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Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Mar. 26, 2022
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

13.

Commitments and Contingencies

Accrued Insurance.  The Partnership is self-insured for general and product, workers’ compensation and automobile liabilities up to predetermined amounts above which third party insurance applies.  As of March 26, 2022 and September 25, 2021, the Partnership had accrued liabilities of $64,679 and $66,124, respectively, representing the total estimated losses for known and anticipated or unasserted general and product, workers’ compensation and automobile claims.  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 $15,748 and $16,101 as of March 26, 2022 and September 25, 2021, 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.  In this regard, the Partnership’s natural gas and electricity business was a defendant in a putative class action suit in the Northern District of New York.  The complaint alleged a number of claims under various consumer statutes and common law in New York and Pennsylvania regarding pricing offered to electricity customers in those states.  During the first quarter of fiscal 2022, the complaint was dismissed in part by the district court, but causes of action based on the New York consumer statute were allowed to proceed.  On April 12, 2022, the court granted summary judgment in favor of the Partnership on the remaining counts and the complaint was dismissed in full.  The plaintiff in this action has 30 days to file an appeal should they decide to do so.  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.

COVID-19 Pandemic.  The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve.  Although the Partnership believes the financial information included herein properly reflects all facts known at this time, the Partnership is unable to estimate the full financial impact of the pandemic at this time.  The Partnership’s supply chain, including its suppliers and business partners, has not been materially impacted and the Partnership has been able to acquire sufficient supplies of the products it sells.  Additionally, the Partnership continues to obtain the necessary liquidity to sustain its operations through collections of accounts receivable, as well as access to its Revolving Credit Facility available under the Credit Agreement.  The Partnership will continue to actively monitor and manage the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and, to the extent available, ensure new information is reflected within future financial information.