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Contingencies | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2015
Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Contingencies | 8. Contingencies In the ordinary course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to various claims, investigations, examinations, pending and potential legal actions, and other matters relating to compliance with laws and regulations (collectively, legal proceedings). The Company discloses its material legal proceedings under Part II, Item 1. “Legal Proceedings” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Part I, Item 3. “Legal Proceedings” in the Annual Report. The Company has recorded reserves for certain of its outstanding legal proceedings. A reserve is recorded when it is both (a) probable that a loss has occurred and (b) the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. There may be instances in which an exposure to loss exceeds the recorded reserve. The Company evaluates, on a quarterly basis, developments in legal proceedings that could cause an increase or decrease in the amount of the reserve that has been previously recorded, or a revision to the disclosed estimated r ange of possible losses, as applicable. The Company’s legal proceedings range from cases brought by a single plaintiff to class actions with millions of putative class members. These legal proceedings involve various lines of business of the Company and a variety of claims (including, but not limited to, common law tort, contract, antitrust and consumer protection claims), some of which present novel factual allegations and/or unique legal theories. While some matters pending against the Company specify th e damages claimed by the plaintiff or class, many seek an unspecified amount of damages or are at very early stages of the legal process. Even when the amount of damages claimed against the Company are stated, the claimed amount may be exaggerated and/or u nsupported. As a result, some matters have not yet progressed sufficiently through discovery and/or development of important factual information and legal issues to enable the Company to estimate an amount of loss or a range of possible loss. Other matter s have progressed sufficiently through discovery and/or development of important factual information and legal issues so that the Company is able to estimate an amount of loss or a range of possible loss. Accordingly, for those disclosed material legal pr oceedings where a loss is reasonably possible in future periods, whether in excess of a related reserve for legal contingencies or where there is no such liability, and for which the Company is able to estimate a range of possible loss, the current estimat ed range is zero to $370 million in excess of any reserves related to these matters. This range represents management’s estimate based on currently available information and does not represent the Company’s maximum loss exposure; actual results may vary si gnificantly. As such proceedings evolve, including the merchant claims described under Part II, Item 1. “Legal Proceedings” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we may need to increase our range of possible loss or reserves for legal contingencies. Base d on its current knowledge, and taking into consideration its litigation-related liabilities, the Company believes it is not a party to, nor are any of its properties the subject of, any legal proceeding that would have a material adverse effect on the Com pany’s consolidated financial condition or liquidity. However, in light of the uncertainties involved in such matters, it is possible that the outcome of legal proceedings, including the possible resolution of merchant claims, could have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations.

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