Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Feb. 03, 2012

Contingencies

Contingencies

Contingencies

Litigation

General. The company is party to litigation in the ordinary course of business. Litigation occasionally involves claims for punitive as well as compensatory damages arising out of use of the company’s products. Although the company is self-insured to some extent, the company maintains insurance against certain product liability losses. The company is also subject to litigation and administrative and judicial proceedings with respect to claims involving asbestos and the discharge of hazardous substances into the environment. Some of these claims assert damages and liability for personal injury, remedial investigations or clean up and other costs and damages. The company is also typically involved in commercial disputes, employment disputes, and patent litigation cases in which it is asserting or defending against patent infringement claims. To prevent possible infringement of the company’s patents by others, the company periodically reviews competitors’ products. To avoid potential liability with respect to others’ patents, the company regularly reviews certain patents issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) and foreign patent offices. Management believes these activities help minimize its risk of being a defendant in patent infringement litigation.

Lawnmower Engine Horsepower Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation. Beginning in June 2004, various plaintiffs filed class action lawsuits in state and federal courts throughout the country against the company and other defendants alleging that the horsepower labels on the products the plaintiffs purchased were inaccurate. The plaintiffs (i) asserted statutory and common law claims, and (ii) sought an injunction, unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, treble damages, and attorneys’ fees. In December 2008, all lawsuits were transferred to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (the “Court”) for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings.

The company and certain other defendants entered into a settlement agreement with plaintiffs in February 2010, the Court approved the company’s settlement and certified the settlement class in August 2010, and the company’s settlement agreement became final in February 2011. The settlement class consists of all persons in the United States who, beginning January 1, 1994 and through April 12, 2010, purchased a lawnmower containing a two-stroke or four-stroke gas combustible engine up to 30 horsepower that was manufactured or sold by the company and other defendants, and the company’s settlement agreement provides for, among other things, (i) a monetary settlement, (ii) an additional warranty period for certain engines that are subject to the litigation, and (iii) injunctive relief relating to power rating labeling practices.

The expected costs of the company’s performance of its settlement obligations are consistent with accruals established in prior periods and, as such, management does not currently expect that the settlement will have a material adverse effect on the company’s consolidated operating results or financial condition.

In March 2010, individuals who claim to have purchased lawnmowers in Canada filed class action litigation against the company and other defendants that (i) contains allegations under applicable Canadian law that are similar to the allegations made by the United States plaintiffs, (ii) seeks certification of a class of all persons in Canada who, beginning January 1, 1994 purchased a lawnmower containing a gas combustible engine up to 30 horsepower that was manufactured or sold by the company and other defendants, and (iii) seeks under applicable Canadian law unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys’ costs and fees, and equitable relief.

Management continues to evaluate this Canadian litigation. In the event the company is unable to favorably resolve this litigation, management is unable to assess at this time whether this litigation would have a material adverse effect on the company’s annual consolidated operating results or financial condition, although an unfavorable resolution or outcome could be material to the company’s consolidated operating results for a particular period.