XML 23 R22.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.6
Related-Party Transactions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Related-Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related-Party Transactions

15. RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

One of the Company's subsidiaries leases office and factory space from a partnership consisting of three present or former officers of the subsidiary, including Mark Gorder, a member of the Company's Board of Directors and the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The subsidiary is required to pay all real estate taxes and operating expenses. The total base rent expense, real estate taxes and other charges incurred under the lease was approximately $486, $477 and $477 for each of the years ended 2011, 2010 and 2009. On October 31, 2011 the subsidiary executed a lease amendment with the partnership to extend the term of the lease for two years. The total annual base rent expense, real estate taxes and other charges under the newly executed lease amendment are expected to be approximately $481.

The Company uses the law firm of Blank Rome LLP for legal services. A partner of that firm is the son-in-law of the Chairman of our Board of Directors. The Company paid approximately $217, $205, and $345 to Blank Rome LLP for legal services and costs in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The Chairman of our Board of Directors is considered independent under applicable Nasdaq and SEC rules because (i) no payments were made to the Chairman or the partner directly in exchange for the services provided by the law firm and (ii) the amounts paid to the law firm did not exceed the thresholds contained in the Nasdaq standards. Furthermore, the aforementioned partner does not provide any legal services to the Company and is not involved in billing matters.