COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES [Text Block] | 15. Provisions The Company's current known provisions and contingent liabilities consist of the following as of September 30, 2024: Legal disputes Sales tax Total Balance as at December 31, 2023 $ 2,962 $ 2,538 $ 5,500 Payments/settlements (7 ) (380 ) (387 ) Additional provisions 1,183 451 1,634 Foreign currency translation 96 - 96 Balance as at September 30, 2024 $ 4,234 $ 2,609 $ 6,843 The legal disputes balance as of September 30, 2024, relate to the settlement of a contractual dispute involving the Company. It involves a former shareholder of ACA Mueller, an entity that was part of the Company's acquisition of FGH in December 2022, who filed a statement of claim against a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company in the Constance Regional Court in Germany. In March 2024, the Constance Regional Court in Germany ordered the Company to pay the plaintiff $3.0 million plus interest thereon at a rate of 5% above the prime rate since September 6, 2020 in addition to 83% of the legal fees. The Company has since filed an appeal. While the Company believes that this claim is without merit, at this time the Company believes it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the Company is able to reasonably estimate the loss of $4.2 million, including $1.2 million of interest accrued in the nine months ended September 30, 2024. As a result, without acknowledgement (explicitly or implicitly) of any amount of liability arising from this claim, the Company recognized a provision of $4.2 million to reflect the value of the claim. This dispute is covered under an indemnification agreement between the Company and the former Chief Executive Officer and shareholder of FGH. The Company intends to vigorously defend itself through appropriate legal proceedings. The $4.2 million is recorded within contingencies and within indemnification receivables on the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial position. The settlement of legal disputes in 2024 related to the settlement of an action brought against the Company in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice by Gerardo Andres Garcia Mendez claiming that the Company was obligated to issue 3,000,000 common shares (pre-splits) to him for a purchase price of $0.05 per share as a result of alleged consulting services he performed in 2019. In December 2023, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with Mr. Garcia Mendez pursuant to which the Company will pay less than $0.1 million to Mr. Garcia Mendez to settle the dispute. The payment was made in January 2024. The amount was recorded within contingencies on the consolidated statements of financial position and expense on the consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2023. On April 30, 2024, a group representing the sellers of Just Brands LLC to Flora in February 2022 brought an action against the Company in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York claiming that the Company failed to promptly issue additional shares in accordance with a specific formula set forth in the securities purchase agreement after the two-year anniversary of the closing, which occurred on February 24, 2024. The plaintiffs claim that they are entitled to 182,889 common shares and $38.0 million to complete the acquisition of Just Brands LLC. The Company has assessed the claims and concluded that it is probable that a liability has been incurred and that the Company is able to reasonably estimate the loss based on the fair value of 632,484 common shares of the Company. As at September 30, 2024, this value is $1.0 million and has been recorded in the contingent purchase considerations on the unaudited condensed interim consolidated statement of financial position. The Sales tax relates to estimated amounts owed to certain jurisdictions in the Unites States for sales from the Company's JustCBD operations. The ending balance is recorded within contingencies on the unaudited condensed interim consolidated statement of financial position, and additions to the provision as a reduction of revenue on the unaudited condensed interim consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive loss. Legal proceedings The Company records liabilities for legal proceedings in those instances where it can reasonably estimate the amount of the loss and where liability is probable. The Company is engaged from time-to-time in various legal proceedings and claims that have arisen in the ordinary course of business. The outcome of all the proceedings and claims against the Company is subject to future resolution, including the uncertainties of litigation. Based on information currently known to the Company and after consultation with outside legal counsel, management believes that the probable ultimate resolution of any such proceedings and claims, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company, taken as a whole as at September 30, 2024. On November 1, 2023, Just Brands filed an Emergency Complaint for Declaratory Judgment and Injunctive Relief in the Southern District of Florida against the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (the "Department") stemming from stop sale orders issued by the Department whereby the Department prohibited Just Brands from selling and moving most of its products. Relying on