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Commitments and Contingencies
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 25, 2012
Commitments and Contingencies  
Commitments and Contingencies

(12) Commitments and Contingencies

        The estimated cost of completing capital project commitments at December 25, 2012 and December 27, 2011 was approximately $73.2 million and $58.6 million, respectively.

        We entered into real estate lease agreements for franchise restaurants located in Everett, MA, Longmont, CO, Montgomeryville, PA, Fargo, ND and Logan, UT before granting franchise rights for those restaurants. We have subsequently assigned the leases to the franchisees, but remain contingently liable if a franchisee defaults, under the terms of the lease. The Longmont lease was assigned in October 2003 and expires in May 2014, the Everett lease was assigned in September 2002 and expires in February 2018, the Montgomeryville lease was assigned in October 2004 and expires in June 2021, the Fargo lease was assigned in February 2006 and expires in July 2016 and the Logan lease was assigned in January 2009 and expires in August 2019. As the fair value of the guarantees is not considered significant, no liability has been recorded. As discussed in note 17, the Everett, MA, Longmont, CO, and Fargo, ND restaurants are owned, in whole or part, by certain officers, directors and 5% stockholders of the Company.

        During the year ended December 25, 2012, we bought most of our beef from four suppliers. Although there are a limited number of beef suppliers, we believe that other suppliers could provide a similar product on comparable terms. A change in suppliers, however, could cause supply shortages and a possible loss of sales, which would affect operating results adversely. We have no material minimum purchase commitments with our vendors that extend beyond a year.

        On September 30, 2011, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") filed a lawsuit styled Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Texas Roadhouse, Inc., Texas Roadhouse Holdings LLC, Texas Roadhouse Management Corp. in the United States District Court, District of Massachusetts, Civil Action Number 1:11-cv-11732. The complaint alleges that applicants over the age of 40 were denied employment in our restaurants in bartender, host, server and server assistant positions due to their age. The EEOC is seeking injunctive relief, remedial actions, payment of damages to the applicants and costs. We believe we have meritorious defenses to the claims made by the EEOC, and we intend to vigorously defend against them. We filed a response to the complaint in the form of two motions, one to dismiss the case and one to transfer the case to Louisville, KY. On July 24, 2012, the court issued a ruling allowing the EEOC to file an amended complaint containing additional information sufficient to meet the standard for stating a claim of age discrimination against Texas Roadhouse. The EEOC filed an amended complaint on August 27, 2012. We filed an answer on November 9, 2012. On November 9, 2012, our motion to transfer the case to Louisville, KY was denied. Based on the preliminary status of this matter, we cannot estimate the possible amount or range of loss, if any, associated with this matter.

        On January 19, 2011, a Massachusetts putative class action was filed styled Jenna Crenshaw, Andrew Brickley, et al, and all others similarly situated v. Texas Roadhouse, Inc., Texas Roadhouse Holdings, LLC, Texas Roadhouse of Everett, LLC and Texas Roadhouse Management Corp., d/b/a Texas Roadhouse. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court, District of Massachusetts. The complaint alleged a failure to comply with Massachusetts wage laws specifically that we improperly shared pooled tips with ineligible employees. On September 5, 2012, the court approved a Settlement Agreement (the "Agreement") between the parties and dismissed the complaint. Under the Agreement, the company agreed to pay $5.0 million, which includes payment of the plaintiffs' attorneys' fees, payment of expenses to administer the settlement, and individual payments to resolve the claims of servers employed in Massachusetts restaurants from January 18, 2005 through September 5, 2012, the date of final court approval. As a result of the Agreement, as previously reported, we have recorded a $5.0 million charge in the first quarter of 2012 which is included in general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

        We are involved in various other claims and legal actions arising in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.