Note 10 - Contingent Liabilities and Liquidity

6 Months Ended

Mar. 26, 2024

Notes to Financial Statements

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 10. Contingent Liabilities and Liquidity

There may be various claims in process, matters in litigation, and other contingencies brought against the Company by employees, vendors, customers, franchisees, or other parties. Evaluating these contingencies is a complex process that may involve substantial judgment on the potential outcome of such matters, and the ultimate outcome of such contingencies may differ from our current analysis. We regularly review the adequacy of accruals and disclosures related to such contingent liabilities in consultation with legal counsel. While it is not possible to predict the outcome of these claims with certainty, it is management’s opinion that any reasonably possible losses associated with such contingencies have been adequately accrued or would be immaterial to our financial statements. During the quarter ended March 26, 2024, we have recognized $235,000 in contingent liabilities related to routine course of business claims.

The Company is the defendant in a lawsuit styled as White Winston Select Asset Funds, LLC and GT Acquisition Group, Inc. v. Good Times Restaurants, Inc., arising from the failed negotiations between plaintiffs and the Company for the sale of the Good Times Drive Thru subsidiary to plaintiffs. The lawsuit was initially filed on September 24, 2019 in Delaware Chancery Court, and the Company removed the case to federal court in the US District Court for the District of Delaware on November 5, 2019. On July 30, 2021, the plaintiffs moved the Court for leave to amend their complaint and add new causes of action and a claim for $18 million in damages. On April 11, 2022, the Court heard the parties’ respective motions for summary judgment on the plaintiffs’ claims. The Court verbally ruled that it was dismissing all of the plaintiffs’ claims except for their claim for breach of an express and implied obligation to negotiate in good faith under the parties’ letter of intent. The Court also indicated its intent to dismiss Good Times’ counterclaim against the plaintiffs for breach of a covenant not to sue over the failed negotiations.  On May 5, 2022, the Court issued a written order confirming this ruling. On May 25, 2022, the Court issued an order that the plaintiffs are only entitled to reliance damages should they prevail on their claim for breaches of the express and implied obligations to negotiate in good faith. The parties conducted a bench trial on the plaintiffs’ claims. The parties concluded post-trial briefing on October 24, 2022.  On January 25, 2023, the Court rendered judgment dismissing the plaintiffs’ claims in their entirety and denying all of the requested relief. 

The plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal of the Court’s January 25, 2023 decisions.  Good Times, in turn, filed a notice of appeal of the Court’s previous dismissal of its counterclaim against the plaintiffs.  On March 1, 2024, the court of appeals issued a ruling affirming the trial court’s dismissal of the plaintiffs’ claims and reversed the trial court’s previous dismissal of Good Times’ own claim for the plaintiffs’ breach of their covenant not to sue Good Times. The court of appeals ordered that Good Times’ counterclaim be remanded to the trial court for further consideration. Due to this favorable decision, we have reversed our previous contingency reserve of $332,000. The plaintiffs petitioned the court of appeals for rehearing on its reversal of the trial court’s dismissal of Good Times’ counterclaim. The court of appeals’ ruling on the petition for rehearing is pending. The amount of Good Times’ claimed damages (which consists substantially of its prior legal fees) exceeds $3 million. While Good Times plans to vigorously pursue this remaining claim to conclusion, there is no assurance that it will be successful and, even if it is successful, its recovery may be less than such claimed damages amount.