v3.25.1
Legal Proceedings
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2025
Legal Proceedings [Abstract]  
Legal Proceedings Legal Proceedings
Antitrust Class Actions

On June 5, 2020, a dental practice named Simon and Simon, PC doing business as City Smiles brought an antitrust action in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of itself and a putative class of similarly situated practices seeking treble monetary damages, interest, costs, attorneys’ fees and injunctive relief relating to our alleged market activities in alleged clear aligner and intraoral scanner markets. Plaintiff filed an amended complaint and added VIP Dental Spas as a plaintiff on August 14, 2020. On December 18, 2023, the court certified a class of persons or entities that purchased Invisalign directly from Align between January 1, 2019 and March 31, 2022. The court denied Plaintiffs’ motion to certify a class of purchasers of scanners. On February 21, 2024, the court granted Align’s motion for summary judgment on all claims brought by the plaintiffs. Plaintiffs have appealed the district court’s summary judgment ruling to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Oral argument was held on April 10, 2025.

On May 3, 2021, an individual named Misty Snow brought an antitrust action in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of herself and a putative class of similarly situated individuals seeking treble monetary damages, interest, costs, attorneys’ fees and injunctive relief relating to our alleged market activities in alleged clear aligner and intraoral scanner markets based on Section 2 of the Sherman Act. Plaintiffs have filed several amended complaints adding new plaintiffs, various state law claims and allegations based on Section 1 of the Sherman Act. On November 29, 2023, the court certified a class of indirect purchasers of Invisalign between July 1, 2018 and December 31, 2023 and a class of indirect purchasers of Invisalign seeking injunctive relief. On February 21, 2024, the court granted Align’s motion for summary judgment on the claims related to Section 2 allegations. The court entered judgment for the Section 2 and related state law claims on March 22, 2024. Plaintiffs have appealed the district court’s summary judgment ruling to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Oral argument was held on April 10, 2025.

We are currently unable to predict the outcome of these lawsuits and therefore we cannot determine the likelihood of loss, if any, nor estimate a range of possible loss.

In June 2024, Align and the Section 1 plaintiffs reached a settlement in principle to resolve all remaining claims in the Section 1 lawsuit. In March, 2025, Align and plaintiffs agreed to a revised settlement to resolve all Section 1 claims for a $31.75 million cash payment. On April 24, 2025 Plaintiffs filed a motion requesting the court approve the revised settlement. A
hearing on the motion is scheduled for May 22, 2025. We are unable to predict the timeline or outcome of the motion to approve the settlement. We continue to believe that plaintiffs’ Section 1 claims are without merit and remain ready to vigorously defend ourselves against those claims.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2025, Align accrued a total loss of $31.75 million, $27.5 million as of December 31, 2024 and an additional loss accrual of $4.25 million in the first quarter of 2025, for the settlement of the Section 1 claims described above.

Straumann Litigation

On April 11, 2024, we filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas against ClearCorrect Operating, LLC, ClearCorrect Holdings., Inc. and Institut Straumann AG (“Defendants”). The complaint asserts claims of false advertising, unfair competition, civil conspiracy and infringement of Align patents related to aligner material, treatment planning, and intraoral scanner technologies. Among other things, the complaint seeks relief enjoining Defendants’ infringement of multiple Align multilayer material patents through Defendants’ manufacture, sale and offer for sale of aligners made with Zendura FLX/ClearQuartz materials. Defendants filed motions to dismiss the complaint, which are pending. Defendants are also seeking to invalidate all of Align’s asserted patents at the district court and United States Patent and Trial Appeal Board.

On July 9, 2024, Defendants filed counterclaims against Align for alleged antitrust violations, false advertising, unfair competition and breach of contract. Among other things, the counterclaims seek to stop Align’s accused business practices and money damages. On September 13, 2024, we filed a motion to dismiss defendants’ counterclaims. On February 7, 2025, the magistrate judge recommended denial of the motion to dismiss. On February 21, 2025, we filed objections to the recommendation, which are pending before the district court judge. A trial is scheduled for February 16, 2026.

We believe Defendants’ counterclaims are without merit and intend to vigorously defend ourselves. We are currently unable to predict the outcome of this lawsuit and cannot determine the likelihood of loss nor estimate a range of possible loss.

In addition to the above, in the ordinary course of our operations, we are involved in a variety of claims, suits, investigations and proceedings, including actions with respect to intellectual property claims, patent infringement claims, government investigations, labor and employment claims, breach of contract claims, tax and other matters. Regardless of the outcome, these proceedings can have an adverse impact on us because of defense costs, diversion of management resources and other factors. Although the results of complex legal proceedings are difficult to predict and our view of these matters may change in the future as litigation and events related thereto unfold; we currently do not believe that these matters, individually or in the aggregate, will materially affect our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.