Florida Statute Section 581.217, which includes the definition of "attractive to children," the Department determined Just Brand's product could not be sold or moved because the products were manufactured in the shape of humans, cartoons, or animals; in a form that bears a reasonable resemblance to an existing candy product; and containing color additives. The Court ruled in favor of the Department and that Order was being appealed to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Since then, the Department has initiated an Administrative Action claiming Just Brands moved product outside the State of Florida in violation of the stop sale orders. The statute provides for a penalty of up to $5,000 per violation. The Department sought to assess penalties on what they claimed to be a total of 215,154 violations (one for each package). The Company disputed the Department's claim and vigorously defended against this action. The total value of inventory impacted by the stop sale orders was $1.9 million. On May 7, 2024, Just Brands and the Department agreed to a settlement and general release, whereby Just Brands will remove the products subject to the stop sales orders from the state of Florida, pay the Department $60,500 to reimburse the Department's attorney's fees, and accept a five-year revocation of its food permit in the state of Florida. By signing the release, Just Brands waived, settled and released all claims it had or might have against the Department. Similarly, on June 27, 2024, Just Brands and the Department agreed to a settlement and general release, whereby High Roller will remove the products subject to the Stop Sales Orders from the state of Florida, destroy products containing controlled substances, pay the Department $5,000 to reimburse the Department's attorney's fees, and accept a two-year suspension of the manufacture, distribution and sale of gummy hemp extract products in the state of Florida. By signing the release, High Roller waived, settled and released all claims it had or might have against the Department. On May 31, 2023, Maria Beatriz Fernandez Otero and Sara Cristina Jacome De Torres brought an action against the Company in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice claiming that the Company is obligated to issue 500,000 common shares (pre-splits) each for a purchase price of $0.05 per share. The plaintiffs claim that they are entitled to such shares as compensation for alleged consulting services performed. The Company disputes their claim and intends to vigorously defend against this action. The Company believes that an unfavorable settlement in this matter is remote, and, as such, has not accrued a liability as of September 30, 2024. On May 31, 2023, Ramon Ricardo Castellanos Saenz and Miriam Ortiz brought an action against the Company in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice claiming that the Company is obligated to issue 1,500,000 common shares (pre-splits) each for a purchase price of $0.05 per share. The plaintiffs claim that they are entitled to such shares as compensation for alleged consulting services performed. The Company disputes their claim and intends to vigorously defend against this action. The Company believes that an unfavorable settlement in this matter is remote, and, as such, has not accrued a liability as of September 30, 2024. In connection with the Company's acquisition of FGH, the Company's current CEO and the former Chief Executive Officer of FGH, together with certain affiliated entities under his control, entered into an agreement pursuant to which they agreed to indemnify the Company for certain potential liabilities of FGH and its subsidiaries, up to a maximum of $5.0 million. In addition to the matter regarding the former shareholder of ACA Mueller, discussed above, the following actions are pending as of the date hereof: On February 3, 2023, an action was brought in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice by Nathan Shantz and Liberacion e Inversiones S.A. against various parties including Clifford Starke, the Company's current CEO and FGH's former Chief Executive Officer, and FGH. The statement of claim alleges that, prior to the closing of the Arrangement, 8,831,109 FGH shares purportedly owned by the plaintiffs were wrongfully transferred to third parties, in part through alleged unauthorized steps taken by Mr. Starke. Plaintiffs seek, among other things, a declaration that they are the rightful owners of the shares or, in the alternative, damages. Against FGH, they claim a declaration that, by virtue of the alleged unauthorized transfer of shares, FGH acted oppressively and seek damages in the amount of $4.0 million. The defendants have brought motions to stay the proceedings on the grounds that the Ontario court lacks jurisdiction over the claim. In the event FGH should incur any losses in connection with this matter, such losses are to be indemnified by Mr. Starke subject to the maximum threshold of the indemnity agreement. The Company believes that an unfavorable settlement in this matter is remote, and, as such, has not accrued a liability as of September 30, 2024. The total amount claimed against the former entities of FGH currently exceeds the maximum $5.0 million of the indemnification agreement. However, the Company is estimating the likelihood of loss in these cases will not exceed $4.2 million. |