Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Note 2 – Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is involved in certain litigation as a result of claims that arose in the ordinary course of business, which management believes will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.  The Company may also realize the benefit of certain legal claims and litigation in the future; these gain contingencies are not recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Extruded Metals Class Action

A purported class action was filed in Michigan Circuit Court by Gaylord L. Miller, and all others similarly situated, against a subsidiary of the Company, Extruded Metals, Inc., in March 2012 under nuisance, negligence, and gross negligence theories.  It is brought on behalf of all persons in the City of Belding, Michigan, whose property rights have allegedly been interfered with by fallout and/or dust and/or noxious odors, allegedly attributable to Extruded Metals' operations.  Plaintiffs allege that they have suffered interference with the use and enjoyment of their properties.  They seek compensatory and exemplary damages and injunctive relief.  The Company intends to vigorously defend this matter.  At this time, the Company is unable to determine the impact, if any, that this matter will have on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Supplier Litigation

On May 6, 2011, the Company and two of its subsidiaries, Mueller Streamline Co. (Mueller Streamline) and B&K Industries, Inc. (B&K)(Plaintiffs), filed a civil lawsuit in federal district court in Los Angeles, California against a former supplier, Xiamen Lota International Co., Ltd (Xiamen Lota), its U.S. sales representative (Lota USA), and certain other persons (Defendants).  The lawsuit alleges, among other things, that the Defendants gave Peter D. Berkman, a former executive of the Company and B&K, an undisclosed interest in Lota USA, and made payments and promises of payments to him, in return for Peter Berkman maintaining the Company as a customer, increasing purchasing levels, and acquiescing to non-competitive and excessive pricing for Xiamen Lota products.  The lawsuit alleges violations of federal statutes 18 U.S.C. Sections 1962(c) and (d) (RICO claims) and California state law unfair competition.  The lawsuit seeks compensatory, treble and punitive damages, and other appropriate relief including an award of reasonable attorneys' fees and costs of suit.  All of the foreign Defendants have been served under the Hague Convention and Xiamen Lota has withdrawn its motion contesting service of process (filed July 1, 2011).  On January 4, 2012, the foreign Defendants filed a motion to dismiss all of the claims in the Company's Complaint for failure to state claims, and also joined in Lota USA's pending motion to dismiss (filed July 1, 2011).  On December 16, 2011, the Court granted Lota USA's motion to disqualify the Company's counsel and the Company has retained new counsel to represent it going forward in the lawsuit.  The motions to dismiss were heard on April 9, 2012, and the Court sustained Plaintiffs' unfair competition claim, and dismissed without prejudice and with leave to amend, their RICO claims.  The Plaintiffs intend to file an amended Complaint.  The Court also set a trial date for this civil matter to commence on April 16, 2013.

Other

Guarantees, in the form of letters of credit, are issued by the Company generally to assure the payment of insurance deductibles and certain retiree health benefits.  The terms of the Company's guarantees are generally one year but are renewable annually as required.  These letters are primarily backed by the Company's line of credit facility.  The maximum payments that the Company could be required to make under its guarantees at March 31, 2012 was $11.7 million.