Two lawsuits were filed against the Company and its subsidiaries in connection with alleged claimed battery defects for an electronic cigarette device. Plaintiffs claim these batteries were sold by a store of the Company’s subsidiary and have sued for an undetermined amount of damages (other than a total of $0.4 million of medical costs). The initial complaints were filed between January 2019 and April 2019. We responded to the complaints in 2019 and we exchanged additional support information with the plaintiff for one of the lawsuits in 2021. Given the lack of information presented by the plaintiffs to date, the Company is unable to predict the outcome of these matters and, at this time, cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss with respect to these legal proceedings.

On November 30, 2020, the Company filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Philip Morris USA, Inc. and Philip Morris Products S.A. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The lawsuit alleges infringement on HCMC-owned patent(s) by the Philip Morris product known and marketed as “IQOS®”. Philip Morris claims that it is currently approaching 14 million users of its IQOS® product and has reportedly invested over $3 billion in their smokeless tobacco products. On December 3, 2021, the District Court for the Northern District of Georgia effectively dismissed HCMC’s patent infringement action against Philip Morris USA, Inc. and Philip Morris Products S.A. On December 14, 2021, the Company filed a notice of appeal of the District Court for the Northern District of Georgia’s dismissal of the Company’s patent infringement action against Philip Morris USA, Inc. and Philip Morris Products S.A. The appeal brief was filed on February 28, 2022.

On December 3, 2021, the District Court for the Northern District of Georgia effectively dismissed HCMC’s patent infringement action against Philip Morris USA, Inc. and Philip Morris Products S.A. In connection with such dismissal, the defendants sought to recover attorney’s fees from the Plaintiff. On February 22, 2022, the District Court for the Northern District of Georgia granted the defendant’s an award of approximately $575,000 in attorneys’ fees to be paid by the Company. The Company has fully provisioned this amount as of December 31, 2021. HCMC appealed this ruling on June 22, 2022.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2022
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	Note 13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Legal Proceedings Two lawsuits were filed against the Company and its subsidiaries in connection with alleged claimed battery defects for an electronic cigarette device. Plaintiffs claim these batteries were sold by a store of the Company’s subsidiary and have sued for an undetermined amount of damages (other than a total of $0.4 million of medical costs). The initial complaints were filed between January 2019 and April 2019. We responded to the complaints in 2019 and we exchanged additional support information with the plaintiff for one of the lawsuits in 2021. Given the lack of information presented by the plaintiffs to date, the Company is unable to predict the outcome of these matters and, at this time, cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss with respect to these legal proceedings. On November 30, 2020, the Company filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Philip Morris USA, Inc. and Philip Morris Products S.A. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The lawsuit alleges infringement on HCMC-owned patent(s) by the Philip Morris product known and marketed as “IQOS®”. Philip Morris claims that it is currently approaching 14 million users of its IQOS® product and has reportedly invested over $3 billion in their smokeless tobacco products. On December 3, 2021, the District Court for the Northern District of Georgia effectively dismissed HCMC’s patent infringement action against Philip Morris USA, Inc. and Philip Morris Products S.A. On December 14, 2021, the Company filed a notice of appeal of the District Court for the Northern District of Georgia’s dismissal of the Company’s patent infringement action against Philip Morris USA, Inc. and Philip Morris Products S.A. The appeal brief was filed on February 28, 2022. On December 3, 2021, the District Court for the Northern District of Georgia effectively dismissed HCMC’s patent infringement action against Philip Morris USA, Inc. and Philip Morris Products S.A. In connection with such dismissal, the defendants sought to recover attorney’s fees from the Plaintiff. On February 22, 2022, the District Court for the Northern District of Georgia granted the defendant’s an award of approximately $575,000 in attorneys’ fees to be paid by the Company. The Company has fully provisioned this amount as of December 31, 2021. HCMC appealed this ruling on June 22, 2022. From time to time the Company is involved in legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business. We believe that there is no other litigation pending that is likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations as of September 30, 2022. With respect to legal costs, we record such costs as incurred. Employment Agreement On February 26, 2021, the Company entered into an amended and restated employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement Amendment”) with the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Christopher Santi. Pursuant to the Employment Agreement Amendment, Mr. Santi will continue to be employed as the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer through January 30, 2024. Mr. Santi will receive a base salary of $0.4 million for 2021 and his salary will increase 10% in each subsequent year. On February 02, 2022, the Company entered into a Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (the “Employment Agreement Amendment”) with the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, John Ollet. Pursuant to the Employment Agreement Amendment, Mr. Ollet will continue to be employed as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer through February 14, 2025. Mr. Ollet will receive a base salary of $0.3 million for 2022 and his salary will increase 10% in each subsequent calendar year.

From time to time the Company is involved in legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business. We believe that there is no other litigation pending that is likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations as of September 30, 2022. With respect to legal costs, we record such costs as incurred.

On February 26, 2021, the Company entered into an amended and restated employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement Amendment”) with the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Christopher Santi. Pursuant to the Employment Agreement Amendment, Mr. Santi will continue to be employed as the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer through January 30, 2024. Mr. Santi will receive a base salary of $0.4 million for 2021 and his salary will increase 10% in each subsequent year.

On February 02, 2022, the Company entered into a Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (the “Employment Agreement Amendment”) with the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, John Ollet. Pursuant to the Employment Agreement Amendment, Mr. Ollet will continue to be employed as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer through February 14, 2025. Mr. Ollet will receive a base salary of $0.3 million for 2022 and his salary will increase 10% in each subsequent calendar year.