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Commitments and Contingencies
3 Months Ended
May 28, 2011
Commitments and Contingencies  
Commitments and Contingencies

10. Commitments and Contingencies

        The Company is currently a defendant in several putative collective or class action lawsuits filed in federal or state courts in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Oregon, purportedly on behalf of, in some cases (i) current and former assistant store managers or (ii) current and former store managers and assistant store managers, respectively, working in the Company's stores at various locations. The lawsuits allege violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and of certain state wage and hour statutes. The lawsuits seek various combinations of unpaid compensation (including overtime compensation), liquidated damages, exemplary damages, pre- and post-judgment interest as well as attorneys' fees and costs. In one of the cases, Craig et al v. Rite Aid Corporation et al, pending in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, brought on behalf of current and former assistant store managers, the Court, on December 9, 2009, conditionally certified a nationwide collective group of individuals who worked for the Company as assistant store managers since December 9, 2006. Notice of the Craig action has been sent to the purported members of the collective group (approximately 6,700 current and former store managers) and approximately 1,100 have joined the Craig action. In another of the cases, Indergit v. Rite Aid Corporation et al, pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, brought on behalf of current and former store managers and assistant store managers, the Court, on April 2, 2010, conditionally certified a nationwide collective group of individuals who worked for the Company as store managers since March 31, 2007. The Court ordered that Notice of the Indergit action be sent to the purported members of the collective group (approximately 7,000 current and former store managers) and approximately 1,550 have joined the Indergit action. At this time, the Company is not able to predict the outcome of these lawsuits, or any possible monetary exposure associated with the lawsuits. The Company's management believes, however, that the lawsuits are without merit and not appropriate for collective or class action treatment. The Company is vigorously defending all of these claims.

        The Company is currently a defendant in several putative class action lawsuits filed in state courts in California alleging violations of California wage and hour laws pertaining primarily to pay for missed meals and rest periods. These suits purport to be class actions and seek substantial damages. At this time, the Company is not able to predict the outcome of these lawsuits, or any possible monetary exposure associated with the lawsuits. The Company's management believes, however, that the plaintiffs' allegations are without merit and that their claims are not appropriate for class action treatment. The Company is vigorously defending all of these claims.

        The Company was served with a United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General ("OIG") Subpoena dated March 5, 2010 in connection with an investigation being conducted by the OIG, the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California and the United States Department of Justice Commercial Litigation Branch. The subpoena requests records related to any gift card or similar programs for customers who transferred prescriptions for drugs or medicines to the Company's pharmacies, and whether any customers who receive federally funded prescription benefits (e.g. Medicare and Medicaid) may have benefited from those programs. The Company is in the process of producing records in response to the subpoena and is unable to predict with certainty the timing or outcome of the investigation.

        The Company received a Subpoena dated May 9, 2011 from certain California counties seeking information regarding compliance with environmental regulations governing the management of hazardous waste. The Company is in the process of gathering records in response to the subpoena. The Company is unable to predict with certainty the timing or outcome of the investigation.

        The Company does not believe that any of these matters will have a material adverse effect on its business or financial condition. The Company cannot give assurance, however, that an unfavorable outcome in one or more of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on its results of operations for the period in which they are resolved.

        The Company is subject from time to time to various claims and lawsuits and governmental investigations arising in the ordinary course of our business. While the Company's management cannot predict the outcome of these claims with certainty, the Company's management does not believe that the outcome of any of these legal matters will have a material adverse effect on its business, consolidated results of operations or financial position.