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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Certain conditions may exist as of the date the financial statements are issued, which may result in a loss to the Company, which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. Team’s management and its legal counsel assess such contingent liabilities, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise of judgment. In assessing loss contingencies related to legal proceedings that are pending against us or unasserted claims that may result in such proceedings, Team’s legal counsel evaluates the perceived merits of any legal proceedings or unasserted claims as well as the perceived merits of the amount of relief sought or expected to be sought therein.
If the assessment of a contingency indicates that it is probable that a material loss has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be estimated, then the estimated liability would be accrued in our financial statements. If the assessment indicates that a potentially material loss contingency is not probable, but is reasonably possible, or is probable but cannot be estimated, then the nature of the contingent liability, together with an estimate of the range of possible loss if determinable and material, would be disclosed.
Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed unless they involve guarantees, in which case the nature of the guarantee would be disclosed.
We accrue for contingencies where the occurrence of a material loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated, based on our best estimate of the expected liability. We may increase or decrease our legal accruals in the future, on a matter-by-matter basis, to account for developments in such matter. Because such matters are inherently unpredictable and unfavorable developments or outcomes can occur, assessing contingencies is highly subjective and requires judgments about future events. Notwithstanding the uncertainty as to the outcome and while our insurance coverage might not be available or adequate to cover these claims, based upon the information currently available, we do not believe that any uninsured losses that might arise from these lawsuits and proceedings will have a materially adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements.
California Wage and Hour Litigation - On June 24, 2019 and August 26, 2020, two putative class action complaints were filed against Team Industrial Services, Inc. in the Superior Court for the County of Los Angeles, California. The plaintiff in the first filed action is Michael Thai (the “Thai action”). The plaintiff in the second filed action is Alex Esqueda (the “Esqueda action”). All of the claims pleaded in the Esqueda action were also pleaded in the Thai action. Each of the plaintiffs assert claims for alleged wage and hour violations under the California Labor Code (for alleged unpaid wages, failure to provide meal and rest breaks, and derivative related claims). The Thai action also asserts a putative class claim for violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Both cases were stayed shortly after filing to allow the parties to mediate the claims. On February 23, 2021, the Los Angeles Superior Court designated the Thai and Esqueda actions as related cases. While the parties mediated on March 18, 2021, the cases did not settle. On April 16, 2021, Team Industrial Services, Inc. moved both the Thai and Esqueda actions to the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Plaintiff’s motion for remand was denied, and these matters remain in federal court.
In November 2021, the parties agreed in principle to settle all claims in this litigation. All class action settlements of this nature are subject to approval of the court, which can take several months after the final settlement agreement is executed by the parties. The parties anticipate court approval of the settlement agreement on or before August 31, 2022.
Notice of Potential Environmental Violation - On April 20, 2021, Team Industrial Services, Inc. received Notices of Potential Violation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) alleging noncompliance with various waste determination, reporting, training, and planning obligations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act at seven of our facilities located in Texas and Louisiana. The allegations largely relate to spent film developing solutions generated through our mobile radiographic inspection services and that the claims relate to the characterization and quantities of those wastes and related notices, reporting, training, and planning.
On February 9, 2022, TEAM and the EPA agreed to settle all the claims related to this matter. The parties anticipate finalization of the settlement agreement on or before March 31, 2022.
Kelli Most Litigation - On November 13, 2018, Kelli Most filed a lawsuit against Team Industrial Services, Inc., individually and as a personal representative of the estate of Jesse Henson, in the 268th District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas (the “Most litigation”). The complaint asserted claims against Team for negligence resulting in the wrongful death of Jesse Henson. A jury trial commenced on this matter on May 4, 2021. On June 1, 2021, the jury rendered a verdict against Team for $222 million in compensatory damages.
We believe that the jury verdict is not supported by the facts of the case or applicable law, is the result of significant trial error, and there are strong grounds for appeal. We will seek to overturn the verdict in post-trial motions before the District
Court and, if necessary, to appeal to the Court of Appeals for the State of Texas. We intend to vigorously challenge the judgment through all appropriate post-trial motions and appeal processes.
As a result, we believe that the likelihood that the amount of the judgment will be affirmed is not probable. We have taken into consideration the events that have occurred after the reporting period and before the financial statements were issued. We currently estimate a range of possible outcomes between $13 million and approximately $51 million, and we have accrued a liability as of December 31, 2021 which is the amount we believe is the most likely estimate for a probable loss on this matter. We have also recorded a related receivable from our third-party insurance providers in other current assets with the corresponding liability of the same amount in other accrued liabilities. Such amounts are treated as non-cash operating activities. The Most litigation is covered by our general liability and excess insurance policies which are occurrence based and subject to an aggregate $3 million self-insured retention and deductible. All retentions and deductibles have been met, accordingly, we believe pending the final settlement, all further claims will be fully funded by our insurance policies. We will continue to evaluate the possible outcomes of this case in light of future developments and their potential impact on factors relevant to our assessment of any possible loss.
On January 25, 2022, the trial judge entered a Final Judgment in this matter. TEAM immediately filed a supersedeas bond, to prevent execution on the judgment, while it prepares to file motions to appeal the judgment.
Simon, Vige, and Roberts Matter – On February 19, 2019, a personal injury claim was filed by the plaintiffs against several counterparties including Team Industrial Services Inc., in the 295th District Court of Harris County, Texas. The plaintiffs filed the action seeking monetary damages for personal injury, and emotional and mental distress. This matter was settled in July 2021. This claim is covered by our general liability and excess insurance policies which are occurrence based and subject to an aggregate $3 million self-insured retention and deductible. All retentions and deductibles have been met, accordingly this claim has been fully funded by our insurance policies.
Accordingly, for all matters discussed above, we have accrued in the aggregate approximately $44 million as of December 31, 2021, of which approximately $5 million is not covered by our various insurance policies.
In addition to legal matters discussed above, we are subject to various lawsuits, claims and proceedings encountered in the normal conduct of business (“Other Proceedings”). Management believes that based on its current knowledge and after consultation with legal counsel that the Other Proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.