Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies

 

Operating Lease Commitments

 

The Company leases office space and business equipment for its corporate office and subsidiaries under multiple year non-cancelable operating leases that expire through 2021. The office lease agreements have certain escalation clauses and renewal options. Additionally, the Company has lease agreements for computer equipment, office copiers and fax machines.

 

The office space lease agreements include escalating rents over the lease term. The Company expenses rent on a straight-line basis over the lease term which commences on the date the Company has the right to control the property. The cumulative expense recognized on a straight-line basis in excess of the cumulative payments is included in Accrued Expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

At December 31, 2017, future minimum lease payments under these leases are as follows:

 

Year ending December 31,      
2018   $ 295,629  
2019     256,564  
2020     174,220  
2021     21,858  
Total minimum future lease payments   $ 748,271  

 

Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 was $0.9 million and $0.9 million, respectively.

 

Concentration of Credit Risk

 

Credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is generally diversified due to the large number of patients comprising the client base. The Company does have significant receivable balances with government payers and various insurance carriers. Generally, the Company does not require collateral or other security to support customer receivables. However, the Company continually monitors and evaluates its client acceptance and collection procedures to minimize potential credit risks associated with its accounts receivable and establishes an allowance for uncollectible accounts and as a consequence, believes that its accounts receivable credit risk exposure beyond such allowance is not material to the financial statements.

 

A number of proposals for legislation continue to be under discussion which could substantially reduce Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) reimbursements to clinical laboratories. Depending upon the nature of regulatory action, and the content of legislation, the Company could experience a significant decrease in revenues from Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), which could have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company is unable to predict, however, the extent to which such actions will be taken.

 

The Company maintains its cash balances in high credit quality financial institutions. The Company’s cash balances may, at times, exceed the deposit insurance limits provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

 

Legal Matters

 

From time to time, the Company may be involved in a variety of claims, lawsuits, investigations and proceedings related to contractual disputes, employment matters, regulatory and compliance matters, intellectual property rights and other litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company operates in a highly regulated industry which may inherently lend itself to legal matters. Management is aware that litigation has associated costs and that results of adverse litigation verdicts could have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. Management, in consultation with legal counsel, has addressed known assertions and predicted unasserted claims below.

 

Biohealth Medical Laboratory, Inc, and PB Laboratories, LLC (the “Companies”) filed suit against CIGNA Health in 2015 alleging that CIGNA failed to pay claims for laboratory services the Companies provided to patients pursuant to CIGNA - issued and CIGNA - administered plans. In 2016, the U.S. District Court dismissed part of the Companies’ claims for lack of standing. The Companies appealed that decision to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which in late 2017 reversed the District Court’s decision and found that the Companies have standing to raise claims arising out of traditional insurance plans as well as self-funded plans.

 

The Company’s Epinex Diagnostics Laboratories, Inc. subsidiary was sued in a California state court by two former employees who alleged that they were wrongfully terminated, as well as for a variety of unpaid wage claims. The parties entered into a settlement agreement of this matter on July 29, 2016 for approximately $0.2 million, and the settlement was consummated on August 25, 2016. In October of 2016, the plaintiffs in this matter filed a motion with the court seeking payment for attorneys’ fees in the approximate amount of $0.7 million. On March 24, 2017, the court granted plaintiffs’ motion for payment of attorneys’ fees in the amount of $0.3 million, and the Company has accrued this amount in its condensed consolidated financial statements. Additionally, the Company is seeking indemnification for these amounts from Epinex Diagnostics, Inc. (“EDI”), the seller of Epinex Diagnostic Laboratories, Inc. (“EDL”), pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement entered into by and among the parties.

 

In February 2016, the Company received notice that the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) placed a lien against Medytox Solutions, Inc. and its subsidiaries relating to unpaid 2014 taxes due, plus penalties and interest, in the amount of $5.0 million. The Company paid $0.1 million toward its 2014 tax liability on March 2016. The Company filed its 2015 Federal tax return on March 15, 2016 and the accompanying election to carryback the reported net operating losses was filed in April 2016. On August 24, 2016, the lien was released, and on September of 2016 the Company received a refund from the IRS in the amount of $1.9 million. In November of 2016, the IRS commenced an audit of the Company’s 2015 Federal tax return. The Company is currently unable to predict the outcome of the audit or any liability to the Company that may result from the audit.

 

On September 27, 2016, a tax warrant was issued against the Company by the Florida Department of Revenue (the “DOR”) for unpaid 2014 state income taxes in the approximate amount of $0.9 million, including penalties and interest. On January 25, 2017, the Company paid the DOR $250,000 as partial payment on this liability, and in February 2017 the Company entered into a Stipulation Agreement with the DOR which allows the Company to make monthly installment payments of $35,000 until February 2018 and negotiate a new payment agreement then, if the balance of $0.3 million cannot be satisfied in a lump sum. If at any time during the Stipulation period the Company fails to timely file any required tax returns with the DOR or does not meet the payment obligations under the Stipulation Agreement, the entire amount due will be accelerated. $0.5 million remains outstanding to the DOR at December 31, 2017.

 

In December of 2016, TCS-Florida, L.P. (“Tetra”), filed suit against the Company for failure to make the required payments under an equipment leasing contract that the Company had with Tetra (see Note 11). On January 3, 2017, Tetra received a Default Judgment against the Company in the amount of $2.6 million, representing the balance owed on the leases, as well as additional interest, penalties and fees. The Company has recognized this amount in its consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2016. In January and February of 2017, the Company made payments to Tetra in connection with this judgment aggregating to $0.7 million, and on February 15, 2017, the Company entered into a forbearance agreement with Tetra whereby the remaining $1.9 million due will be paid in 24 equal monthly installments. Payments commenced on May 1, 2017. $1.3 million monthly payments remain outstanding to Tetra at December 31, 2017. The Company and Tetra have agreed to dispose of certain equipment and reduce the balance owed by amounts received.

 

In December of 2016, DeLage Landen Financial Services, Inc. (“DeLage”), filed suit against the Company for failure to make the required payments under an equipment leasing contract that the Company had with DeLage (see Note 8). On January 24, 2017, DeLage received a default judgment against the Company in the approximate amount of $1.0 million, representing the balance owed on the lease, as well as additional interest, penalties and fees. The Company has recognized this amount in its consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2016. On February 8, 2017, a Stay of Execution was filed and under its terms the balance due will be paid in variable monthly installments through January of 2019, with an implicit interest rate of 4.97%. The Company is in default of its payments to DeLage.

 

On December 7, 2016, the holders of the Tegal Notes (see Note 7) filed suit against the Company seeking payment for the amounts due under the notes in the aggregate of $0.4 million, including accrued interest. A request for entry of default judgment was filed on January 24, 2017. These amounts remain outstanding at December 31, 2017

 

In November 2017, a former shareholder of Genomas filed suit against the Company for payment of a Note payable by the subsidiary Genomas. This Note is recorded in the financial statements of the subsidiary and is not payable directly from the Company. Other claims were included in the suit which the Company believes to be frivolous and without merit. The Company has filed a motion to dismiss certain of these claims. The Company does not deem this suit to be material.

 

The Company and subsidiaries have been party to suits filed by landlords for late payment of rent and have either settled these claims or are in process of agreeing to settlement. The Company does not deem these actions to be material.