XML 38 R23.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.22.0.1

Commitments and Contingencies | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | Commitments and Contingencies We are a party to litigation and other proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of our business, including matters arising under provisions relating to the protection of the environment. These types of matters could result in fines, penalties, cost reimbursements or contributions, compensatory or treble damages or non-monetary sanctions or relief. We believe the probability is remote that the outcome of any individual matter, including the matters described below, will have a material adverse effect on the corporation as a whole, notwithstanding that the unfavorable resolution of any matter may have a material effect on our net earnings and cash flows in any particular reporting period. Among the factors that we consider in this assessment are the nature of existing legal proceedings and claims, the asserted or possible damages or loss contingency (if estimable), the progress of the case, existing law and precedent, the opinions or views of legal counsel and other advisers, our experience in similar cases and the experience of other companies, the facts available to us at the time of assessment and how we intend to respond to the proceeding or claim. Our assessment of these factors may change over time as individual proceedings or claims progress. Although we cannot predict the outcome of legal or other proceedings with certainty, when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount is reasonably estimable, U.S. GAAP requires us to accrue an estimate of the probable loss or range of loss or make a statement that such an estimate cannot be made. We follow a thorough process in which we seek to estimate the reasonably possible loss or range of loss, and only if we are unable to make such an estimate do we conclude and disclose that an estimate cannot be made. Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated below in our discussion of legal proceedings, a reasonably possible loss or range of loss associated with any individual legal proceeding cannot be estimated. Chadian Employee Class Action. In May 2018, former employees of our former Chadian subsidiary, Subsahara Services, Inc. ("SSI"), filed a class action suit claiming unpaid damages arising from the ESSO Chad Development Project for Exxon Mobil Corporation ("Exxon") dating back to the early 2000s. Exxon is also named as a defendant in the case. The SSI employees previously filed two class action cases in or around 2005 and 2006 for alleged unpaid overtime and bonuses. The Chadian Labour Court ruled in favor of the SSI employees in the unpaid overtime case resulting in a settlement of approximately $25 million which was reimbursed by Exxon under its contract with SSI. The second case for alleged unpaid bonuses was ultimately dismissed by the Supreme Court of Chad. The current case claims $122 million in unpaid bonuses characterized as damages rather than employee bonuses to avoid the previous Chadian Supreme Court dismissal and a 5-year statute of limitations on wage-related claims. SSI’s initial defense was filed and a hearing was held in December 2018. A merits hearing was held in February 2019. In March 2019, the Labour Court issued a decision awarding the plaintiffs approximately $34 million including a $2 million provisional award. Exxon and SSI have appealed the award and requested suspension of the provisional award which was approved on April 2, 2019. Exxon and SSI filed a submission to the Court of Appeal on June 21, 2019 and filed briefs at a hearing on February 28, 2020. The plaintiffs failed to file a response on March 13, 2020 and a hearing was scheduled for April 17, 2020. The hearing was postponed due to COVID-19 but took place on September 18, 2020. On October 9, 2020 the appellate court of Moundou awarded the plaintiffs approximately $19 million. SSI filed an appeal of this decision to the Chadian Supreme Court on December 28, 2020. SSI’s request for suspension on the enforceability of the award from the Chadian Supreme Court was granted on January 4, 2021. A hearing took place on December 21, 2021, and while a decision was not issued at the hearing the Reporting Judge of the Chadian Supreme Court had indicated, with regard to the fourth plea concerning the unicity of judicial matters, that this ground alone justified quashing the decision. This reversal seemed so obvious for the Reporting Judge that he explained that it was useless to continue studying the following pleas for appeal. On February 9, 2022, the Chadian Supreme Court issued an abstract of their forthcoming decision upholding the lower court’s ruling. We are still awaiting a full decision by the Chadian Supreme Court. Regardless, at this time, based on our assessment of existing law and precedent, the opinions of legal counsel and other advisers, and the facts available to us at the time of assessment, we do not believe a risk of material loss is probable related to this matter. SSI is no longer an existing entity in Chad or the United States. Further, we believe any amounts ultimately paid to the former employees related to this adverse ruling would be paid by Exxon based on the applicable contract and past actions by Exxon with respect to costs and awards related to this matter. North West Rail Link Project. We participate in an unincorporated joint venture with two partners to provide engineering and design services in relation to the operations, trains and systems of a metro rail project