Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Sep. 26, 2015

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

11.	Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments. The Partnership leases certain property, plant and equipment, including portions of the Partnership’s vehicle fleet, for various periods under noncancelable leases. Rental expense under operating leases was $32,737, $31,849 and $33,036 for fiscal 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Future minimum rental commitments under noncancelable operating lease agreements as of September 26, 2015 are as follows:

Fiscal Year	Minimum Lease Payments
2016	$	22,422
2017		16,894
2018		13,404
2019		10,038
2020		7,857
2021 and thereafter		7,876

Contingencies.

Self-Insurance. As described in Note 2, the Partnership is self-insured for general and product, workers’ compensation and automobile liabilities up to predetermined amounts above which third party insurance applies. At September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014, the Partnership had accrued liabilities of $57,083 and $62,450, respectively, representing the total estimated losses under these self-insurance programs. For the portion of the estimated liability that exceeds insurance deductibles, the Partnership records an asset within other assets (or prepaid expenses and other current assets, as applicable) related to the amount of the liability expected to be covered by insurance which amounted to $15,783 and $18,410 as of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014, respectively.

Legal Matters. The Partnership’s operations are subject to operating hazards and risks normally incidental to handling, storing and delivering combustible liquids such as propane. The Partnership has been, and will continue to be, a defendant in various legal proceedings and litigation as a result of these operating hazards and risks, and as a result of other aspects of its business. Although any litigation is inherently uncertain, based on past experience, the information currently available to the Partnership, and the amount of its accrued insurance liabilities, the Partnership does not believe that currently pending or threatened litigation matters, or known claims or known contingent claims, will have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, financial condition or cash flow.