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CONTINGENCIES | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
CONTINGENCIES | 8. CONTINGENCIES The Company filed a civil complaint on February 17, 2010 in the U.S. District Court (SD, Cal) against Barry Minkow and the Fraud Discovery Institute, Inc. (collectively, “Minkow”), iBusiness Reporting, and its editor William Lobdell, Tracy Coenen and Sequence, Inc. (collectively, “Coenen”), “Zee Yourself”, and Robert L. Fitzpatrick (“FitzPatrick”) for defamation, market manipulation and unfair business practices, alleging a scheme of market manipulation of Medifast stock for Defendants’ for monetary gain, and damaging the business reputation of Medifast and its Take Shape For Life division. Bradley T. MacDonald, former Executive Chairman of Medifast and a stockholder, joined the lawsuit individually. The lawsuit seeks $270 million in compensatory damages, punitive damages, and ancillary relief. In March 2011, the District Court granted in part and denied in part certain Anti-SLAPP Motions to Strike (i.e. motions to dismiss) previously filed by all Defendants. The Company appealed that portion of the District Court’s ruling which dismissed its defamation claims against Minkow and Coenen in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Defendant FitzPatrick’s motion was denied as to the Company’s defamation claim, and FitzPatrick appealed that portion of the Court’s ruling. On June 4, 2014, the Panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision, denying FitzPatrick’s appeal and remanding to the District Court for further consideration; reversing the District Court’s decision as to Minkow and remanding for further consideration; denying MacDonald’s appeal in its entirety; and denying Medifast’s appeal as to Coenen. On September 26, 2014, the District Court obtained jurisdiction of the case once again and the parties set a briefing schedule on the outstanding issues remanded by the Ninth Circuit. Coenen filed a motion for attorneys’ fees, which Medifast has opposed. That motion is now fully-briefed and currently remains sub judice. Medifast has been engaged in settlement discussions with Minkow and FitzPatrick. There is a status conference with the District Court scheduled for March 20, 2015. The Company has entered into guarantee agreements with two key franchisee partners in order to support them obtaining additional funding to expand their business into new markets. This is in line with the Company’s long-term strategy of expanding the franchise business utilizing knowledgeable franchise partners. The first guarantee provides financial coverage for a $1.0 million loan and a $1.0 million line of credit. The variable rate term loan has a 2 year term expiring in September 2015; payment calculations assume a 7 year amortization with a balloon payment due at the end of the term. The line of credit has a two year term expiring in September 2015. The franchisee associated with these loans has failed to pay the monthly obligations and the Company expects to be required to perform under this guarantee and has accrued a charge of $2.0 million as of December 31, 2014. The Company is a secondary guarantor on the loan and line of credit and has pursued personal recourse against the franchise owner. The second guarantee provides financial coverage for a $1.4 million loan. The variable rate term loan has a 2 year term expiring in October 2015; payment calculations assume a 7 year amortization with a balloon payment due at the end of the term. The Company is the third guarantor on these loans and has recourse against another entity owned by the franchisee and the franchisee owner(s) themselves should it be deemed necessary. As of March 10, 2015, the franchisee has an outstanding balance of $0.1 million on the loan. On July 20, 2012, Jason Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, signed a proposed consent decree with the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), in response to the FTC’s investigation of certain statements in the Company’s advertising for its weight-loss programs. On September 17, 2012 the consent decree was entered and approved by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The consent decree replaces a previous consent order entered into by Jason Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and the FTC in 1992. The FTC expressed concern that some of the Company’s advertising contained claims which were not compatible with current standards for substantiation. Pursuant to the consent decree, the Company agreed to modify certain advertising claims in this regard and agreed to ensure that its clinical studies meet the protocol contained in the consent agreement. The Company paid a civil penalty of $3.7 million to resolve the FTC’s concerns and avoid protracted legal proceedings. The Company recorded the penalty in the second quarter of 2012 as part of selling, general & administration expenses.

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