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Income Taxes
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Income Taxes [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
(6)       Income Taxes
 
The Company recorded tax expense in continuing operations of $1,911 and $3,429 in the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, compared to $2,057 and $2,885 in the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively.  The decrease for the three months ended June 30, 2011 is due primarily to the geographic mix of income. The increase for the six months ended June 30, 2011 is due primarily to higher pre-tax earnings.
 
 The Company expects to maintain a full valuation allowance against its net domestic, and certain foreign, deferred tax assets, subject to the consideration of all prudent and feasible tax planning strategies, until such time as the Company attains an appropriate level of future profitability and the Company is able to conclude that it is more likely than not that its deferred tax assets are realizable.
 
As of January 1, 2011 the Company had approximately $4,085 of unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties.  During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, the Company increased its unrecognized tax benefits by $179 and $519, respectively, and decreased its unrecognized tax benefits by $0 and $57, respectively, primarily for current period tax positions and foreign currency translation.  Of the total balance of unrecognized tax benefits at June 30, 2011 approximately $4,120, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate.
 
In 2009, a subsidiary of the Company was examined by a European tax authority, who challenged the business purpose of the deductibility of certain intercompany transactions from 2003.  In the fourth quarter of 2009, the tax authorities notified the Company that they disagreed with the Company's responses to their formal assessments.  In the first quarter of 2010, the Company filed an appeal to litigate the matter.  The first court date related to this matter was held in June 2011.  The court issued its ruling in favor of the Company in June, however, this ruling only applied to the smaller of the two assessments made by the authorities related to this matter.  The Company still believes this dispute to be in the early stages of the judicial process since any ruling reached by any of the courts may likely be appealed, and as such the final date of resolution and outcome of this matter are uncertain at this time.  However, it is possible that factors such as new developments, judgments, or settlements may require the Company to increase its reserve for unrecognized tax benefits by up to $8,500 or decrease its reserve by $5,800, including interest and penalties.  If the court rules against the Company in subsequent court proceedings, a payment of between $6,000 and $9,000 including interest and penalties will be due immediately while the case is appealed. The Company has analyzed these issues in accordance with guidance on uncertain tax positions and believes at this time that its reserves are adequate, and intends to vigorously defend itself.
 
In the next twelve months, the Company does not expect any material changes to its unrecognized tax benefits other than those disclosed above.
 
Tax years 2007 and forward in the U.S. are open to examination by the IRS.  The Company is also subject to examinations in its non-U.S. jurisdictions for 2006 and later years.
 
The Company is also subject to audits in various states for various years in which it has filed income tax returns.  In June 2011, the Company was notified by the New York tax authorities that its examination of open tax years was closed with no significant changes to the Company's tax positions.  Previous state audits have resulted in immaterial adjustments.  Open years for the majority of states where the Company files are 2006 and forward.