XML 55 R19.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.2.0.727
LITIGATION
6 Months Ended
Jul. 03, 2015
Loss Contingency, Information about Litigation Matters [Abstract]  
LITIGATION
LITIGATION
On August 9, 2013, Harbinger Capital Partners, LLC and additional plaintiffs (the "Harbinger Plaintiffs") filed a lawsuit against Deere & Co., Garmin International, Inc., the Company and two other defendants in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan in connection with the Harbinger Plaintiffs’ investment in LightSquared. The Harbinger Plaintiffs allege, among other things, fraud and negligent misrepresentation, claiming that the defendants were aware of material facts that caused the Federal Communications Commission to take adverse action against LightSquared and affirmatively misrepresented and failed to disclose those facts prior to the Harbinger Plaintiffs’ investment in LightSquared. The Harbinger Plaintiffs sought $1.9 billion in damages from the defendants. On November 1, 2013, debtor LightSquared, Inc. and two related parties (“LightSquared Plaintiffs”) filed suit against the same defendants in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan. The LightSquared Plaintiffs assert claims similar to those made by the Harbinger Plaintiffs, as well as additional claims, including breach of contract and tortious interference, and alleged that LightSquared invested billions of dollars in reliance on the promises and representations of defendants. On January 31, 2014, the U.S. District Court granted defendants’ motion to withdraw the LightSquared action from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to the U.S. District Court. On February 5, 2015, the U.S. District Court dismissed all claims brought by the Harbinger Plaintiffs and the majority of those brought by the LightSquared Plaintiffs, including those for breach of contract, promissory estoppel, quantum merit, and tortious interference, but allowed the LightSquared Plaintiffs' claims of negligent representation and constructive fraud to proceed to discovery.  On February 11, 2015, the Harbinger Plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal of the District Court’s dismissal of their claims.  Although an unfavorable outcome of these litigation matters may have a material adverse effect on the Company's operating results, liquidity, or financial position, the Company believes the claims in these lawsuits are without merit and intends to vigorously contest these lawsuits.
On March 12, 2015, Rachel Thompson filed a putative class action complaint in California Superior Court against the Company, the members of its Board of Directors, and JP Morgan Chase Bank.  The suit alleges that the Company’s Board of Directors breached their fiduciary obligations to the Company’s shareholders by entering into a credit agreement with JP Morgan Chase Bank that contains certain change of control provisions that plaintiff contends are disadvantageous to shareholders.  The complaint seeks declaratory relief, injunctive relief and costs of the action, including attorney's fees, but does not seek monetary damages. The Company intends to vigorously contest these claims.
From time to time, the Company is also involved in litigation arising out of the ordinary course of its business. There are no other material legal proceedings, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any of the Company's or its subsidiaries' property is subject.