Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Contingencies

 v2.3.0.11
Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jul. 02, 2011
Contingencies  
Contingencies

Note 13—Contingencies

Parts Geek Litigation

In June 2009, the Company filed suit in the United States District Court for the Central District of California against Parts Geek LLC ("Parts Geek"), certain of its members and employees for misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of contract and unfair competition and requesting monetary damages and injunctive relief, and Parts Geek filed an answer in August 2009. In January 2010, the complaint was amended to include claims for copyright infringement and to add Lucas Thomason, a former employee, as an additional party. Parts Geek filed an answer and counterclaims to the amended complaint in February 2010. Each party filed a motion for summary judgment requesting that the Court rule on all claims made in this matter without sending the matter to a jury. In June 2010, the Court ruled on all claims in the matter, denying the Company's claims against Parts Geek and Lucas Thomason and denying Parts Geek's claims against the Company. The judge additionally denied Parts Geek's counterclaims against the Company. Parts Geek and Lucas Thomason petitioned the Court to order the Company to pay their legal fees and costs, the Court ordered the Company to do so and in August 2010 all parties stipulated that approximately $1.1 million of legal fees and costs would be owed to Parts Geek and Lucas Thomason should the Company lose its appeal or win its appeal and lose in trial. A bond has been posted to guarantee payment of $1.1 million plus interest, at a cost of approximately $0.02 million to the Company. The Company is not required to pay the fees and costs at this time; they would be due if the Company loses its appeal and determines to not appeal beyond the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, or if the Company wins on appeal but loses at trial once the case is remanded to the trial court and, in accordance with ASC 450-20 Loss Contingencies ("ASC 450-20"), the Company has not accrued for these fees and costs. The Company filed an appeal and filed its initial brief on January 21, 2011. The reply brief was filed March 21, 2011. The appeal has been fully briefed by all parties and scheduling of oral argument before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is pending. The Company has analyzed this matter in accordance with ASC 450-20 and, in accordance with the definition of probable loss described therein, it has concluded that no accrual is necessary at this time.

California Air Resources Board Inquiry

The Company received an inquiry by the California Air Resources Board ("CARB") into sales of non-California compliant catalytic converters in the state of California via our stock-ship and drop-ship network. In March 2010, and again in June 2010, the Company met with CARB to discuss alleged sales of catalytic converters into California by the Company and third-party suppliers that are not compliant with California regulations. CARB informed the Company that penalties shall be assessed with regard to any non-compliant sales; discussions are ongoing, and due to a number of variables, any penalties are not estimable at this time. This will impact the sale of products for emissions systems in California and may adversely impact our sales and operating results. The Company is unable to assess the amount of the final monetary cost in this regard, other than legal fees that have been and may continue to be incurred in preparing responses and defending the Company in the inquiry and that there will be an associated cost for penalties in this matter.

Asbestos

WAG is a named defendant in several lawsuits involving claims for damages caused by installation of brakes during the late 1960's and early 1970's that contained asbestos. WAG marketed certain brakes, but did not manufacture any brakes. WAG maintains liability insurance coverage to protect its and the Company's assets from losses arising from the litigation and coverage is provided on an occurrence rather than a claims made basis, and the Company is not expected to incur significant out-of-pocket costs in connection with this matter that would be material to its consolidated financial statements.