Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Note 6 - Contingencies

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Note 6 - Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 6 – Contingencies


BreathableBaby, LLC (“BreathableBaby”) filed a complaint against the Company and CCIP, on January 11, 2012 in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, alleging that CCIP’s mesh crib liner infringes BreathableBaby’s patent rights relating to its air permeable infant bedding technology. The Company believes that it has meritorious defenses to the claims asserted in the complaint, and the Company intends to defend itself vigorously against all such claims. The Company and CCIP filed a motion for summary judgment of non-infringement on May 14, 2012. On July 25, 2012, the Court entered an order denying that motion without prejudice to refiling it at the close of discovery. In doing so, the Court did not rule on the merits of the Company’s motion, but instead determined that further discovery was required before a motion for summary judgment could be decided. Discovery accordingly was resumed; however, on August 6, 2013, upon becoming concerned that the costs of discovery and litigation were quickly surpassing the amount in controversy, the Court ordered a temporary stay of all discovery.


CCIP has filed an application for a patent related to its mesh crib liner with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) and has capitalized $58,000 of costs associated with this patent application as of June 30, 2013. In addition, the Company’s policy is to capitalize legal and other costs incurred in the defense of the Company’s patents when it is believed that the future economic benefit of the patent will be maintained or increased and a successful defense is probable. In this regard, as of June 30, 2013, the Company capitalized legal and other costs in the amount of $990,000 associated with its defense of the BreathableBaby complaint into the intangible asset related to its own patent application for CCIP’s mesh crib liner. Upon the earlier of a grant of a patent by the USPTO or a favorable conclusion of the BreathableBaby litigation, the Company will commence amortization of the combined patent application costs and litigation costs associated with CCIP’s mesh crib liner over the expected life of the patent, to the extent that an economic benefit is anticipated from the patent or an alternative future use for the mesh crib liner is available to the Company. A different outcome of the BreathableBaby litigation could result in a material impairment charge up to the $1.0 million carrying value of CCIP’s mesh crib liner.


On March 27, 2013, an alleged California purchaser of a CCIP bedding set filed a complaint against the Company and CCIP in the Superior Court for the County of Riverside, California, purportedly on behalf of herself and similarly situated California consumers. The complaint generally alleges that CCIP’s crib bumper products put children at risk of suffocation or crib death and that the Company and CCIP concealed and failed to disclose these purported risks through allegedly false and misleading advertising and product packaging. The complaint does not allege that any child has actually been harmed by these products. The complaint alleges violations of various consumer protection laws in California. The purported class is defined in the complaint as “All California consumers who, within the applicable statute of limitations, purchased a Crown Craft [sic] crib bumper, either alone or as part of a bedding set.” The complaint seeks damages for the purported class in an unspecified amount, injunctive relief, restitution and disgorgement of all monies acquired by the Company and CCIP by means of any act or practice the Court finds to be unlawful, a Court-ordered corrective advertising campaign, and an award of plaintiffs’ attorneys fees and costs. On April 29, 2013, the Company and CCIP removed the case to the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The Company believes that it has meritorious defenses to the claims asserted in the complaint, and the Company intends to defend itself vigorously against all such claims.


In addition to the foregoing civil complaints, the Company is, from time to time, involved in various other legal and regulatory proceedings relating to claims arising in the ordinary course of its business. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any such proceeding the outcome of which, individually or in the aggregate, is expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.