XML 46 R29.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.4.0.3
Contingencies (Tables)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Cases Pending by State
The following table lists the number of Individual Actions by state:
State
 
Number
of Cases
Florida
 
12

Maryland
 
12

New York
 
7

Louisiana
 
2

West Virginia
 
2

Missouri
 
1

Ohio
 
1

Schedule of Judgments Entered
As of March 31, 2016, the following Engle progeny cases have resulted in judgments against Liggett:
Date
 
Case Name
 
County
 
Liggett Compensatory
Damages (as adjusted)
 (1)
 
Liggett Punitive Damages
 
Status (2)
June 2002
 
Lukacs v. R.J. Reynolds
 
Miami-Dade
 
$12,418
 
$—
 
Liggett satisfied the judgment and the case is concluded.
August 2009
 
Campbell v. R.J. Reynolds
 
Escambia
 
156
 
 
Liggett satisfied the judgment and the case is concluded.
March 2010
 
Douglas v. R.J. Reynolds
 
Hillsborough
 
1,350
 
 
Liggett satisfied the judgment and the case is concluded.
April 2010
 
Clay v. R.J. Reynolds
 
Escambia
 
349
 
1,000
 
Liggett satisfied the judgment and the case is concluded.
April 2010
 
Putney v. R.J. Reynolds
 
Broward
 
3,008
 
 
On June 12, 2013, the Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed and remanded the case for further proceedings regarding the amount of the award. Both sides sought discretionary review from the Florida Supreme Court. In February 2016, the Florida Supreme Court reinstated the jury's verdict. The defendants moved for clarification of that order, which was granted in March 2016. The court clarified that it reversed the district court's decision regarding the statute of repose only, leaving the remaining portions of the decision intact. The case will be remanded to the trial court for proceedings consistent with those portions of the district court's decision that were not reversed.
April 2011
 
Tullo v. R.J. Reynolds
 
Palm Beach
 
225
 
 
Liggett satisfied the judgment and other than an issue with respect to the calculation of interest on the judgment and the amount of costs owed by Liggett, the case is concluded.
January 2012
 
Ward v. R.J. Reynolds
 
Escambia
 
1
 
 
Liggett satisfied the merits judgment. Subsequently, the trial court entered a final judgment on attorneys' fees and costs for $981 and defendants appealed that judgment.
May 2012
 
Calloway v. R.J. Reynolds
 
Broward
 
1,530
 
 
A joint and several judgment for $16,100 was entered against R.J. Reynolds, Philip Morris, Lorillard and Liggett. On January 6, 2016, the Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed in part, including the $7,600 punitive damages award against Liggett, and remanded the case to the trial court for a new trial on certain issues. Both sides have moved for rehearing.
December 2012
 
Buchanan v. R.J. Reynolds
 
Leon
 
2,750
 
 
A joint and several judgment for $5,500 was entered against Liggett and Philip Morris. The court refused to reduce the award by decedent's comparative fault. Judgment was affirmed by the First District Court of Appeal, but the court certified an issue of conflict with another case. The defendants sought discretionary review by the Florida Supreme Court, which was declined in February 2016. The defendants are considering their appellate options.
May 2013
 
Cohen v. R.J. Reynolds
 
Palm Beach
 
 
 
In May 2013, the jury awarded compensatory damages in the amount of $2,055 and apportioned 10% of the fault to Liggett ($205). Defendants' motion seeking a new trial was granted by the trial court. Plaintiff appealed and defendants cross-appealed. Oral argument is scheduled for June 7, 2016.
August 2013
 
Rizzuto v. R.J. Reynolds
 
Hernando
 
3,479
 
 
Liggett settled its portion of the judgment for $1,500 and the case is concluded as to Liggett.
August 2014
 
Irimi v. R.J. Reynolds
 
Broward
 
 
 
