Commitments and Contingent Liabilities |
9 Months Ended |
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Aug. 31, 2016 | |
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
Commitments and Contingent Liabilities | Commitments and Contingent Liabilities The Company is party to various claims, legal actions and complaints arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. The Company is also a party to various lawsuits involving purchases and sales of real property. These lawsuits include claims regarding representations and warranties made in connection with the transfer of properties and disputes regarding the obligation to purchase or sell properties. The Company has been engaged in litigation since 2008 in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland regarding whether the Company is required by a contract it entered into in 2005 to purchase a property in Maryland. After entering into the contract, the Company later renegotiated the purchase price, reducing it from $200 million to $134 million, $20 million of which has been paid and subsequently written off, leaving a balance of $114 million. In January 2015, the District Court rendered a decision ordering the Company to purchase the property for the $114 million balance of the contract price, to pay interest at the rate of 12% per annum from May 27, 2008, and to reimburse the seller for real estate taxes and attorneys’ fees. The Company believes the decision is contrary to applicable law and has appealed the decision. The Company does not believe it is probable that a loss has occurred and, therefore, no liability has been recorded with respect to this case. If the District Court decision is affirmed in its entirety, the Company will purchase the property and record it at fair value, which the Company believes will not result in an impairment. The amount of interest the Company will be required to pay has been the subject of further proceedings before the court. On June 29, 2015, the court ruled that interest will be calculated as simple interest at the rate of 12% per annum from May 27, 2008 until the date the Company purchases the property. Simple interest on $114 million at 12% per annum will accrue at the rate of $13.7 million per year, totaling approximately $113 million as of August 31, 2016. In addition, if the Company is required to purchase the property, it will be obligated to reimburse the seller for real estate taxes, which currently total $1.6 million. The Company has not engaged in discovery regarding the amount of the plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees. If the District Court decision is totally reversed on appeal, the Company will not have to purchase the property or pay interest, real estate taxes or attorneys’ fees. In its June 29, 2015 ruling, the District Court determined that the Company would be permitted to stay the judgment during appeal by posting a bond in the amount of $223.4 million related to pending litigation. The District Court calculated this amount by adding 12% per annum simple interest to the $114 million purchase price for the period beginning May 27, 2008 through May 26, 2016, the date the District Court estimated the appeal of the case would be concluded.
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