Commitments and Contingencies

6 Months Ended

Jul. 01, 2014

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

4. Commitments and Contingencies

On April 11, 2013, a current restaurant hourly employee filed a class action lawsuit in the California Superior Court, Placer County, alleging that the Company violated the California Labor Code and California Business and Professions Code, by requiring employees to purchase uniforms for work (Sikora v. The Cheesecake Factory Restaurants, Inc., et al; Case No SCV0032820).  A similar lawsuit covering a different time period was also filed in Placer County (Reed v. The Cheesecake Factory Restaurants, Inc. et al; Case No. S CV 27073).  By stipulation the parties agreed to transfer the Reed and Sikora cases to Los Angeles County.  Both cases (Case Nos. SCV0032820 and S CV 2703) were subsequently coordinated together in Los Angeles County by order of the Judicial Council.  On November 15, 2013, the Company filed a motion to strike certain causes of action raised in Case No. SCV003820, which motion is currently scheduled for hearing on September 10, 2014.  We were also arbitrating similar uniform and related issues under federal law in separate collective actions in Alabama, Colorado, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas (Smith v. The Cheesecake Factory Restaurants, Inc. et al; Case No. 3 06 0829).  On October 24, 2013, the arbitrator in the Tennessee matter (Case No. 3 06 0829) denied summary judgment motions filed both by the claimants and by us on the uniform issue.  In January 2013, the arbitrator in the Ohio matter (Case No. 3 06 0829) ruled in favor of the Company on the material claims raised in the Ohio arbitration, including uniform, minimum wage and overtime issues, while finding in favor of the claimants on two non-material claims.  The claimants then filed a motion to vacate the Ohio arbitration decision.  These lawsuits and arbitrations sought unspecified amounts of penalties and other monetary payments on behalf of the respective claimants and other purported class members.  On May 29, 2014, the parties agreed to a confidential settlement that was approved by the arbitrator in Case No. 3 06 0829.  We expensed an immaterial amount for this settlement in the first quarter of fiscal 2014.

Within the ordinary course of our business, we are subject to private lawsuits, government audits, administrative proceedings and other claims.  These matters typically involve claims from guests, staff members and others related to operational issues common to the foodservice industry.  A number of these claims may exist at any given time, and some of the claims may be pled as class actions.  From time to time, we are also involved in lawsuits with respect to infringements of, or challenges to, our registered trademarks and other intellectual property, both domestically and abroad.  We could be affected by adverse publicity and litigation costs resulting from such allegations, regardless of whether these allegations are valid or whether we are legally determined to be liable.  At this time, we believe that the final disposition of any pending lawsuits, audits, proceedings and claims will not have a material adverse effect individually or in the aggregate on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity.  It is possible, however, that our future results of operations for a particular quarter or fiscal year could be impacted by changes in circumstances relating to lawsuits, audits, proceedings or claims.