XML 35 R23.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.7.0.1
Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jul. 01, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments

On July 12, 2017, the Company entered into a five-year lease agreement to lease a yarn manufacturing facility in Porterville, California. The lease begins on August 1, 2017. Base rent is initially set at $50 per month over the lease term. Total base rent payable over the lease period is $3,000. The Company has an option to extend the term of the lease for an additional five-year period.

Contingencies

The Company assesses its exposure related to legal matters, including those pertaining to product liability, safety and health matters and other items that arise in the regular course of its business. If the Company determines that it is probable a loss has been incurred, the amount of the loss, or an amount within the range of loss, that can be reasonably estimated will be recorded.

Environmental Remediation

The Company accrues for losses associated with environmental remediation obligations when such losses are probable and estimable. Remediation obligations are accrued based on the latest available information and are recorded at undiscounted amounts. The Company regularly monitors the progress of environmental remediation. If studies indicate that the cost of remediation has changed from the previous estimate, an adjustment to the liability would be recorded in the period in which such determination is made. (See Notes 19 & 20)

Legal Proceedings

The Company has been sued, together with the 3M Company and approximately 30 other carpet manufacturers, by the Gadsden (Alabama) Water Works in the circuit court of Etowah County Alabama [The Water Works and Sewer Board of the City of Gadsden v. 3M Company, et al, civil action No. 31-CV-2016-900676.00] and by the Town of Centre (Alabama) Water Works in the circuit court of Cherokee County Alabama [The Water Works and Sewer Board of the Town of Centre v. 3M Company, et al, civil action No. 13-CV-2017-900049.00]. Both cases seek monetary damages and injunctive relief related to the use of certain chemical compounds in the manufacture and finishing of carpet products “in and around Dalton Georgia.” On motion of the defendants, the cases were removed to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (Middle Division) Case No. 4:16-CV-01755-SGC and Case No. 4:17-CV-01026-KOB. The lawsuits allege that perflourinated compounds (“PFC”), perflourinated acid (“PFOA”) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (“PFOS”) manufactured by 3M were used in certain finishing and treatment processes by the defendants and, as a consequence of such use, were subsequently either discharged into or leached into the water systems around Dalton, Georgia. The Complaints seeks damages that exceed $10, but are otherwise unspecified in amount in addition to injunctive relief and punitive damages. The Company intends to defend the matters vigorously and is unable to estimate the potential exposure to loss, if any, at this time.
The Company is one of multiple parties to three lawsuits, all filed in Madison County Illinois, styled Sandra D. Watts, Individually and as Special Administrator of the Estate of Dianne Averett, Deceased vs. 4520 Corp., Inc. f/k/a Benjamin F. Shaw Company, et al No. 12-L-2032, styled Brenda Bridgeman, Individually and as Special Administrator of the Estate of Robert Bridgeman, Deceased, vs. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., f/k/a Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., et al No. 15-L-374 and styled Charles Anderson, Pltf., vs. 3M Company, et al, No. 17-L-525. Each lawsuit entails a claim for damages to be determined in excess of $50 filed on behalf of either a former employee or the estate of an individual which alleges that the deceased contracted mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos while employed by the Company. Discovery in each matter is ongoing, and tentative trial dates have been set for two of the cases. The Company has denied liability, is defending the matters vigorously and is unable to estimate the potential exposure to loss, if any, at this time.