XML 24 R17.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT ﻿
v2.3.0.11

12. Legal Proceedings | 6 Months Ended
--- | ---
Jun. 30, 2011
Legal Proceedings [Abstract] |
Legal Proceedings. | LEGAL PROCEEDINGS Based on an internal review, we have identified conduct in certain of our overseas operations that may have violated the anti-bribery provisions of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and is likely to have violated the FCPA’s books and records and internal controls provisions and our own internal policies. In May 2010, we voluntarily disclosed these matters to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), each of which commenced an investigation. The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors (Audit Committee) has assumed direct responsibility for reviewing these matters and has hired experienced independent counsel to conduct an investigation and provide legal advice. We have provided, and intend to continue to provide, additional information to the DOJ and the SEC as the Audit Committee’s investigation progresses. The Audit Committee’s investigation and the DOJ and SEC investigations are continuing and we are presently unable to predict the duration, scope or results of the Audit Committee’s investigation, of any investigations by the DOJ or the SEC or whether either agency will commence any legal actions. The DOJ and the SEC have a broad range of civil and criminal sanctions under the FCPA and other laws and regulations including, but not limited to, injunctive relief, disgorgement, fines, penalties, modifications to business practices including the termination or modification of existing business relationships, the imposition of compliance programs and the retention of a monitor to oversee compliance with the FCPA. We are unable to estimate the outcome of this matter. However, the imposition of any of these sanctions or remedial measures could have a material adverse effect on our business or financial condition. We have not to date determined whether any of the activities in question violated the laws of the foreign jurisdictions in which they took place. On April 13, 2011, a shareholder derivative lawsuit was filed against each of our directors in the Superior Court for Contra Costa County, California. The case, which also names the Company as a nominal defendant, is captioned City of Riviera Beach General Employees’ Retirement System v. David Schwartz, et al., Case No. MSC11-00854. In the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that our directors breached their fiduciary duties by failing to ensure that we had sufficient internal controls and systems for compliance with the FCPA. Purportedly seeking relief on our behalf, the plaintiff seeks an award of unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), and a declaration that our directors have breached their fiduciary duties. We and the individual defendants have filed a demurrer requesting dismissal of the complaint in this case, as well as a motion to dismiss the complaint and a motion to stay this matter pending resolution of the above-referenced investigations by the DOJ and SEC. In addition, we are party to various other claims, legal actions and complaints arising in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe, at this time, that any ultimate liability resulting from any of these other matters will have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity. However, we cannot give any assurance regarding the ultimate outcome of these other matters and their resolution could be material to our operating results for any particular period, depending on the level of income for the period.

X
- Definition -- None. No documentation exists for this element. -- + Details
Name: | bio_LegalProceedingsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | bio
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for legal proceedings, legal contingencies, litigation, regulatory and environmental matters and other contingencies. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LegalMattersAndContingenciesTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration