15. Contingencies

Except as disclosed below, the Company is not currently a party to any legal proceeding, investigation or claim which, in the opinion of management, is likely to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Legal fees associated with such legal proceedings are expensed as incurred. The Company reviews legal proceedings and claims on an ongoing basis and follows the appropriate accounting guidance, including ASC 450, when making accrual and disclosure decisions. The Company establishes accruals for those contingencies where the incurrence of a loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated, and the Company discloses the amount accrued and the amount of a reasonably possible loss in excess of the amount accrued, if such disclosure is necessary for the consolidated financial statements to not be misleading. To estimate whether a loss contingency should be accrued by a charge to income, the Company evaluates, among other factors, the probability of an unfavorable outcome and the ability to make a reasonable estimate of the amount of the loss. The Company does not accrue liabilities when the likelihood that the liability has been incurred is probable, but the amount cannot be reasonably estimated.

In addition, the Company may be involved in litigation from time to time in the ordinary course of business. It is the opinion of the Company's management that the ultimate resolution of any such matters currently pending will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, the results of such matters cannot be predicted with certainty and there can be no assurance that the ultimate resolution of any legal or administrative proceeding or dispute will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

In determining whether a loss should be accrued, the Company evaluates, among other factors, the degree of probability and the ability to reasonably estimate the amount of any such loss.

On January 28, 2020, the Company received a Civil Investigative Demand from the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") regarding compliance with the FTC Act and the Telemarketing Sales Rule. On   July 17, 2023, the FTC and the Company filed a Joint Motion for Entry of Proposed Stipulated Order (the "FTC Consent Order") in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The FTC Consent Order was entered by the Court on   August 11, 2023, and the escrow funds were released on August 15, 2023. On   August 12, 2024, the Company filed its required compliance report.

The Company was involved in a Telephone Consumer Protection Act class action, Daniel Berman v. Freedom Financial Network, which was originally filed in the Northern District of California in 2018. On  May 31, 2023, the parties entered into an Amended Class Action Settlement Agreement (the "Berman Settlement Agreement"), which included injunctive provisions and payment to plaintiffs of $9,750 for legal fees and a consumer redress fund, of which the Company was responsible for $3,100. The final approval of the Berman Settlement Agreement was filed on  February 23, 2024. To satisfy its obligations under the Berman Settlement Agreement, the Company made a cash payment of $1,100 on  March 15, 2024 and issued a junior secured promissory note in the principal amount of $2,000 payable to the co-defendant, FDR, as discussed in Note 8, Debt, net.