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Commitments and contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and contingencies Commitments and contingencies
Litigation and other matters
The Company is subject to certain legal proceedings and claims that arise in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, the Company does not believe that the amount of liability, if any, as a result of these proceedings and claims will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
On February 21, 2023, the Company received a civil investigative demand from the FTC regarding compliance with the FTC Act and the Telemarketing Sales Rule, as they relate to the advertising, marketing, promotion, offering for sale, or sale of healthcare-related products, the collection, sale, transfer or provision to third parties of consumer data, telemarketing practices, and/or consumer privacy or data security. The Company has cooperated fully with the FTC investigation.
On October 30, 2024, after completion of the Company’s earnings call, the Company received a letter from the staff of the FTC (the “FTC Staff”) stating that the FTC Staff is prepared to recommend the filing of a complaint against the Company for violations of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule ("TSR") and the Government and Business Impersonation Rule (the “Impersonation Rule”).
The FTC Staff alleges that, in connection with the Company’s lead generation and telemarketing activities, the Company has represented itself as affiliated with government entities, made misleading claims (in particular regarding health insurance products and the Company’s use of consumers’ personal information) and utilized deceptive advertising, in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act. The FTC Staff further alleges that the Company has violated the Impersonation Rule in representing itself to be affiliated with government entities and the TSR in connection with telemarketing activities.
The FTC Staff proposes to seek injunctive and monetary relief and civil penalties. If obtained in whole or in part, the monetary relief and penalties proposed by the FTC Staff would have an adverse, and potentially material, effect on the Company’s liquidity, financial condition and results of operations. The total amount of these proposed items significantly exceeds the Company’s existing liquidity and financial resources. Any such costs above the existing liquidity and financial resources would require the Company to seek additional capital, incur debt or otherwise take significant actions in order to satisfy the claims and there can be no assurances that such financing could be obtained on acceptable terms, or at all. In addition, the proposed injunctive terms, if obtained in whole or in part, could materially and adversely affect the Company’s ability to operate its business in its Health insurance vertical, including how the Company conducts its marketing activities and endeavors to ensure compliance with consumer protection laws by itself and third parties with which the Company does business.
The Company strongly disagrees with the FTC Staff’s allegations and believes it has substantial and meritorious defenses to these claims. Among other things, the Company believes that its conduct does not rise to the legal standard required for the FTC to obtain the proposed monetary relief and penalties. The Company will continue to engage in good faith and with the FTC Staff and seek to resolve this matter prior to litigation, but the Company is prepared to defend itself vigorously if a complaint is filed.
Based on the facts and circumstances available to the Company as of the time of this filing, the Company believes that a loss in connection with the FTC matter is probable, either as a result of legal fees to be incurred to defend the claim or as a result of a settlement of the matter. However, due to, among other things, inherent uncertainty regarding the ultimate resolution of the FTC Staff’s claims, whether through settlement or litigation, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate the amount of probable loss or range of probable loss at this time.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company incurred legal fees of $0.2 million and $2.0 million, respectively, and during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company incurred legal fees of $1.6 million and $3.0 million, respectively, in connection with the demand, which are included within general and administrative expenses on the consolidated statement of operations. At this time, the Company is unable to predict the ultimate outcome of this matter or the significance, if any, to the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.
On February 26, 2024, the Company received an assessment from the City of Los Angeles related to its examination of the Company's Business Tax filings for tax years 2018 through 2023. Such assessment was affirmed by the Appeals Review Officer at an initial hearing in July 2024. The Company intends to appeal the assessment to the Board of Review of the Office of Finance. As of September 30, 2024, the Company has assessed its probable loss related to this matter and has accrued a reserve, which is not material.
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company did not have any material contingency reserves established for any litigation liabilities.