XML 25 R14.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.24.3
Legal Proceedings
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Legal Proceedings [Abstract]  
Legal Proceedings Legal Proceedings
2019 Shareholder Derivative Lawsuit

In January 2019, three derivative lawsuits were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California which were later consolidated, purportedly on our behalf, naming as defendants the then current members of our Board of
Directors along with certain of our executive officers. The complaints assert various state law causes of action, including for breaches of fiduciary duty, insider trading, and unjust enrichment. The complaints seek unspecified monetary damages on our behalf, which is named solely as a nominal defendant against whom no recovery is sought, as well as disgorgement and the costs and expenses associated with the litigation, including attorneys’ fees. The consolidated action is currently stayed. Defendants have not yet responded to the complaints.

On April 12, 2019, a derivative lawsuit was also filed in California Superior Court for Santa Clara County, purportedly on our behalf, naming as defendants the members of our Board of Directors along with certain of our executive officers. The allegations in the complaint are similar to those in the derivative suits described above. The matter is currently stayed. Defendants have not yet responded to the complaint.

In the first quarter of 2024, the parties to these actions entered into a settlement agreement whereby, subject to court approval, plaintiffs will dismiss the lawsuits and release their claims. In the settlement agreement, Align and the defendants deny any wrongdoing and are not making any monetary payments, other than a potential award of $575,000 in attorney’s fees to plaintiffs’ counsel, covered by insurance. On August 2, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted preliminary approval of the settlement.

Antitrust Class Actions

On June 5, 2020, a dental practice named Simon and Simon, PC doing business as City Smiles brought an antitrust action in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of itself and a putative class of similarly situated practices seeking treble monetary damages, interest, costs, attorneys’ fees, and injunctive relief relating to our alleged market activities in alleged clear aligner and intraoral scanner markets. Plaintiff filed an amended complaint and added VIP Dental Spas as a plaintiff on August 14, 2020. On December 18, 2023, the court certified a class of persons or entities that purchased Invisalign directly from Align between January 1, 2019 and March 31, 2022. The court denied Plaintiffs’ motion to certify a class of purchasers of scanners. On February 21, 2024, the court granted Align’s motion for summary judgment on all claims brought by the plaintiffs. The court entered judgment on March 22, 2024. Plaintiffs have appealed the district court’s summary judgment ruling to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Plaintiff-Appellants' opening brief was filed July 15, 2024. Align’s response brief was submitted October 21, 2024 and Plaintiff-Appellants' reply brief is due January 6, 2025.

On May 3, 2021, an individual named Misty Snow brought an antitrust action in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of herself and a putative class of similarly situated individuals seeking treble monetary damages, interest, costs, attorneys’ fees, and injunctive relief relating to our alleged market activities in alleged clear aligner and intraoral scanner markets based on Section 2 of the Sherman Act. Plaintiffs have filed several amended complaints adding new plaintiffs, various state law claims, and allegations based on Section 1 of the Sherman Act. On November 29, 2023, the court certified a class of indirect purchasers of Invisalign between July 1, 2018 and December 31, 2023 and a class of indirect purchasers of Invisalign seeking injunctive relief. On February 21, 2024, the court granted Align’s motion for summary judgment on the claims related to Section 2 allegations. The court entered judgment for the Section 2 and related state law claims on March 22, 2024. Plaintiffs have appealed the district court’s summary judgment ruling to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Plaintiff-Appellants' opening brief was filed July 15, 2024. Align’s response brief was submitted October 21, 2024 and Plaintiff-Appellants' reply brief is due January 6, 2025.

We are currently unable to predict the outcome of these lawsuits and therefore we cannot determine the likelihood of loss, if any, nor estimate a range of possible loss.

In June 2024, Align and the Section 1 plaintiffs reached a settlement in principle that would resolve all remaining claims in the Section 1 lawsuit. The settlement terms included a $27.5 million cash payment and an offer of a $300 coupon for class members who elected to purchase Invisalign treatment. We agreed to settle the lawsuit to avoid the distraction and uncertainty of litigation. On September 18, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California denied plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary approval of the settlement without prejudice, allowing plaintiffs to file a renewed motion within 35 days. Plaintiffs and Align filed a renewed motion for preliminary approval of the settlement on October 28, 2024. We are unable to predict the timeline or outcome of the motion to approve the settlement. We continue to believe that plaintiffs’ Section 1 claims are without merit and remain ready to vigorously defend ourselves against those claims.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024 we accrued a loss of $31.1 million for legal settlements for multiple legal matters, but primarily related to the settlement of the Section 1 claims described above.
Straumann Litigation

On April 11, 2024, we filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas against ClearCorrect Operating, LLC, ClearCorrect Holdings, Inc., and Institut Straumann AG. The complaint asserts claims of false advertising, unfair competition, civil conspiracy, and infringement of Align patents related to aligner material, treatment planning, and intraoral scanner technologies. Among other things, the complaint seeks relief enjoining the defendants’ infringement of multiple Align multilayer material patents through defendants’ manufacture, sale and offer for sale of aligners made with Zendura FLX/ClearQuartz materials. On June 20, 2024, Defendants filed motions to dismiss the Complaint, which are pending. On July 9, 2024, ClearCorrect Operating, LLC, ClearCorrect Holdings, Inc. and Straumann USA LLC filed counterclaims against Align for alleged antitrust violations, false advertising, unfair competition, and breach of contract. Among other things, the counterclaims seek relief enjoining Align’s accused business practices, invalidating Align’s asserted patents, and money damages. On September 13, 2024, we filed a motion to dismiss defendants’ counterclaims. Align believes these claims are without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself. Align is currently unable to predict the outcome of this lawsuit and cannot determine the likelihood of loss nor estimate a range of possible loss.

In addition to the above, in the ordinary course of our operations, we are involved in a variety of claims, suits, investigations, and proceedings, including actions with respect to intellectual property claims, patent infringement claims, government investigations, labor and employment claims, breach of contract claims, tax, and other matters. Regardless of the outcome, these proceedings can have an adverse impact on us because of defense costs, diversion of management resources, and other factors. Although the results of complex legal proceedings are difficult to predict and our view of these matters may change in the future as litigation and events related thereto unfold; we currently do not believe that these matters, individually or in the aggregate, will materially affect our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.