited subsidiary (inclusively and collectively also "Abbott”) filed a lawsuit in the United Kingdom in the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, Patents Court, against Edwards Lifesciences Limited, alleging that the Edwards PASCAL heart valve repair system infringes certain claims of Abbott’s UK national patents arising from EP 1 624 810 B1 (the " ‘810 patent") and EP 1 408 850 B1 (the “ ‘850 patent”).  Abbott requested a preliminary injunction and the High Court denied this request. Trial proceedings began on December 9, 2019, and a decision is expected in early 2020.

On January 28, 2019, Abbott Medical GmbH (inclusively and collectively also "Abbott”) filed a lawsuit in the District Court in Düsseldorf, Germany against Edwards Lifesciences Corporation and its German subsidiary, Edwards Lifesciences Services GmbH, alleging that the Edwards PASCAL heart valve repair system infringes certain claims of Abbott’s German national patents arising from the ‘810 and ‘850 European patents. The District Court has scheduled trial for March 19, 2020 for the '810 patent and for July 14, 2020 for the '850 patent.  On March 15, 2019, Edwards filed a lawsuit in the German Patent Court in Munich, Germany, alleging that Abbott’s ‘850 patent is invalid. The Abbott ‘810 patent is subject to opposition proceedings at the European Patent Office, where a first instance opposition panel determined that the '810 patent was valid with amendment. Edwards will appeal.

On January 28, 2019, Abbott and Abbott Medical AG (inclusively and collectively also "Abbott”) filed a lawsuit in the Federal Patent Court in St. Gallen, Switzerland against Edwards Lifesciences AG, Edwards Lifesciences Technology Sàrl, Edwards Lifesciences IPRM AG, and Mitral Valve Technologies Sàrl, alleging that the Edwards PASCAL heart valve repair system infringes Abbott’s Swiss national patents arising from the same European patents.  The court subsequently granted Abbott's request for a preliminary injunction on the '850 patent and Edwards has appealed.

On January 28, 2019, Abbott Cardiovascular System Inc., Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A and Evalve Inc. (inclusively and collectively also "Abbott”) filed a lawsuit in the Civil Court of Milan, Italy against Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, Edwards Lifesciences LLC, and Edwards Lifesciences Italia SpA, alleging that the Edwards PASCAL heart valve repair system infringes Abbott’s Italian national patent arising from its ‘850 European patent. The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction. The Company intends to defend itself vigorously in all of the above matters.

On February 22, 2019, Edwards Lifesciences Corporation and Edwards Lifesciences, LLC filed a lawsuit against Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. in the Federal District Court in the Central District of California alleging that Abbott's MITRACLIP device infringes Edwards’ U.S. Patent Nos. 6,719,767, 7,011,669, and 8,062,313 related to heart implant technology and seeking unspecified monetary damages.  A trial date has not yet been scheduled.

Because the ultimate outcome of the above matters involve judgments, estimates, and inherent uncertainties, charges related to such matters could have a material adverse impact on the Company's consolidated financial results. The Company records accruals for loss contingencies to the extent it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the related loss can be reasonably estimated. Where a loss is reasonably possible (including potential losses in excess of the amounts accrued by the Company), the Company will disclose a reasonable estimate of the amount of loss or range of possible losses with respect to the loss contingency (including potential losses in excess of the amounts accrued by the Company), unless the Company is not able to reasonably estimate the amount or range of reasonably possible losses. With respect to the matters above, the Company is not able to estimate the amount or range of any loss for these matters.

In addition, the Company is or may be a party to, or may otherwise be responsible for, pending or threatened lawsuits including those related to products and services currently or formerly manufactured or performed, as applicable, by the Company, workplace and employment matters or governmental investigations (the "Other Lawsuits"). The Other Lawsuits raise
difficult and complex factual and legal issues and are subject to many uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the facts and circumstances of each particular case or claim, the jurisdiction in which each suit is brought, and differences in applicable law. Management does not believe that any loss relating to the Other Lawsuits would have a material adverse effect on the Company's overall financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.  However, the resolution of one or more of the Other Lawsuits in any reporting period, could have a material adverse impact on the Company's financial results for that period. The Company is not able to estimate the amount or range of any loss for legal contingencies related to the Other Lawsuits for which there is no reserve or additional loss for matters already reserved.

The Company is subject to various environmental laws and regulations both within and outside of the United States. The Company's operations, like those of other medical device companies, involve the use of substances regulated under environmental laws, primarily in manufacturing and sterilization processes. While it is difficult to quantify the potential impact of continuing compliance with environmental protection laws, management believes that such compliance will not have a material impact on the Company's financial results.