Note 21. Contingencies The Company is a party from time to time to various proceedings in the ordinary course of business. For a description of the Master Settlement Agreement, to which the company is a party, see Financial Statements and Supplementary Data - Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies: Risk and Uncertainties. Other than the proceedings mentioned below, there is no material litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding currently pending against the Company or any of its officers or directors in their capacity as such, and the Company and its officers and directors have not been subject to any such proceeding. Other major tobacco companies are defendants in product liability claims. Turning Point has been a defendant in a number of smokeless tobacco product liability cases in the past. All of those cases have been dismissed with prejudice and Turning Point has no tobacco product liability cases against it. Turning Point is subject to several lawsuits alleging personal injuries resulting from malfunctioning vaporizer devices and batteries and may be subject to claims in the future relating to other NewGen products. Turning Point is still evaluating these claims and the potential defenses to them. For example, Turning Point did not design or manufacture the products at issue; rather, Turning Point was merely the distributor. Nonetheless, there can be no assurance that Turning Point will prevail in these cases, and they could have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations, or cash flows of the Turning Point or the Company. Turning Point is engaged in discussions and mediation with VMR and Juul, which acquired VMR in 2018. Pursuant to a Distribution and Supply Agreement (VMR Agreement), VMR was providing Turning Point with V2 e-cigarettes for exclusive distribution in bricks-and-mortar stores in the United States. Under the terms of the VMR Agreement, in the event of termination following a change in control, the acquirer is required to make a payment to Turning Point under a formula designed to provide Turning Point with a fair share of the value created by Turning Points performance under the VMR Agreement. As of December 31, 2018, there is no assurance as to the outcome of this situation. Thus, the impact on Turning Points financial position, results of operations, or cash flows are uncertain as of December 31, 2018. Maidstone is a party to lawsuits arising in the normal course of its business. These lawsuits generally seek to establish liability under insurance policies and occasionally seek punitive damages. In the opinion of the Companys management, none of the cases, individually or collectively, are likely to result in judgments for amounts, after considering established loss reserves and reinsurance, which would have a material adverse effect on the Companys financial condition or results of operations. Concentrations Maidstone writes primarily personal automobile and homeowners insurance in New York. Maidstones financial position, results of operations and cash flows are susceptible to risks as a result of these concentrations. In addition, Maidstone writes a significant amount of business through brokers and a credit risk exists should any of these brokers be unable to fulfill their obligations with respect to the payment of insurance balances. The creditworthiness of the counterparty is evaluated by Maidstone, taking into account credit ratings assigned by independent agencies. The credit approval process involves an assessment of factors, including, among others, the counterparty, country and industry credit exposure limits. Collateral may be required, at the discretion of the Company, on certain transactions based on the creditworthiness of the counterparty. Maidstones fixed income investment portfolio is managed in accordance with guidelines that have been tailored to meet specific investment strategies, including standard of diversification, which limit the allowable holdings to any single issue. Maidstone reported no investment in excess of 10% of Maidstones statutory surplus at December 31, 2018 and 2017, other than investments issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies.