Note 9 - Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Notes to Financial Statements
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	9. Commitments and Contingencies *Commitments* The Company leases certain of its facilities and equipment under operating lease agreements expiring on various dates through December 2026. Total minimum lease payments, including scheduled increases, are charged to operations on the straight-line basis over the life of the respective lease. Rent expense was $1.0 million, $1.1 million and $1.1 million in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. See Note 10 – “Operating Leases” to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report for commitments remaining under lease agreements. *Contingencies* In the normal course of business, we are subject to contingencies, such as legal proceedings and claims arising out of our business, that cover a wide range of matters, including, among others, government investigations, shareholder lawsuits, product liability, contractual claims and tax matters. We recognize accruals for such contingencies when it is probable that a liability will be incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. These estimates are subject to uncertainties that are difficult to predict and, as such, actual results could vary from these estimates. *Settlements* On December 6, 2021, the Company entered into a binding Memorandum of Understanding (the “MOU”) to settle a purported class action lawsuit against it related to certain California wage and hour laws. The lawsuit, Enma Sagastume v. Psychemedics Corporation, Case No. 2:20-CV-06624-DSF, is pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California (the “California Lawsuit”) and is similar to numerous lawsuits filed against employers with operations in California. In the binding MOU, the parties agreed to settle this matter for a payment by the Company of $1.2 million in exchange for the dismissal of the California Lawsuit and a customary release of liability, subject only to final court approval and the process described below. Factoring in that process, the Company estimates that the settlement funds will be dispersed in the second half of 2023, subject to the actual timing of final court approval. Although the Company believes that the allegations in the California Lawsuit lack merit, it agreed at a mediation to enter into the binding MOU to settle the claims in the California Lawsuit in order to avoid potentially significant legal fees, other expenses, and management time that would have to be devoted to protracted litigation in California regarding its wage and hour laws. The foregoing was also impacted in part by new California case law in February 2021 regarding meal period compliance. The allegations in the California Lawsuit relate to alleged discrepancies in compliance with meal and rest periods required by California law and other alleged compliance discrepancies relating to the California wage and hour laws with respect to non-exempt hourly employees of the Company in California for a period since June 9, 2017. The California Lawsuit sought recovery of wages, penalties, interest, attorneys’ fees and other alleged damages. As part of the settlement, the Company continues to deny any liability or wrongdoing with respect to the claims made in the California Lawsuit. The MOU assumes class certification for purposes of the settlement only. The settlement amount of $1.2 million, which includes plaintiff attorneys' fees and costs, is subject to potential increase based on any adjustments in the final class size and the exact period to be covered, as determined by the court’s final approval. However, the Company believes that such adjustments, if any, would likely be immaterial. Once court approved, in exchange for the settlement payment, the plaintiff and all class members who do not opt out of the settlement will provide a broad release of any liability relating to the subject matter of the California Lawsuit, including any claims of such persons under California’s Private Attorneys' General Act of 2004. Such release is for the benefit of the Company, its affiliates, and any successor to the Company. The Company has the right to revoke the settlement prior to court approval in the event opt-outs, if any, from the class membership exceed a specified level. While the settlement is subject to final court approval as is customary, the MOU expressly provides that it is binding on and enforceable by each of the parties thereto, including by any successor to the Company. There is a $1.2 million liability reserve in connection with the California Lawsuit as of December 31, 2022, and 2021 included in accrued expenses in the accompanying balance sheets.

Note 9 - Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

9. Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments

The Company leases certain of its facilities and equipment under operating lease agreements expiring on various dates through December 2026. Total minimum lease payments, including scheduled increases, are charged to operations on the straight-line basis over the life of the respective lease. Rent expense was $1.0 million, $1.1 million and $1.1 million in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. See Note 10 – “Operating Leases” to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report for commitments remaining under lease agreements.

Contingencies

In the normal course of business, we are subject to contingencies, such as legal proceedings and claims arising out of our business, that cover a wide range of matters, including, among others, government investigations, shareholder lawsuits, product liability, contractual claims and tax matters. We recognize accruals for such contingencies when it is probable that a liability will be incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. These estimates are subject to uncertainties that are difficult to predict and, as such, actual results could vary from these estimates.

Settlements

On December 6, 2021, the Company entered into a binding Memorandum of Understanding (the “MOU”) to settle a purported class action lawsuit against it related to certain California wage and hour laws. The lawsuit, Enma Sagastume v. Psychemedics Corporation, Case No. 2:20-CV-06624-DSF, is pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California (the “California Lawsuit”) and is similar to numerous lawsuits filed against employers with operations in California.

In the binding MOU, the parties agreed to settle this matter for a payment by the Company of $1.2 million in exchange for the dismissal of the California Lawsuit and a customary release of liability, subject only to final court approval and the process described below. Factoring in that process, the Company estimates that the settlement funds will be dispersed in the second half of 2023, subject to the actual timing of final court approval.

Although the Company believes that the allegations in the California Lawsuit lack merit, it agreed at a mediation to enter into the binding MOU to settle the claims in the California Lawsuit in order to avoid potentially significant legal fees, other expenses, and management time that would have to be devoted to protracted litigation in California regarding its wage and hour laws. The foregoing was also impacted in part by new California case law in February 2021 regarding meal period compliance. The allegations in the California Lawsuit relate to alleged discrepancies in compliance with meal and rest periods required by California law and other alleged compliance discrepancies relating to the California wage and hour laws with respect to non-exempt hourly employees of the Company in California for a period since June 9, 2017. The California Lawsuit sought recovery of wages, penalties, interest, attorneys’ fees and other alleged damages. As part of the settlement, the Company continues to deny any liability or wrongdoing with respect to the claims made in the California Lawsuit.

The MOU assumes class certification for purposes of the settlement only. The settlement amount of $1.2 million, which includes plaintiff attorneys' fees and costs, is subject to potential increase based on any adjustments in the final class size and the exact period to be covered, as determined by the court’s final approval. However, the Company believes that such adjustments, if any, would likely be immaterial. Once court approved, in exchange for the settlement payment, the plaintiff and all class members who do not opt out of the settlement will provide a broad release of any liability relating to the subject matter of the California Lawsuit, including any claims of such persons under California’s Private Attorneys' General Act of 2004. Such release is for the benefit of the Company, its affiliates, and any successor to the Company. The Company has the right to revoke the settlement prior to court approval in the event opt-outs, if any, from the class membership exceed a specified level. While the settlement is subject to final court approval as is customary, the MOU expressly provides that it is binding on and enforceable by each of the parties thereto, including by any successor to the Company. There is a $1.2 million liability reserve in connection with the California Lawsuit as of December 31, 2022, and 2021 included in accrued expenses in the accompanying balance sheets.