Contingencies |
9 Months Ended |
|---|---|
Sep. 30, 2024 | |
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| Contingencies | Contingencies General Litigation and Disputes
From time to time, in the normal course of operations, the Company may be a party to litigation and other dispute matters and claims. Litigation can be expensive and disruptive to normal business operations. Moreover, the results of complex legal proceedings are difficult to predict. An unfavorable outcome to any legal matter, if material, could have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s operations or financial position, liquidity or results of operations.
Wendy Cunning vs Skye Bioscience, Inc.
The Company is a party to a legal proceeding with a former employee alleging, among other things, wrongful termination, violation of whistleblower protections under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and retaliation under California law against the Company relating to certain actions and events that occurred with the Company's former management during the employee's employment term from March 2018 to July 2019. The case, entitled Wendy Cunning vs Skye Bioscience, Inc., was filed in U.S. District Court (the "District Court") for the Central District of California (the “Cunning Lawsuit”). On January 18, 2023, a jury rendered a verdict in favor of Ms. Cunning and awarded her $512,500 in economic damages (e.g., lost earnings, future earnings and interest), $840,960 in non-economic damages (e.g., emotional distress) and $3,500,000 in punitive damages. On August 2, 2023, the District Court ruled on the plaintiff's motion for attorney fees and awarded the plaintiff $1,200,008. Based on this order, the Company reduced the aggregate estimate for the legal contingency by $151,842, the difference between the attorney fees awarded by the District Court and the Company's previous estimate. On August 17, 2023, the Company obtained a stay on enforcement of the judgment in the Cunning Lawsuit by posting an appeal bond in the amount of $9,080,202.
In March of 2023, the Company appealed the judgment in the Cunning Lawsuit to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth District (the "Ninth Circuit"). Subsequent to quarter end, on October 22, 2024, the Ninth Circuit issued its decision in the Company's favor which vacated the judgment and remanded the case back to the District Court for a new trial. As a result, the Company will be able to recover the $9,080,202 restriction on its cash related to the bond.
Skye Bioscience, Inc. vs Partner Re Ireland Insurance
In February 2023, the Company brought a suit against the Company's D&O insurance carrier, Partner Re Ireland Insurance DAC ("Partner Re"), bringing claims for (a) breach of contract, (2) tortious breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and (3) declaratory relief that Partner Re is obligated to reimburse the Company for the defense fees and costs incurred in defense of the Cunning Lawsuit and must indemnify the Company for any settlement or judgment in the Cunning Lawsuit (the "Partner Re Lawsuit"). The Company's allegations arise out of Partner Re's refusal to reimburse the Company for costs incurred by the Company in defending the Cunning Lawsuit. The case, entitled Skye Bioscience, Inc., v. Partner Re Ireland Insurance DAC, was filed in the United Stated District Court for the Central District of California.
On April 17, 2023, Partner Re filed a motion to dismiss the Company's complaint. On June 20, 2023, the court issued a ruling in favor of the Company and denied Partner Re's motion to dismiss the Company's lawsuit. In April 2024, the Company filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings. In June of 2024, the court granted in part and denied in part the Company's motion for judgment on the pleadings. The court granted the Company's motion for judgment on the pleadings with respect to Partner Re's affirmative defense related to whether the Cunning Lawsuit constituted a “Securities Claim” as defined in the Partner Re policy, rejecting what had been Partner Re's primary basis for denying coverage.
The Company is pursuing up to $5,000,000 in coverage less the deductible to cover legal expenses incurred and any potential loss incurred from the Cunning Lawsuit.
Estimate for accrued legal contingencies and related expenses
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