in Sydney, Australia. The project commenced in 2014 and during its execution encountered delays and disputes resulting in claims and breach notices submitted to the joint venture by the client. Since November 2018, the client has submitted multiple claims alleging breach of contract and breach of duty by the joint venture in its execution of the services, claiming losses and damages of up to approximately $301 million Australian dollars. KBR has a 33% participation interest in the joint venture and the partners have joint and several liability with respect to all obligations under the contract. We believe the gross amount of the claims significantly exceeds the client’s entitlement as well as the joint venture’s limits of liability under the contract and that the claims will be covered by project-specific professional indemnity insurance subject to deductibles. As of December 31, 2021, we have accrued a probable and reasonably estimable potential loss in an amount that is immaterial. At this time, fact discovery and expert review are still ongoing. The joint venture, joint venture insurers and client continue to be engaged in discussions concerning potential resolution of the claims. Environmental We are subject to numerous environmental, legal and regulatory requirements related to our operations worldwide. In the U.S, these laws and regulations include, among others: the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act; the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act; the Clean Air Act; the Clean Water Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act. In addition to federal and state laws and regulations, other countries where we do business often have numerous environmental regulatory requirements by which we must abide in the normal course of our operations. These requirements apply to our business segments where we perform construction and industrial maintenance services or operate and maintain facilities. We continue to monitor conditions at sites owned or previously owned. These locations were primarily utilized for manufacturing or fabrication work and are no longer in operation. The use of these facilities created various environmental issues including deposits of metals, volatile and semi-volatile compounds and hydrocarbons impacting surface and subsurface soils and groundwater. The range of remediation costs could change depending on our ongoing site analysis and the timing and techniques used to implement remediation activities. We do not expect that costs related to environmental matters will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations. Based on the information presently available to us, the assessment and remediation costs associated with all environmental matters are immaterial and we do not anticipate incurring additional costs. Existing or pending climate change legislation, regulations, international treaties or accords are not expected to have a short-term material direct effect on our business, the markets that we serve or on our results of operations or financial position. However, climate change legislation could have a direct effect on our customers or suppliers, which could impact our business. For example, our commodity-based markets depend on the level of activity of mineral and oil and gas companies and existing or future laws, regulations, treaties or international agreements related to climate change, including incentives to conserve energy or use alternative energy sources, which could impact our business if such laws, regulations, treaties or international agreements reduce the worldwide demand for minerals, oil and natural gas. We continue to monitor developments in this area. Insurance Programs Our employee-related health care benefits program is self-funded. Our workers’ compensation, automobile and general liability insurance programs include a deductible applicable to each claim. Claims in excess of our deductible are paid by the insurer. The liabilities are based on claims filed and estimates of claims incurred but not reported. As of December 31, 2021, liabilities for anticipated claim payments and incurred but not reported claims for all insurance programs totaled approximately $47 million, comprised of $19 million included in accrued salaries, wages and benefits, $3 million included in other current liabilities and $25 million included in other liabilities all on our consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2020, liabilities for unpaid and incurred but not reported claims for all insurance programs totaled approximately $42 million, comprised of $14 million included in accrued salaries, wages and benefits, $2 million included in other current liabilities and $26 million included in other liabilities all on our consolidated balance sheets.

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for commitments and contingencies. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2127136 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 440 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2144648 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 954 -SubTopic 440 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6491277&loc=d3e6429-115629 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 440 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123406679&loc=d3e25336-109308 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 440 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123406679&loc=d3e25336-109308 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | dtr-types:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration