Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Oct. 29, 2011

Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

16. Commitments and Contingencies

On October 20, 2010, Prince Telecom, LLC ("Prince"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, was named as a defendant in a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon.  The plaintiffs, three former employees of Prince, alleged various wage and hour claims, including that employees were not paid for all hours worked and were subject to improper wage deductions. Plaintiffs sought to certify as a class current and former employees of Prince who worked in the State of Oregon.  On October 15, 2010, the plaintiffs' attorneys and Prince entered into a memorandum of understanding pursuant to which the parties agreed to the terms of a proposed settlement with respect to the lawsuit.  On May 18, 2011, the Court entered an Order approving the settlement and dismissed the action with prejudice subject to final administration of the terms of the settlement.   During the first quarter of fiscal 2011, the Company recorded approximately $0.5 million in other accrued liabilities with respect to the settlement, which was paid in June 2011.

On May 13, 2011, a proposed settlement was reached with respect to the Company's two remaining wage and hour class action lawsuits. In connection with an agreement to settle the two lawsuits entered into by the Company, Prince, Cavo Broadband Communications, LLC, Broadband Express, LLC ("BBX") and the plaintiffs' attorneys, the Company recorded $0.6 million in other accrued liabilities during the third quarter of fiscal 2011. The first of the two lawsuits, which commenced on June 17, 2010, was brought by a former employee of Prince against Prince, the Company and certain unnamed U.S. affiliates of Prince and the Company (the "Affiliates") in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit alleged that Prince, the Company and the Affiliates violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to comply with applicable overtime pay requirements. The plaintiff sought unspecified damages and other relief on behalf of himself and a putative class of similarly situated current and former employees of Prince, the Company and/or the Affiliates.  The second of the lawsuits, which commenced on September 10, 2010, was brought by two former employees of BBX against BBX in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit alleged that BBX violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to comply with applicable overtime pay requirements. The plaintiffs sought unspecified damages and other relief on behalf of themselves and a putative class of similarly situated current and former employees of BBX.  On August 12, 2011, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York issued an Order approving the consolidation of the two lawsuits and approving the terms of the settlement.

From time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries are parties to various other claims and legal proceedings. Additionally, as part of the Company's insurance program, it retains the risk of loss, up to certain limits, for claims related to automobile liability, general liability, workers' compensation, employee group health, and locate damages. For these claims, the effect on the Company's financial statements is generally limited to the amount needed to satisfy its insurance deductibles or retentions. It is the opinion of the Company's management, based on information available at this time, that none of such other pending claims or proceedings will have a material effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

Performance Bonds and Guarantees

The Company has obligations under performance and other surety contract bonds related to certain of its customer contracts. Performance bonds generally provide the Company's customer with the right to obtain payment and/or performance from the issuer of the bond if the Company fails to perform its contractual obligations. As of October 29, 2011, the Company had $172.4 million of outstanding performance and other surety contract bonds and no events have occurred in which the customers have exercised their rights under the bonds.

The Company has periodically guaranteed certain obligations of its subsidiaries, including obligations in connection with obtaining state contractor licenses and leasing real property.

Letters of Credit

The Company has letters of credit issued under its Credit Agreement as part of its insurance program. These letters of credit collateralize the Company's obligations to its insurance carriers in connection with the settlement of potential claims.  As of October 29, 2011, the Company had $41.2 million outstanding letters of credit issued under the Credit Agreement.