LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONTINGENCIES |
3 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2017 | |
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONTINGENCIES |
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONTINGENCIES
We are involved in a number of judicial proceedings and other matters arising from the conduct of our business activities.
Although there can be no assurance as to the ultimate outcome, we have generally denied, or believe we have a meritorious defense and will deny, liability in all litigation pending against us, including (except as otherwise noted herein) the matters described below, and we intend to defend vigorously each case. We have accrued for legal claims when, and to the extent that, amounts associated with the claims become probable and can be reasonably estimated. The actual costs of resolving legal claims may be substantially higher or lower than the amounts accrued for those claims.
For those matters as to which we are not able to estimate a possible loss or range of loss, we are not able to determine whether the loss will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations or liquidity. For matters in this category, we have indicated in the descriptions that follow the reasons that we are unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss.
Judicial Proceedings
We are a defendant in a number of lawsuits filed in state and federal courts containing various class action allegations under state wage-and-hour laws. At this time, we do not believe that any loss associated with these matters would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
UPS and our subsidiary The UPS Store, Inc. are defendants in Morgate v. The UPS Store, Inc. et al., an action in the Los Angeles Superior Court brought on behalf of a certified class of all franchisees who chose to rebrand their Mail Boxes Etc. franchises to The UPS Store in March 2003. Plaintiff alleges that UPS and The UPS Store, Inc. misrepresented and omitted facts to the class about the market tests that were conducted before offering the class the choice of whether to rebrand to The UPS Store. We have filed a motion to decertify the class, which is currently scheduled to be heard in May 2017. Trial is scheduled for August 2017.
There are multiple factors that prevent us from being able to estimate the amount of loss, if any, that may result from the remaining aspects of this case, including: (1) we are vigorously defending ourselves and believe we have a number of meritorious legal defenses; and (2) it remains uncertain what evidence of damages, if any, plaintiffs will be able to present. Accordingly, at this time, we are not able to estimate a possible loss or range of loss that may result from this matter or to determine whether such loss, if any, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
In AFMS LLC v. UPS and FedEx Corporation, a lawsuit filed in federal court in the Central District of California in August 2010, the plaintiff asserts that UPS and FedEx violated U.S. antitrust law by conspiring to refuse to negotiate with third-party negotiators retained by shippers and by individually imposing policies that prevent shippers from using such negotiators. The Court granted summary judgment motions filed by UPS and FedEx, entered judgment in favor of UPS and FedEx, and dismissed the case. Plaintiff appealed to the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, briefing is complete and oral argument was heard in March 2017. The Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) opened a civil investigation of our policies and practices for dealing with third-party negotiators. We have cooperated with this investigation. We deny any liability with respect to these matters and intend to vigorously defend ourselves. There are multiple factors that prevent us from being able to estimate the amount of loss, if any, that may result from these matters including: (1) the DOJ investigation is pending; (2) the Court granted our motion for summary judgment; and (3) the appeal remains pending. Accordingly, at this time, we are not able to estimate a possible loss or range of loss that may result from these matters or to determine whether such loss, if any, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
We are a defendant in Ryan Wright and Julia Zislin v. United Parcel Service Canada Ltd., an action brought on behalf of a certified class of customers in the Superior Court of Justice in Ontario, Canada. Plaintiffs filed suit in February 2007, alleging inadequate disclosure concerning the existence and cost of brokerage services provided by us under applicable provincial consumer protection legislation and infringement of interest restriction provisions under the Criminal Code of Canada. Partial summary judgment was granted to us and the plaintiffs by the Ontario motions court in August 2011, when it dismissed plaintiffs' complaint under the Criminal Code and granted plaintiffs' complaint of inadequate disclosure. We appealed the Court's decision pertaining to inadequate disclosure in September 2011 and continue to vigorously defend all other allegations. There are multiple factors that prevent us from being able to estimate the amount of loss, if any, that may result from this matter, including: (1) we are vigorously defending ourselves and believe that we have a number of meritorious legal defenses; and (2) there are unresolved questions of law and fact that could be important to the ultimate resolution of this matter. Accordingly, at this time, we are not able to estimate a possible loss or range of loss that may result from this matter or to determine whether such loss, if any, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
In February 2015, the State and City of New York filed suit against UPS in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, arising from alleged shipments of untaxed cigarettes to New York State and City residents. The complaint asserts claims under various federal and state laws. The complaint also includes a claim that UPS violated the Assurance of Discontinuance it entered into with the New York Attorney General in 2005 concerning tobacco shipments. On March 24, 2017, the District Court issued an opinion and order finding UPS liable on each of the plaintiffs’ causes of action, and stating that the facts before the court indicate that significant penalties are appropriate. Pursuant to the opinion and order, the parties submitted additional information to the District Court on April 7, 2017 so that the court may issue an amended or supplemental order as to damages and penalties. We are evaluating the court’s liability opinion and potential grounds for appeal. Accordingly, at this time, we are not able to estimate a possible loss or range of loss that may result from this matter, which depend on the methodology applied by the court, among other things, or to determine whether such loss, if any, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
In May 2016, a purported shareowner derivative suit was filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery naming certain of UPS’s current and former officers and directors as defendants, alleging that they breached their fiduciary duties by failing to monitor UPS’s compliance with the Assurance of Discontinuance and other federal and state laws relating to cigarette deliveries. The Company’s and individual defendants’ motion to dismiss was heard in October 2016. In January 2017, the Court of Chancery dismissed the plaintiffs' suit in its entirety. No appeal was filed and the deadline for doing so has lapsed.
We are a defendant in various other lawsuits that arose in the normal course of business. We do not believe that the eventual resolution of these other lawsuits (either individually or in the aggregate), including any reasonably possible losses in excess of current accruals, will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
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