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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES On January 28, 2019, Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. and Evalve, Inc., both subsidiaries of Abbott Laboratories (collectively "Abbott") filed a lawsuit against Edwards Lifesciences Corporation and Edwards Lifesciences, LLC, (“Edwards”) in the Federal District Court in the District of Delaware alleging that the Edwards PASCAL heart valve repair system infringes certain claims of Abbott’s U.S. Patent Nos. 7,288,097, 6,752,813, 7,563,267, 7,736,388, and 8,057,493, seeking unspecified monetary damages and preliminary and permanent injunctive relief. Thereafter, Abbott sought a preliminary injunction and a temporary restraining order. The court denied Abbott’s request for a temporary restraining order on March 5, 2019 and heard Abbott’s request for a preliminary injunction on April 15, 2019. On January 28, 2019, Abbott and its Abbott Medical UK Limited subsidiary (inclusively and collectively also "Abbott”) filed a lawsuit in the United Kingdom in the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, Patents Court, against Edwards Lifesciences Limited, alleging that the Edwards PASCAL heart valve repair system infringes certain claims of Abbott’s UK national patents arising from EP 1 624 810 B1 (the " ‘810 patent") and EP 1 408 850 B1 (the “ ‘850 patent”). Abbott has requested a preliminary injunction and the High Court is scheduled to hear that request on or before May 3, 2019. The trial is scheduled to begin on or before December 11, 2019. On January 28, 2019, Abbott Medical GmbH (inclusively and collectively also "Abbott”) filed a lawsuit in the District Court in Düsseldorf, Germany against Edwards Lifesciences Corporation and its German subsidiary, Edwards Lifesciences Services GmbH, alleging that the Edwards PASCAL heart valve repair system infringes certain claims of Abbott’s German national patents arising from the ‘810 and ‘850 European patents. The District Court has scheduled trial for July 14, 2020. On March 15, 2019, Edwards filed a lawsuit in the German Patent Court in Munich, Germany, alleging that Abbott’s ‘850 patent is invalid. The Abbott ‘810 patent is already subject to opposition proceedings at the European Patent Office. On January 28, 2019, Abbott and Abbott Medical AG (inclusively and collectively also "Abbott”) filed a lawsuit in the Federal Patent Court in St. Gallen, Switzerland against Edwards Lifesciences AG, Edwards Lifesciences Technology Sàrl, Edwards Lifesciences IPRM AG, and Mitral Valve Technologies Sàrl, alleging that the Edwards PASCAL heart valve repair system infringes Abbott’s Swiss national patents arising from the same European patents. Abbott has requested a preliminary injunction. On January 28, 2019, Abbott Cardiovascular System Inc., Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A and Evalve Inc. (inclusively and collectively also "Abbott”) filed a lawsuit in the Civil Court of Milan, Italy against Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, Edwards Lifesciences LLC, and Edwards Lifesciences Italia SpA, alleging that the Edwards PASCAL heart valve repair system infringes Abbott’s Italian national patent arising from its ‘850 European patent. The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction. The Company intends to defend itself vigorously in these matters. On February 22, 2019, Edwards Lifesciences Corporation and Edwards Lifesciences, LLC filed a lawsuit against Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. in the Federal District Court in the Central District of California alleging that Abbott’s MITRACLIP device infringes Edwards’ U.S. Patent Nos. 6,719,767, 7,011,669, and 8,062,313 related to heart implant technology and seeking unspecified monetary damages. A trial date has not yet been scheduled. In addition, Edwards Lifesciences is or may be a party to, or may otherwise be responsible for, pending or threatened lawsuits related primarily to products and services currently or formerly manufactured or performed, as applicable, by Edwards Lifesciences (the "Other Lawsuits"). The Other Lawsuits raise difficult and complex factual and legal issues and are subject to many uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the facts and circumstances of each particular case or claim, the jurisdiction in which each suit is brought, and differences in applicable law. Management does not believe that any charge relating to the Other Lawsuits would have a material adverse effect on Edwards Lifesciences’ overall financial position, results of operations, or liquidity. However, the resolution of one or more of the Other Lawsuits in any reporting period, could have a material adverse impact on Edwards Lifesciences' net income or cash flows for that period. The Company is not able to estimate the amount or range of any loss for legal contingencies for which there is no reserve or additional loss for matters already reserved. Edwards Lifesciences is subject to various environmental laws and regulations both within and outside of the United States. The operations of Edwards Lifesciences, like those of other medical device companies, involve the use of substances regulated under environmental laws, primarily in manufacturing and sterilization processes. While it is difficult to quantify the potential impact of continuing compliance with environmental protection laws, management believes that such compliance will not have a material impact on Edwards Lifesciences' financial position, results of operations, or liquidity.

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