Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Matters

The Company is subject to various legal proceedings, many involving routine litigation incidental to the businesses, including approximately 1,819 pending product liability lawsuits resulting from its national distribution of automotive parts and supplies. Many of these involve claims of personal injury allegedly resulting from the use of automotive parts distributed by the Company. The amount accrued for pending and future claims as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 was $169,461 and $146,230, respectively. While litigation of any type contains an element of uncertainty, the Company believes that its insurance coverage and its defense, and ultimate resolution of pending and reasonably anticipated claims will continue to occur within the ordinary course of the Company’s business and that resolution of these claims will not have a material effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

Pending Claims

On April 17, 2017, a jury awarded damages against the Company of $81,500 in a litigated automotive product liability dispute. Through post-trial motions and offsets from previous settlements, the initial verdict was reduced to $77,100. The Company believed the verdict was not supported by the facts or the law and was contrary to the Company’s role in the automotive parts industry. The Company challenged the verdict through an appeal to a higher court. On February 19, 2020, the Washington Court of Appeals issued an order entirely reversing the jury’s finding on damages and ordering a new trial on damages. The plaintiffs subsequently appealed this order to the Washington Supreme Court. On July 7, 2020, the Washington Supreme Court indicated that it would consider a further appeal on this matter and oral arguments occurred on November 10, 2020. A ruling from Washington Supreme Court is expected in 2021. At the time of the filing of these financial statements, based upon the Company’s legal defenses and insurance coverage, the Company does not believe this matter will have a material impact to the consolidated financial statements.

Fire at S.P. Richards Headquarters and Distribution Center

On July 19, 2019, a fire occurred at a building owned by the Company in Atlanta, Georgia, which primarily held the S.P. Richards headquarters office and was connected to its Atlanta distribution center. The Company maintains property and casualty loss insurance coverage. The Company recognized a gain of $13,448 during the year ended December 31, 2020 for insurance recoveries in excess of losses it has incurred on inventory, property, plant and equipment and other fire-related costs. The gain is included within other non-operating expenses (income) on the consolidated statements of income.