In August 2014, the jury awarded compensatory damages in the amount of $3,123 and apportioned 1% of the fault to Liggett ($31). In January 2015, the trial court granted defendants' motion for a new trial. Plaintiff appealed.
October 2014
 
Lambert v. R.J. Reynolds
 
Pinellas
 
3,600
 
9,500
 
Liggett satisfied the judgment and the case is concluded.
November 2014
 
Boatright v. R.J. Reynolds
 
Polk
 
 
300
 
In November 2014, the jury awarded compensatory damages in the amount of $15,000 with 15% fault apportioned to plaintiff and 85% to Philip Morris.  The jury further assessed punitive damages against Philip Morris for $19,700 and Liggett for $300. Post trial motions were denied.  A joint and several judgment was entered in the amount of $12,750 on the compensatory damages. Judgment was further entered against Liggett for $300 in punitive damages. Defendants appealed and plaintiff cross-appealed.
June 2015
 
Caprio v. R.J. Reynolds
 
Broward
 
 
 
In February 2015, the jury answered certain questions on the verdict form, but were deadlocked as to others.  The jury returned a verdict of $559 in economic damages. The court entered a partial judgment and ordered a new trial on the remaining issues, including comparative fault and punitive damages.  Defendants appealed.
Total Damages Awarded:
28,866
 
10,800
 
 
Amounts accrued, paid or compromised:
(24,328)
 
(10,500)
 
 
Damages remaining on Appeal:
$4,538
 
$300
 
 
(1) Compensatory damages are adjusted to reflect the jury's allocation of comparative fault and only include Liggett's jury allocated share, regardless of whether a judgment was joint and several. The amounts listed above do not include attorneys' fees or statutory interest.
(2) See Exhibit 99.1 for a more complete description of the cases currently on appeal.
Schedule of Loss Contingencies
The activity in the Company's accruals for the MSA and tobacco litigation for the three months ended March 31, 2016 were as follows:
 
Current Liabilities
 
Non-Current Liabilities
 
Payments due under Master Settlement Agreement
 
Litigation Accruals
 
Total
 
Payments due under Master Settlement Agreement
 
Litigation Accruals
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at January 1, 2016
$
29,241

 
$
22,904

 
$
52,145

 
$
20,094

 
$
24,718

 
$
44,812

Expenses
14,835

 
2,504

 
17,339

 

 

 

NPM Settlement adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

Change in MSA obligations capitalized as inventory
(406
)
 

 
(406
)
 

 

 

Payments

 
(21,171
)
 
(21,171
)
 

 

 

Reclassification from non-current liabilities

 
3,252

 
3,252

 

 
(3,252
)
 
(3,252
)
Interest on withholding
35

 
197

 
232

 

 
568

 
568

Balance as of March 31, 2016
$
43,705

 
$
7,686

 
$
51,391

 
$
20,094

 
$
22,034

 
$
42,128



The activity in the Company's accruals for the MSA and tobacco litigation for the three months ended March 31, 2015 were as follows:
 
Current Liabilities
 
Non-Current Liabilities
 
Payments due under Master Settlement Agreement
 
Litigation Accruals
 
Total
 
Payments due under Master Settlement Agreement
 
Litigation Accruals
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at January 1, 2015
$
26,322

 
$
3,149

 
$
29,471

 
$
25,809

 
$
25,700

 
$
51,509

Expenses
24,760

 
1,115

 
25,875

 

 
(195
)
 
(195
)
NPM Settlement adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

Change in MSA obligations capitalized as inventory
445

 

 
445

 

 

 

Payments

 
(4,295
)
 
(4,295
)
 

 

 

Reclassification from non-current liabilities

 
3,305

 
3,305

 

 
(3,305
)
 
(3,305
)
Interest on withholding

 
89

 
89

 

 
638

 
638

Balance as of March 31, 2015
$
51,527

 
$
3,363

 
$
54,890

 
$
25,809

 
$
22,838

 
$
48,647