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Commitments and Contingencies | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | Commitments and Contingencies Government Contracts As a government contractor, we are subject to U.S. government audits and investigations relating to our operations, including claims for fines, penalties and compensatory and treble damages, and possible suspension or debarment from doing business with the government. Based on currently available information, we believe the outcome of ongoing government disputes and investigations will not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity. Legal Matters One of our subsidiaries was a subcontractor to a mechanical contractor (“Mechanical Contractor”) on a construction project where an explosion occurred. An investigation of the matter could not determine who was responsible for the explosion. As a result of the explosion, lawsuits have been commenced against various parties, but, to date, no lawsuits have been commenced against our subsidiary with respect to personal injury or damage to property as a consequence of the explosion. However, the Mechanical Contractor has asserted claims, in the context of an arbitration proceeding against our subsidiary, alleging that our subsidiary is responsible for a portion of the damages for which the Mechanical Contractor may be liable as a result of: (a) personal injury suffered by individuals as a result of the explosion and (b) the Mechanical Contractor’s legal fees and associated management costs in defending against any and all such claims. In the most recent filing with the Arbitrator, the Mechanical Contractor has stated claims against our subsidiary for alleged violations of the Connecticut and Massachusetts Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Acts in the ongoing arbitration proceeding. Further, the general contractor (as assignee of the Mechanical Contractor) on the construction project, and for whom the Mechanical Contractor worked, has alleged that our subsidiary is responsible for losses asserted by the owner of the project and/or the general contractor because of delays in completion of the project and for damages to the owner’s property. We believe, and have been advised by counsel, that we have a number of meritorious defenses to all such matters. We believe that the ultimate outcome of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity. Notwithstanding our assessment of the final impact of this matter, we are not able to estimate with any certainty the amount of loss, if any, which would be associated with an adverse resolution. One of our subsidiaries, USM, Inc. (“USM”), doing business in California provides, among other things, janitorial services to its customers by having those services performed by independent janitorial companies. USM and one of its customers, which owns retail stores (the “Customer”), are co-defendants in a federal class action lawsuit brought by five employees of USM’s California janitorial subcontractors. The action was commenced on September 5, 2013 in a Superior Court of California and was removed by USM on November 22, 2013 to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The employees allege in their complaint, among other things, that USM and the Customer, during a period that began before our acquisition of USM, violated a California statute that prohibits USM from entering into a contract with a janitorial subcontractor when it knows or should know that the contract does not include funds sufficient to allow the janitorial contractor to comply with all local, state and federal laws or regulations governing the labor or services to be provided. The employees have asserted that the amounts USM pays to its janitorial subcontractors are insufficient to allow those janitorial subcontractors to meet their obligations regarding, among other things, wages due for all hours their employees worked, minimum wages, overtime pay and meal and rest breaks. These employees seek to represent not only themselves, but also all other individuals who provided janitorial services at the Customer’s stores in California during the relevant four year time period. We do not believe USM or the Customer has violated the California statute or that the employees may bring the action as a class action on behalf of other employees of janitorial companies with whom USM subcontracted for the provision of janitorial services to the Customer. However, if the pending lawsuit is certified as a class action and USM is found to have violated the California statute, USM might have to pay significant damages and might be subject to similar lawsuits regarding the provision of janitorial services to its other customers in California. The plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment that USM has violated the California statute, monetary damages, including all unpaid wages and thereon, restitution for unpaid wages, and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs. On February 17, 2015, USM and its Customer entered into a consent decree which, subject to final approval of the consent decree by the federal judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California following a determination by the Court of the consent decree’s fairness, adequacy and reasonableness, will resolve the claims and defenses asserted in the class action. Under the terms of the consent decree, USM is to (a) pay an aggregate of $1.0 million (i) for monetary relief to the members of the class, (ii) for awards to the class representative plaintiffs, (iii) for California Labor Code Private Attorney General Act payments to the State of California for an immaterial amount, and (iv) for all costs of notice and administration of the claims process, (b) pay to counsel for the class an aggregate of $1.3 million, of which $0.25 million is to be allocated for their reimbursable costs and litigation expenses and $1.05 million is to be allocated for attorneys’ fees, and (c) establish procedures to monitor USM’s California subcontractors providing janitorial services to its Customer designed principally to ensure janitorial employees of those subcontractors are paid no less than minimum wage. The settlement amount has been accrued for as of December 31, 2014, and payment is expected to be made in 2015. We are involved in several other proceedings in which damages and claims have been asserted against us. Other potential claims may exist that have not yet been asserted against us. We believe that we have a number of valid defenses to such proceedings and claims and intend to vigorously defend ourselves. We do not believe that any such matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties and the outcome of litigation is not predictable with assurance. It is possible that some litigation matters for which reserves have not been established could be decided unfavorably to us, and that any such unfavorable decisions could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity. Restructuring expenses Restructuring expenses, primarily relating to employee severance obligations, were less than $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Restructuring expenses, relating to the termination of leased facilities, were $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014. As of March 31, 2015, the balance of these restructuring obligations yet to be paid was $0.2 million, the majority of which is expected to be paid after 2015. No material expenses in connection with restructuring from continuing operations are expected to be incurred during the remainder of 2015. The changes in restructuring activity by reportable segments during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014 were as follows (in thousands):
| United States electrical construction and facilities services segment |  | United States mechanical construction and facilities services segment |  | Corporate administration |  | Total
Balance at December 31, 2013 | $ | 30 |  |  | $ | 164 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 194 |
Charges | — |  |  | (75 | ) |  | 300 |  |  | 225 |
Payments | (6 | ) |  | (89 | ) |  | — |  |  | (95 | )
Balance at March 31, 2014 | $ | 24 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 300 |  |  | $ | 324 |
Balance at December 31, 2014 | $ | 255 |  |  | $ | 26 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 281 |
Charges | 2 |  |  | 6 |  |  | — |  |  | 8 |
Payments | (18 | ) |  | (32 | ) |  | — |  |  | (50 | )
Balance at March 31, 2015 | $ | 239 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 239 |
A summary of restructuring expenses by reportable segments recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was as follows (in thousands):
| United States electrical construction and facilities services segment |  | United States mechanical construction and facilities services segment |  | Corporate administration |  | Total
Severance | $ | — |  |  | $ | 6 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 6 |
Leased facilities | 2 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 2 |
Total charges | $ | 2 |  |  | $ | 6 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 8 |

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