Commitments and contingencies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 29, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and contingencies [Text Block]	Commitments and Contingencies We are party to a number of lawsuits, threatened lawsuits and other claims arising out of the normal course of business. On a quarterly basis, we assess our liabilities and contingencies in connection with outstanding legal proceedings utilizing the latest information available. Where it is probable that we will incur a loss and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, we record a liability in our consolidated financial statements. These legal accruals may be increased or decreased to reflect any relevant developments on a quarterly basis. Where a loss is not probable or the amount of the loss is not estimable, we do not accrue legal reserves, consistent with applicable accounting guidance. Based on information currently available to us, advice of counsel, and available insurance coverage, we believe that our established reserves are adequate and the liabilities arising from the legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition. We note, however, that in light of the inherent uncertainty in legal proceedings there can be no assurance that the ultimate resolution of a matter will not exceed established reserves. As a result, the outcome of a particular matter or a combination of matters may be material to our results of operations for a particular period, depending upon the size of the loss or our income for that particular period. In November 2017, a suit was filed against Davey Tree, its subsidiary, Wolf Tree, Inc., a former Davey employee, two Wolf employees, and a former Wolf employee alleging various acts of negligence and seeking compensatory and punitive damages for wrongful death and assault and battery of the plaintiff’s husband, a Wolf Tree employee in Savannah, Georgia, who was killed in August 2017. The case has been set for mediation on December 3rd and 4th, 2018 and for trial on January 22, 2019. In July 2018, a survival action was filed by the deceased's estate against Davey Tree, its subsidiary, Wolf Tree, Inc., and four current and former employees in Savannah, Georgia, which arises out of the same allegations, seeks compensatory and punitive damages and also includes three RICO claims under Georgia law seeking compensatory damages, treble damages, and punitive damages. The 2018 case was removed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Savannah Division, on August 2, 2018. The Company filed a motion to dismiss the RICO claims. Plaintiffs filed a motion to remand the case to state court, which the Company has opposed. The Company has denied all liability and is vigorously defending the action. It also has retained separate counsel for three of the individual defendants, each of whom has denied all liability and also is vigorously defending the action.

Commitments and Contingencies

We are party to a number of lawsuits, threatened lawsuits and other claims arising out of the normal course of business. On a quarterly basis, we assess our liabilities and contingencies in connection with outstanding legal proceedings utilizing the latest information available. Where it is probable that we will incur a loss and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, we record a liability in our consolidated financial statements. These legal accruals may be increased or decreased to reflect any relevant developments on a quarterly basis. Where a loss is not probable or the amount of the loss is not estimable, we do not accrue legal reserves, consistent with applicable accounting guidance. Based on information currently available to us, advice of counsel, and available insurance coverage, we believe that our established reserves are adequate and the liabilities arising from the legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition. We note, however, that in light of the inherent uncertainty in legal proceedings there can be no assurance that the ultimate resolution of a matter will not exceed established reserves. As a result, the outcome of a particular matter or a combination of matters may be material to our results of operations for a particular period, depending upon the size of the loss or our income for that particular period.

In November 2017, a suit was filed against Davey Tree, its subsidiary, Wolf Tree, Inc., a former Davey employee, two Wolf employees, and a former Wolf employee alleging various acts of negligence and seeking compensatory and punitive damages for wrongful death and assault and battery of the plaintiff’s husband, a Wolf Tree employee in Savannah, Georgia, who was killed in August 2017. The case has been set for mediation on December 3rd and 4th, 2018 and for trial on January 22, 2019. In July 2018, a survival action was filed by the deceased's estate against Davey Tree, its subsidiary, Wolf Tree, Inc., and four current and former employees in Savannah, Georgia, which arises out of the same allegations, seeks compensatory and punitive damages and also includes three RICO claims under Georgia law seeking compensatory damages, treble damages, and punitive damages. The 2018 case was removed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Savannah Division, on August 2, 2018. The Company filed a motion to dismiss the RICO claims. Plaintiffs filed a motion to remand the case to state court, which the Company has opposed. The Company has denied all liability and is vigorously defending the action. It also has retained separate counsel for three of the individual defendants, each of whom has denied all liability and also is vigorously defending the action.