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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies  
Commitments and Contingencies

 

(12) Commitments and Contingencies

        The estimated cost of completing capital project commitments at December 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was approximately $153.2 million and $65.2 million, respectively.

        Effective December 31, 2013, we sold two restaurants, which operated under the name Aspen Creek, located in Irving, TX and Louisville, KY. We assigned the leases associated with these restaurants to the acquirer, but remain contingently liable under the terms of the leases if the acquirer defaults. We are contingently liable for the initial term of the lease and any renewal periods. The Irving lease has an initial term that expires December 2019, along with three five-year renewals. The Louisville lease has an initial term that expires November 2023, along with three five-year renewals. The assignment of the Louisville lease releases us from liability after the initial lease term expiration contingent upon certain conditions being met by the acquirer. As the fair value of the guarantees is not considered significant, no liability has been recorded.

        We entered into real estate lease agreements for five franchises, listed in the table below, 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.

                                                                                                                                                                                    

 

 

Lease
Assignment Date

 

Initial Lease
Term Expiration

Everett, Massachusetts(1)

 

September 2002

 

February 2018

Longmont, Colorado(1)

 

October 2003

 

May 2019

Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania

 

October 2004

 

June 2021

Fargo, North Dakota(1)

 

February 2006

 

July 2016

Logan, Utah

 

January 2009

 

August 2019


(1)

As discussed in note 17, these restaurants are owned, in whole or part, by certain officers, directors and 5% shareholders of the Company.

        We are contingently liable for the initial term of the lease and any renewal periods. All of the leases have three five-year renewals. As the fair value of the guarantees is not considered significant, no liability has been recorded.

        As of December 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we are contingently liable for $18.0 million and $18.7 million, respectively, for the seven leases discussed above. These amounts represent the maximum potential liability of future payments under the guarantees. In the event of default, the indemnity and default clauses in our assignment agreements govern our ability to pursue and recover damages incurred. No material liabilities have been recorded as of December 30, 2014 as the likelihood of default was deemed to be less than probable.

        During the year ended December 30, 2014, 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 have filed an answer to the complaint, and the case is in discovery. We deny liability; however, in view of the inherent uncertainties of litigation, the outcome of this case cannot be predicted at this time. We cannot estimate the possible amount or range of loss, if any, associated with this matter.

        Occasionally, we are a defendant in litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, including "slip and fall" accidents, employment related claims and claims from guests or employees alleging illness, injury or food quality, health or operational concerns. 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.