Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2015

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

8. Commitments and Contingencies:

The Company, in the ordinary course of business, is subject to claims made, and from time to time is named as a defendant in legal proceedings relating to the sales of its products. The Company believes that the reserves reflected in its financial statements are adequate to pay losses and loss adjustment expenses which may result from such claims and proceedings; however, such estimates may be more or less than the amount ultimately paid when the claims are settled. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or liquidity.

On August 26, 2010, the Company was served with a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Estate of a former employee who was fatally injured in a workplace accident while an employee of the Company. The accident occurred in September 2008. The Plaintiff demanded $2,500,000 to settle this claim.

A motion to dismiss the Complaint was granted without prejudice in January 2012, allowing the Plaintiff the ability to file an amended Complaint. In July 2014, the Company filed a Motion for Summary Judgment to have the complaint dismissed. On December 1, 2014, the Company and its insurance company agreed to settle this claim for $150,000. The Company was responsible for $75,000, one-half of the total settlement amount. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company accrued an additional $50,000 for a total accrued liability of $75,000 related to this settlement. This settlement amount was paid in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, and the case has been closed.

On December 26, 2013 the Company was served with a civil action filed by Georgetown Paper Stock of Rockville, Inc. for breach of warranties. In November 2014, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the Plaintiff, Georgetown Paper Stock of Rockville, Inc. in the amount of $368,248. The Company was responsible for $277,968 of this amount and its dealer, BE Equipment, Inc., was responsible for $90,280. The baler involved in this claim will be returned to the Company. The Company recorded an accrued liability of $285,000 and an asset in transit of $85,000 resulting in net expense of $200,000 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. The payments were made in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. The baler was returned in the second quarter of fiscal 2015.

In November 2014, the Company agreed to a Consent Order with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to remove solid waste sand blasting material from its property. The Company recorded an accrued liability of $291,000 as of October 31, 2014, for the cost of the removal of this material. The removal of the sand blasting material was completed in January 2015.

At April 30, 2015, the Company had outstanding commitments relating to standby letters of credit for performance and warranty guarantees of approximately $1,000,000. These letters of credit are collateralized by certificates of deposit which have expiration dates which coincide with the expiration dates of the letters of credit. Certificates of deposit that mature in one year or more are included in other assets in the accompanying balance sheet.