Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Sep. 24, 2016

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

12.	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 $29,171, $32,737 and $31,849 for fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Future minimum rental commitments under noncancelable operating lease agreements as of September 24, 2016 are as follows:

Fiscal Year	Minimum Lease Payments
2017	$	22,580
2018		18,796
2019		15,050
2020		12,519
2121		9,497
2022 and thereafter		15,841

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 24, 2016 and September 26, 2015, the Partnership had accrued liabilities of $59,676 and $57,083, 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 $15,524 and $15,783 as of September 24, 2016 and September 26, 2015, 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.