Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Commitments and Contingencies.

Commitments and Contingencies

7.Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation and Other Contingencies

On October 24, 2014, Wavetronix LLC, an Idaho limited liability company, filed a lawsuit against us in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas alleging infringement of United States Patent No. 7,991,542.  The lawsuit relates to our Vantage Vector product, which is a vehicle detection sensor for use in traffic control applications.  Wavetronix seeks unspecified compensatory and treble damages, attorney fees and a permanent injunction.  Wavetronix was also seeking a preliminary injunction, the motion for which was denied by the court on January 21, 2015.  At this time, we cannot predict the outcome of this matter or the resulting financial impact to us, if any. However, we dispute the allegations of wrongdoing and intend to vigorously defend ourselves in this matter.

In addition to the matter described above, as a provider of traffic engineering services, products and solutions, we may be, from time to time, involved in other litigation relating to claims arising out of our operations in the normal course of business. We cannot accurately predict the outcome of any such litigation including whether the adverse outcome of which, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

Related Party Transaction

We previously subleased office space to Maxxess Systems, Inc. (“Maxxess”), one of our former subsidiaries that we sold in September 2003. Maxxess is currently owned by an investor group that includes one current Iteris director, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Maxxess, and a former Iteris director. The sublease terminated in September 2007, at which time Maxxess owed us an aggregate of $274,000 related to this sublease and certain ancillary corporate services that we provided to Maxxess. In August 2009, Maxxess executed a promissory note payable to Iteris in the original principal amount of $274,000. The promissory note accrued interest at a rate of 6% per annum, compounded annually, with accrued interest to be paid annually on the first business day of each calendar year; and allowed payments under the note to be made in bona fide services rendered by Maxxess to Iteris, to the extent such services and amounts were pre-approved in writing by us. All amounts outstanding under the note was to become due and payable on the earliest of (i) August 10, 2014, (ii) a change of control in Maxxess, or (iii) a financing by Maxxess resulting in gross proceeds of at least $10 million.

On July 23, 2013, the promissory note from Maxxess was amended and restated. The amended and restated note bears interest at a rate of 6% per annum, compounded annually, with accrued interest to be paid quarterly on the first business day of each calendar quarter. Payments under the amended and restated note may only be paid in cash and all amounts outstanding will become due and payable on the earliest of (i) August 10, 2016, (ii) a change of control in Maxxess, or (iii) a financing by Maxxess resulting in gross proceeds of at least $10 million. As of December 31, 2014, approximately $259,000 of the original principal balance was outstanding and payable to Iteris. We have previously fully reserved for amounts owed to us by Maxxess and all outstanding principal remains fully reserved.