Legal Matters

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Legal Matters

Legal Matters

We are subject to various legal proceedings, claims and governmental inquiries, inspections, audits or investigations pertaining to issues such as contract disputes, product liability, tax matters, patents and trademarks, advertising, pricing, business practices, governmental regulations, employment and other matters.

We are party to certain legal proceedings relating to our former health care business, Avanos Medical, Inc. ("Avanos", previously Halyard Health, Inc.), which we spun-off on October 31, 2014, including a qui tam matter and certain subpoena and document requests from the federal government.

The health care matters included Bahamas Surgery Center v. Kimberly-Clark Corporation, et al., a California consumer class action relating to the sale of surgical gowns. In April 2017, the jury awarded the plaintiff class $3.9 in compensatory damages and $350 in punitive damages against us. During the first quarter of 2018, the Court reduced the punitive damages award to approximately $19. During the fourth quarter of 2020, the class action was terminated and the Court vacated the prior judgment and dismissed the case.

The subpoena and document requests include subpoenas from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) concerning allegations of potential criminal and civil violations of federal laws, including the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, in connection with the manufacturing, marketing and sale of surgical gowns by our former health care business. We continue to produce documents and cooperate in this ongoing investigation. At this stage, we are unable to predict an outcome or estimate the potential range of outcomes to resolve this matter.

Under the terms of the distribution agreement we entered into with Avanos in connection with the spin-off, Avanos is obligated to indemnify us for legal proceedings, claims and other liabilities primarily related to our former health care business. Avanos and Kimberly-Clark each filed suits against the other seeking declaratory judgment regarding the scope of these indemnification obligations. The litigation has been resolved, the cases have been dismissed, and the parties have agreed that Avanos has no further indemnification obligations relating to certain proceedings regarding the sale of surgical gowns by our former health care business.

We are subject to federal, state and local environmental protection laws and regulations with respect to our business operations and are operating in compliance with, or taking action aimed at ensuring compliance with, these laws and regulations. We have been named a potentially responsible party under the provisions of the U.S. federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or analogous state statutes, at a number of sites where hazardous substances are present. None of our compliance obligations with environmental protection laws and regulations, individually or in the aggregate, is expected to have a material adverse effect on our business, liquidity, financial condition or results of operations.