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Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Commitments and Contingencies  
Commitments and Contingencies

9.    Commitments and Contingencies

 

Litigation

 

In the ordinary conduct of business, the Company is subject to lawsuits, arbitrations and administrative proceedings from time to time. The Company expenses legal costs as incurred.

 

IpLearn

 

On October 26, 2011, IpLearn, LLC (“IpLearn”) filed a complaint for patent infringement against the Company in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, IpLearn, LLC v. K12 Inc., Case No. 1:11-1026-LPS, which it subsequently amended on November 18, 2011. IpLearn is a privately-held technology development and licensing company for web and computer-based learning technologies. In its complaint, IpLearn alleges that the Company has infringed three of its patents for various computer-aided learning methods and systems. On July 2, 2012, the Court granted the Company’s motion to dismiss IpLearn’s allegations of indirect patent infringement and allowed IpLearn’s allegations of direct patent infringement to proceed. On January 15, 2013, the court approved a stay of IpLearn’s claims alleging infringement of one of the three patents in the case involving technology licensed to K12 by a third party. The discovery process is currently in progress.

 

Hoppaugh Complaint and Related Matters

 

On January 30, 2012, a securities class-action lawsuit captioned David Hoppaugh et al. v. K12 Inc. et. al., was filed against the Company and two of its officers in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Case No. I:12-CV-00103-CMH-IDD. On May 18, 2012, the Court appointed the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System as lead plaintiff, and it filed an amended class action complaint (the “Amended Complaint”) on June 22, 2012. The plaintiff purports to represent a class of persons who purchased or otherwise acquired K12 common stock between September 9, 2009 and December 16, 2011 (the “Class Period”), inclusive, and alleges violations by the defendants of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. The plaintiff alleges among other things that the defendants made false or misleading statements of material fact, or failed to disclose material facts, about (i) the Company’s revenue and enrollment results during the Class Period, (ii) the academic performance of the virtual schools served by the Company, and (iii) certain school administrative practices and sales strategies related to enrollments. The plaintiff seeks unspecified compensatory damages and other relief. On September 18, 2012, the Court denied Defendants’ motion on the pleadings to dismiss the action, and permitted the case to proceed to the next stage of litigation. The Company intends to continue to vigorously defend against the claims asserted in the Amended Complaint. Discovery is ongoing in this matter.

 

In addition to the above described stockholder class action, on March 21, 2012, a federal stockholder derivative action, Jared Staal v. Andrew H. Tisch, et. al., Case No. I:12-cv-00365-SLR, putatively initiated on behalf of the Company, was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. By stipulation, all matters in this derivative action have been stayed.

 

The Board of Directors received a stockholder demand letter, dated August 16, 2012, that asserted allegations against various directors, senior officers and employees of K12 similar to those made in the previously disclosed securities class action and derivative lawsuits. The stockholder requested that the Board investigate and pursue claims related to breach of fiduciary duty on behalf of the Company. The Board has formed a demand evaluation committee, which has retained counsel to assist with its review of the demand. The Board will take appropriate action based on the committee’s recommendation. On October 19, 2012, the Board received a stockholder demand pursuant to 8 Del. C. § 220 (a “220 Demand”) from Oakland County Employees’ Retirement System to inspect certain categories of documents. The Board is considering the 220 Demand and will take appropriate action.