v3.25.1
Commitments and Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2025
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
Product Litigation
As a manufacturer of weapons and other law enforcement tools used in high-risk field environments, we are often the subject of products liability litigation concerning the use of our products. We are currently named as a defendant in two such lawsuits in which the plaintiffs allege either wrongful death or personal injury in situations in which a TASER CED was used by law enforcement officers in connection with arrests or training. While the facts vary from case to case, these product liability claims typically allege defective product design, manufacturing, and/or failure to warn. They seek compensatory and sometimes punitive damages, often in unspecified amounts.
We continue to aggressively defend all product litigation. As a general rule, it is our policy not to settle suspect injury or death cases. Exceptions are sometimes made where the settlement is strategically beneficial to us. Due to the confidential nature of our litigation strategy and the confidentiality agreements that are executed in the event of a settlement, we do not identify or comment on specific settlements by case or amount. Based on current information, we do not believe that the outcome of any such legal proceeding will have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. We are self-insured for the first $5.0 million of any product claim made after 2014. No judgment or settlement has ever exceeded this amount in any products liability case. We continue to maintain product liability insurance coverage, including an insurance policy fronting arrangement, above our self-insured retention with various limits depending on the policy period.
Other Matters
Despite the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC”) dismissal of its administrative enforcement complaint against Axon without consent decree or other condition in October 2023, other parties continue to allege that Axon’s May 2018 acquisition of an insolvent body camera competitor, Vievu LLC, was anticompetitive. Two purported antitrust lawsuits based largely on the FTC’s unproven allegations are pending in the District of New Jersey (Case No. 3:23-cv-7182) and District of Arizona (Case No. 2:24-cv-01869-SMB). The claims in both cases were substantially narrowed during motion practice. Axon denies all allegations of anticompetitive or other misconduct and is vigorously defending the cases.
Pending in the Eastern District of Virginia (Case No. 1:24-CV-01625) is a patent infringement suit filed by Airspace Systems, Inc. against Dedrone Holdings, Inc. involving certain drone technology. After Axon acquired Dedrone on October 1, 2024, Airspace amended its complaint and added Axon as a defendant. Airspace seeks injunctive relief and treble damages in an unspecified amount. Axon and Dedrone deny infringement and further contend that the three asserted patents are invalid and/or contain patent ineligible subject matter. To that end, Axon has simultaneously challenged all three patents in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the court has stayed the litigation until September 15, 2025 or until the Patent Trial and Appeal Board renders a decision on Axon's petitions.
General
From time to time, we are notified that we may be a party to a lawsuit or that a claim is being made against us. After carefully assessing the claim, and assuming we determine that we are not at fault or we disagree with the damages or relief demanded, we vigorously defend any lawsuit filed against us. We record a liability when losses are deemed probable and reasonably estimable. When losses are deemed reasonably possible but not probable, we determine whether it is possible to provide an estimate of the amount of the loss or range of possible losses for the claim, if material for disclosure. In evaluating matters for accrual and disclosure purposes, we take into consideration factors such as our historical experience with matters of a similar nature, the specific facts and circumstances asserted, the likelihood of our prevailing, the availability of insurance, and the severity of any potential loss. We reevaluate and update accruals as matters progress over time.
Based on our assessment of outstanding litigation and claims as of March 31, 2025, we have determined that it is not reasonably possible that these losses, if any, from lawsuits will individually, or in the aggregate, materially affect our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. However, the outcome of any litigation is inherently uncertain and there can be no assurance that any expense, liability or damages that may ultimately result from the resolution of these matters will be covered by our insurance or will not be in excess of amounts recognized or provided by insurance coverage and will not have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition or cash flows.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Under certain circumstances, we use letters of credit and surety bonds to guarantee our performance under various contracts, principally in connection with the installation and integration of Axon cameras and related technologies. Certain of our letters of credit and surety bonds have stated expiration dates with others being released as the contractual performance terms are completed. At March 31, 2025, we had outstanding letters of credit issued under our credit facility of $8.7 million that are expected to expire through 2026. We also had outstanding letters of credit of $0.1 million that do not draw against our credit facility. Additionally, we had $21.6 million of outstanding surety bonds as of March 31, 2025, with expiration dates ranging through 2029.