Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments, Contingencies and Related Matters

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2012

Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments, Contingencies and Related Matters [Abstract]

Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments, Contingencies and Related Matters

Note 11. Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments, Contingencies and Related Matters

For a further description of the Company’s commitments and contingencies, reference is made to Note 15 of the Company financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2012, included in our 2011 Form 10-K.

At April 1, 2012, the Company’s reserves for environmental remediation obligations totaled $3.4 million, of which $0.4 million is included in current accrued liabilities. The Company periodically evaluates whether it may be able to recover a portion of future costs for environmental liabilities from its insurance carriers and from third parties. The timing of expenditures depends on a number of factors that vary by site, including the nature and extent of contamination, the number of potentially responsible parties, the timing of regulatory approvals, the complexity of the investigation and remediation, and the standards for remediation. The Company expects that it will expend present accruals over many years, and will complete remediation of all sites with which it has been identified in up to 30 years.

A number of other lawsuits, claims and proceedings have been or may be asserted against the Company, including those pertaining to product liability, patent infringement, commercial contracts, employment and employee benefits. While the outcome of litigation cannot be predicted with certainty, and some of these lawsuits, claims or proceedings may be determined adversely to the Company, management does not believe that the disposition of any such pending matters is likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition. The resolution in any reporting period of one or more of these matters could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations for that period.

In March 2009, Cold Creek Enterprises, Inc. and Bob DaSilva commenced a lawsuit against DALSA Corporation and certain related entities in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The claims originate from the interest of Mr. DaSilva’s company in DALSA Digital Camera Inc., a joint venture entered into in November 2004 and a discontinued business of DALSA since the third quarter of 2008. The lawsuit seeks various forms of relief, including damages in excess of CAD $20.0 million. The lawsuit is being vigorously defended, and a counterclaim has been filed against the plaintiff.