Contingencies |
9 Months Ended | ||||||
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Sep. 30, 2024 | |||||||
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |||||||
Contingencies |
LEGAL CONTINGENCIES In the normal course of business, we have been named, from time to time, as defendants in various legal actions, including arbitrations, class actions, and other litigation arising in connection with our activities. Some of the actual or threatened legal actions include claims for substantial compensatory and/or punitive damages or claims for indeterminate amounts of damages. Additionally, we are, from time to time, in the normal course of business, subject to inquiries and investigations by federal, state and local governmental authorities regarding our products and our operations. These inquiries and investigations may result in fines, restitution or other penalties, including injunctive relief that may result in restrictions on our business. While we will continue to evaluate legal actions to determine whether a loss is reasonably possible or probable and is reasonably estimable, there can be no assurance that material losses will not be incurred from pending, threatened or future litigation, investigations, examinations, or other claims. We contest liability and/or the amount of damages, as appropriate, in each pending matter. Where available information indicates that it is probable that a liability had been incurred at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and we can reasonably estimate the amount of that loss, we accrue the estimated loss by a charge to income. In many actions, however, it is inherently difficult to determine whether any loss is probable or even reasonably possible, or to estimate the amount of any loss. In addition, even where loss is reasonably possible or an exposure to loss exists in excess of the liability already accrued with respect to a previously recognized loss contingency, it is not always possible to reasonably estimate the size of the possible loss or range of loss. For certain legal actions, we cannot reasonably estimate such losses, particularly for actions that are in their early stages of development or where plaintiffs seek substantial or indeterminate damages. Numerous issues may need to be resolved, including through potentially lengthy discovery and determination of important factual matters, and by addressing novel or unsettled legal questions relevant to the actions in question, before a loss or additional loss or range of loss or range of additional loss can be reasonably estimated for any given action. For certain other legal actions, we can estimate reasonably possible losses, additional losses, ranges of loss or ranges of additional loss in excess of amounts accrued, but do not believe, based on current knowledge and after consultation with counsel, that such losses will have a material adverse effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements as a whole.
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