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Commitments and Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
6. Commitments and Contingencies

Letters of Credit and Guarantees

CBIZ provides letters of credit to landlords (lessors) of its leased premises in lieu of cash security deposits, which totaled $2.3 million at both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. In addition, CBIZ provides license bonds to various state agencies to meet certain licensing requirements. The amount of license bonds outstanding was $2.4 million and $2.3 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

CBIZ acted as guarantor on various letters of credit for a CPA firm with which it has an affiliation, which totaled $0.9 million at both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. CBIZ has recognized a liability for the fair value of the obligations undertaken in issuing these guarantees, which is recorded within “Other current liabilities” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Management does not expect any material changes to result from these instruments as performance under the guarantees is not expected to be required.

Legal Proceedings

In 2010, CBIZ, Inc. and its subsidiary, CBIZ MHM, LLC (fka CBIZ Accounting, Tax & Advisory Services, LLC) (the “CBIZ Parties”), were named as defendants in lawsuits filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona and the Superior Court for Maricopa County, Arizona. The federal court case is captioned Robert Facciola, et al v. Greenberg Traurig LLP, et al, and the state court cases are captioned Victims Recovery, LLC v. Greenberg Traurig LLP, et al, Roger Ashkenazi, et al v. Greenberg Traurig LLP, et al, Mary Marsh, et al v. Greenberg Traurig LLP, et al; and ML Liquidating Trust v. Mayer Hoffman McCann PC, et al. Prior to these suits CBIZ MHM, LLC was named as a defendant in Jeffrey C. Stone v. Greenberg Traurig LLP, et al.

These lawsuits arose out of the bankruptcy of Mortgages Ltd., a mortgage lender to developers in the Phoenix, Arizona area. Various other professional firms and individuals not related to the Company were also named defendants in these lawsuits.

Mortgages Ltd. had been audited by Mayer Hoffman, a CPA firm that has an administrative services agreement with CBIZ. The lawsuits asserted claims against Mayer Hoffman for, among others things, violations of the Arizona Securities Act, common law fraud, and negligent misrepresentation, and sought to hold the CBIZ Parties vicariously liable for Mayer Hoffman’s conduct as either a statutory control person under the Arizona Securities Act or a joint venturer under Arizona common law. CBIZ is not a CPA firm, does not provide audits, and did not audit any of the entities at issue in these lawsuits, nor is CBIZ a control person of, or a joint venture with, Mayer Hoffman.

 

With the exception of claims being pursued by two plaintiffs from the Ashkenazi lawsuit (“Baldino Group”), all other matters have been dismissed or settled without payment by the CBIZ Parties. The Baldino Group’s claims, which allege damages of approximately $16.0 million, are currently stayed as to the CBIZ Parties and Mayer Hoffman and no trial date has been set.

The CBIZ Parties deny all allegations of wrongdoing made against them and are vigorously defending the remaining proceedings relating to the Baldino Group’s claims. In particular, the CBIZ Parties are not control persons under the Arizona Securities Act of, or in a joint venture with, Mayer Hoffman. The CBIZ Parties do not have, in any respects, the legal right to control Mayer Hoffman’s audits or any say in how the audits are conducted. The Company has been advised by Mayer Hoffman that it denies all allegations of wrongdoing made against it and that it intends to continue vigorously defending the matters.

The Company cannot predict the outcome of the above matters or estimate the possible loss or range of loss, if any. Although the proceedings relating to the Baldino Group’s claims are subject to uncertainties inherent in the litigation process and the ultimate disposition of these proceedings is not presently determinable, management believes that the allegations are without merit and that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

In addition to those items disclosed above, the Company is, from time to time, subject to claims and suits arising in the ordinary course of business. Although the ultimate disposition of such proceedings is not presently determinable, management does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.