Contingencies and Legal Matters	9 Months Ended
Jul. 07, 2013
Legal Matters [Abstract]
Contingencies and Legal Matters	CONTINGENCIES AND LEGAL MATTERS The Company assesses contingencies, including litigation contingencies, to determine the degree of probability and range of possible loss for potential accrual in its financial statements. An estimated loss contingency is accrued in the financial statements if it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Because litigation is inherently unpredictable, assessing contingencies is highly subjective and requires judgments about future events. When evaluating litigation contingencies, we may be unable to provide a meaningful estimate due to a number of factors, including the procedural status of the matter in question, the presence of complex or novel legal theories, and/or the ongoing discovery and development of information important to the matter. In addition, damage amounts claimed in litigation against us may be unsupported, exaggerated or unrelated to possible outcomes, and as such are not meaningful indicators of our potential liability. The Company regularly reviews contingencies to determine the adequacy of the accruals and related disclosures. The ultimate amount of loss may differ from these estimates. Gessele v. Jack in the Box Inc. — In August 2010, five former employees instituted litigation in federal court in Oregon alleging claims under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) and Oregon wage and hour laws. The plaintiffs allege that the Company failed to pay non-exempt employees for certain meal breaks and improperly recorded payroll deductions for shoe purchases and for workers’ compensation expenses. In April 2013, the district court: (i) granted certification of the Oregon state law claims with respect to payroll deductions for shoe purchases and workers’ compensation expenses, (ii) granted conditional certification for these same claims under the FLSA, and (iii) denied certification for meal break claims under both federal and Oregon law. We intend to vigorously defend against this lawsuit. We have made an accrual for a single claim for which we believe a loss is both probable and estimable. This accrued loss contingency did not have a material effect on our results of operations. Due to the procedural status of the other claims in this case, we have not established a loss contingency accrual for these claims as the liability with respect to these claims is not probable and we are currently unable to estimate a range of loss. Nonetheless, an unfavorable resolution of this matter could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, liquidity or financial condition. Other Legal Matters — In addition to the matter described above, the Company is subject to normal and routine litigation brought by former, current or prospective employees, customers, franchisees, vendors, landlords, shareholders or others. We intend to defend ourselves in any such matters. Although we currently believe that the ultimate outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, liquidity or financial position of the Company, it is possible that our business, results of operations, liquidity, or financial position could be materially affected in any particular future reporting period by the unfavorable resolution of one or more of these matters or contingencies. Lease Guarantees — In connection with the sale of the distribution business, we have assigned the leases at two of our distribution centers to third parties. Under these agreements, which expire in 2015 and 2017, the Company remains secondarily liable for the lease payments for which we were responsible under the original lease. As of July 7, 2013, the amount remaining under these lease guarantees totaled $3.1 million. We have not recorded a liability for the guarantees as the likelihood of the third party defaulting on the assignment agreements was deemed to be less than probable.

CONTINGENCIES AND LEGAL MATTERS

The Company assesses contingencies, including litigation contingencies, to determine the degree of probability and range of possible loss for potential accrual in its financial statements. An estimated loss contingency is accrued in the financial statements if it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Because litigation is inherently unpredictable, assessing contingencies is highly subjective and requires judgments about future events. When evaluating litigation contingencies, we may be unable to provide a meaningful estimate due to a number of factors, including the procedural status of the matter in question, the presence of complex or novel legal theories, and/or the ongoing discovery and development of information important to the matter. In addition, damage amounts claimed in litigation against us may be unsupported, exaggerated or unrelated to possible outcomes, and as such are not meaningful indicators of our potential liability. The Company regularly reviews contingencies to determine the adequacy of the accruals and related disclosures. The ultimate amount of loss may differ from these estimates.

Gessele v. Jack in the Box Inc. — In August 2010, five former employees instituted litigation in federal court in Oregon alleging claims under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) and Oregon wage and hour laws. The plaintiffs allege that the Company failed to pay non-exempt employees for certain meal breaks and improperly recorded payroll deductions for shoe purchases and for workers’ compensation expenses. In April 2013, the district court: (i) granted certification of the Oregon state law claims with respect to payroll deductions for shoe purchases and workers’ compensation expenses, (ii) granted conditional certification for these same claims under the FLSA, and (iii) denied certification for meal break claims under both federal and Oregon law. We intend to vigorously defend against this lawsuit. We have made an accrual for a single claim for which we believe a loss is both probable and estimable. This accrued loss contingency did not have a material effect on our results of operations. Due to the procedural status of the other claims in this case, we have not established a loss contingency accrual for these claims as the liability with respect to these claims is not probable and we are currently unable to estimate a range of loss. Nonetheless, an unfavorable resolution of this matter could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.

Other Legal Matters — In addition to the matter described above, the Company is subject to normal and routine litigation brought by former, current or prospective employees, customers, franchisees, vendors, landlords, shareholders or others. We intend to defend ourselves in any such matters. Although we currently believe that the ultimate outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, liquidity or financial position of the Company, it is possible that our business, results of operations, liquidity, or financial position could be materially affected in any particular future reporting period by the unfavorable resolution of one or more of these matters or contingencies.

Lease Guarantees — In connection with the sale of the distribution business, we have assigned the leases at two of our distribution centers to third parties. Under these agreements, which expire in 2015 and 2017, the Company remains secondarily liable for the lease payments for which we were responsible under the original lease. As of July 7, 2013, the amount remaining under these lease guarantees totaled $3.1 million. We have not recorded a liability for the guarantees as the likelihood of the third party defaulting on the assignment agreements was deemed to be less than probable.