Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Note 15 - Commitments and Contingencies

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Note 15 - Commitments and Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Notes to Financial Statements  
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

15. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal Matters

On April 19, 2024, the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal affirmed the $93.1 million jury verdict and district court judgment in our favor in our long-running court battle against Praxair/Linde, one of the industrial gas suppliers to our Geismar, Louisiana MDI manufacturing site. The case was filed after Praxair refused to maintain properly its own Geismar facility and then repeatedly failed to supply our requirements for industrial gases needed to manufacture MDI under long-term supply contracts that expired in 2013. After adding mandatory pre-judgment and post-judgment interest to the award, we expect damages to exceed $135 million before deducting for taxes and legal contingency fees. The award remains subject to further potential review but, if affirmed or reviewed by the Louisiana Supreme Court, we would expect to receive net proceeds of approximately $50 million to $60 million. We have not yet recognized the award in our condensed consolidated statements of operations and the timing of the resolution of this matter is uncertain.

 

We are a party to various other proceedings instituted by private plaintiffs, governmental authorities and others arising under provisions of applicable laws, including various environmental, products liability and other laws. We do not believe that the outcome of any of these matters will have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.