Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

In the ordinary course of business, we are routinely defendants in, or party to, a number of pending and threatened legal actions. These may involve litigation by or against us relating to, among other things, contractual rights under vendor, insurance or other contracts; intellectual property or patent rights; equipment, service, payment or other disputes with clients; or disputes with employees. Some of these actions may be brought as a purported class action on behalf of a purported class of employees, customers or others. In management's opinion, the potential liability, if any, that may result from these actions, either individually or collectively, is not reasonably expected to have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows as of September 30, 2020. However, as litigation is inherently unpredictable, there can be no assurances in this regard.

In December 2018 and then in February 2019, certain of the Company’s officers and directors were named as defendants in two virtually identical derivative actions purportedly brought on behalf of the Company, Clem v. Lautenbach et al. and Devolin v. Lautenbach et al. These two actions, both filed by the same counsel in Connecticut state court, allege, among other things, breaches of fiduciary duty relating to these same disclosures, and seek compensatory damages and other relief derivatively for the benefit of the Company. Both of these are derivative claims related to a prior action filed in Connecticut state court, City of Livonia Retiree Health and Disability Benefits Plan v. Pitney Bowes Inc. et al. (“Livonia”). On October 24, 2019, the court had granted the defendants’ motions to dismiss the Livonia case, and that judgment is now final. Given that the defendants prevailed in the Livonia action, the plaintiffs in the Clem and Devolin actions moved to withdraw their complaints, and on February 20, 2020 the court granted the motions. Both cases have now been dismissed.

We have entered into three equipment leases for our Commerce Services operations that will commence in the fourth quarter with terms ranging from seven to nine years. Aggregate lease payments for the three leases will approximate $30 million.