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Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Contingencies
Contingencies
On October 8, 2014, the United States District Court for the District of Kansas (the “District Court”) granted summary judgment in favor of The Boeing Company (“Boeing”) and Ducommun and dismissed the lawsuit entitled United States of America ex rel Taylor Smith, Jeannine Prewitt and James Ailes v. The Boeing Company and Ducommun Inc.. The lawsuit was a qui tam action brought by three former Boeing employees (“Relators”) against Boeing and Ducommun on behalf of the United States of America for violations of the United States False Claims Act. Relators have appealed the dismissal to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. The lawsuit alleged that Ducommun sold unapproved parts to Boeing which were installed by Boeing in aircraft ultimately sold to the United States Government and that Boeing and Ducommun submitted or caused to be submitted false claims for payment relating to 21 aircraft sold by Boeing to the United States Government. The lawsuit sought damages in an amount equal to three times the amount of damages the United States Government sustained because of the defendants’ actions, plus a civil penalty of $10 thousand for each false claim made on or before September 28, 1999, and $11 thousand for each false claim made after September 28, 1999, together with attorneys’ fees and costs. The Relators claimed that the United States Government sustained damages of $1.6 billion (the contract purchase price of 21 aircraft) or, alternatively, $851 million (the alleged diminished value and increased maintenance cost of the 21 aircraft). After investigating the allegations, the United States Government declined to intervene in the lawsuit.
SS has been directed by California environmental agencies to investigate and take corrective action for groundwater contamination at its facilities located in El Mirage and Monrovia, California. Based on currently available information, Ducommun has established a reserve for its estimated liability for such investigation and corrective action of approximately $1.5 million at December 31, 2015, which is reflected in other long-term liabilities on its consolidated balance sheet.
SS also faces liability as a potentially responsible party for hazardous waste disposed at landfills located in Casmalia and West Covina, California. SS and other companies and government entities have entered into consent decrees with respect to these landfills with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and/or California environmental agencies under which certain investigation, remediation and maintenance activities are being performed. Based on currently available information, Ducommun preliminarily estimates that the range of its future liabilities in connection with the landfill located in West Covina, California is between approximately $0.4 million and $3.1 million. Ducommun has established a reserve for its estimated liability, in connection with the West Covina landfill of approximately $0.4 million at December 31, 2015, which is reflected in other long-term liabilities on its consolidated balance sheet. Ducommun’s ultimate liability in connection with these matters will depend upon a number of factors, including changes in existing laws and regulations, the design and cost of construction, operation and maintenance activities, and the allocation of liability among potentially responsible parties.
In the normal course of business, Ducommun and its subsidiaries are defendants in certain other litigation, claims and inquiries, including matters relating to environmental laws. In addition, Ducommun makes various commitments and incurs contingent liabilities. While it is not feasible to predict the outcome of these matters, Ducommun does not presently expect that any sum it may be required to pay in connection with these matters would have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.