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Commitments and Contingencies | 9 Months Ended
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Jul. 31, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Letters of Credit and Surety Bonds We use letters of credit and surety bonds to secure certain commitments related to insurance programs and for other purposes. As of July 31, 2021, these letters of credit and surety bonds totaled $148.8 million and $679.8 million, respectively. Guarantees In some instances, we offer clients guaranteed energy savings under certain energy savings contracts. At July 31, 2021, total guarantees were $238.0 million and extend through 2041. We accrue for the estimated cost of guarantees when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Historically, we have not incurred any material losses in connection with these guarantees. Sales Taxes We collect sales tax from clients and remit those collections to the applicable states. When clients fail to pay their invoices, including the amount of any sales tax that we paid on their behalf, in some cases we are entitled to seek a refund of that amount of sales tax from the applicable state. Sales tax laws and regulations enacted by the various states are subject to interpretation, and our compliance with such laws is routinely subject to audit and review by such states. Audit risk is concentrated in several states that are conducting ongoing audits. The outcomes of ongoing and any future audits and changes in the states’ interpretation of the sales tax laws and regulations could materially adversely impact our results of operations. Legal Matters We are a party to a number of lawsuits, claims, and proceedings incident to the operation of our business, including those pertaining to labor and employment, contracts, personal injury, and other matters, some of which allege substantial monetary damages. Some of these actions may be brought as class actions on behalf of a class or purported class of employees. At July 31, 2021, the total amount accrued for probable litigation losses where a reasonable estimate of the loss could be made was $14.4 million. We do not accrue for contingent losses that, in our judgment, are considered to be reasonably possible but not probable. The estimation of reasonably possible losses also requires the analysis of multiple possible outcomes that often depend on judgments about potential actions by third parties. Our management currently estimates the range of loss for all reasonably possible losses for which a reasonable estimate of the loss can be made is between zero and $6 million. Factors underlying this estimated range of loss may change from time to time, and actual results may vary significantly from this estimate. The amounts above do not include any accrual or loss estimates with respect to the Bucio case, which are detailed below. Litigation outcomes are difficult to predict, and the estimation of probable losses requires the analysis of multiple possible outcomes that often depend on judgments about potential actions by third parties. If one or more matters are resolved in a particular period in an amount in excess of or in a manner different than what we anticipated, this could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. In some cases, although a loss is probable or reasonably possible, we cannot reasonably estimate the maximum potential losses for probable matters or the range of losses for reasonably possible matters. Therefore, our accrual for probable losses and our estimated range of loss for reasonably possible losses do not represent our maximum possible exposure. Certain Legal Proceedings In determining whether to include any particular lawsuit or other proceeding in our disclosure below, we consider both quantitative and qualitative factors. These factors include, but are not limited to: the amount of damages and the nature of any other relief sought in the proceeding; if such damages and other relief are specified, our view of the merits of the claims; whether the action is or purports to be a class action, and our view of the likelihood that a class will be certified by the court; the jurisdiction in which the proceeding is pending; and the potential impact of the proceeding on our reputation. The Consolidated Cases of Bucio and Martinez v. ABM Janitorial Services filed on April 7, 2006, pending in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco (the “Bucio case”) The Bucio case is a class action pending in San Francisco Superior Court that alleges ABM failed to provide legally required meal periods and make additional premium payments for such meal periods, pay split shift premiums when owed, and reimburse janitors for travel expenses. There is also a claim for penalties under the California Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”). On April 19, 2011, the trial court held a hearing on plaintiffs’ motion to certify the class. At the conclusion of that hearing, the trial court denied plaintiffs’ motion to certify the class. On May 11, 2011, the plaintiffs filed a motion to reconsider, which was denied. The plaintiffs appealed the class certification issues. The trial court stayed the underlying lawsuit pending the decision in the appeal. The Court of Appeal of the State of California, First Appellate District (the “Court of Appeal”), heard oral arguments on November 7, 2017. On December 11, 2017, the Court of Appeal reversed the trial court’s order denying class certification and remanded the matter for certification of a meal period, travel expense reimbursement, and split shift class. The case was remitted to the trial court for further proceedings on class certification, discovery, dispositive motions, and trial. On September 20, 2018, the trial court entered an order defining four certified subclasses of janitors who were employed by the legacy ABM janitorial companies in California at any time between April 7, 2002, and April 30, 2013, on claims based on alleged previous automatic deduction practices for meal breaks, unpaid meal premiums, unpaid split shift premiums, and unreimbursed business expenses, such as mileage reimbursement for use of personal vehicles to travel between worksites. On February 1, 2019, the trial court held that the discovery related to PAGA claims allegedly arising after April 30, 2013, would be stayed until after the class and PAGA claims accruing prior to April 30, 2013, had been tried. The parties engaged in mediation in July 2019, which did not result in settlement of the case. On October 17, 2019, the plaintiffs filed a motion asking the trial court to certify additional classes based on an alleged failure to maintain time records, an alleged failure to provide accurate wage statements, and an alleged practice of combining meal and rest breaks. The trial court denied the plaintiffs’ motion to certify additional classes on December 26, 2019. The case was reassigned to a new judge on January 6, 2020. ABM filed motions for summary adjudication as to certain of plaintiffs’ class claims, and the trial court denied those motions in November 2020. The parties engaged in another mediation in January 2021, which did not result in a settlement of the case. Plaintiffs filed motions for summary adjudication and/or summary judgment on some claims in December 2020. In February and March 2021, the parties engaged in expert discovery which provided detailed information regarding the plaintiffs’ damage calculations on the class claims. On February 25, 2021, the California Supreme Court issued an opinion in Donohue v. AMN Services, which addresses the standard for adjudicating meal period claims under California law and we believe is supportive of ABM’s legal position in the Bucio case. On May 5, 2021, the trial court denied all of the plaintiffs’ December 2020 motions for summary adjudication and/or summary judgment, and the case was assigned to a new judge. On May 5, 2021, the trial court ordered the parties to attend a mandatory settlement conference before a separate judge on June 11, 2021. The trial date was scheduled for July 12, 2021. On July 7, 2021, the Company entered into a class action settlement and release agreement to settle the Bucio case for $140 million and to obtain a release of the certified class claims that were asserted in the Bucio case. The settlement will also resolve the PAGA claim. The release of the certified class claims covers the time period from April 7, 2002, through April 30, 2013. The release of the PAGA claim covers the time period from November 15, 2005, through July 18, 2021. Any attorneys’ fees awarded by the trial court and all costs of notice and claims administration will be paid from the $140 million settlement fund. Employees who will be a part of the settlement will receive payments based on the number of pay periods they worked. The settlement agreement is contingent upon the approval of the trial court. On August 11, 2021, the plaintiffs filed the motion for preliminary approval of class action settlement with the trial court, which is currently pending. If the settlement is preliminarily approved, members of the certified class will receive notice of the settlement, and there will be an opportunity for them to object to the settlement before the trial court grants final approval of the settlement. No payments will be made to employees until after the settlement is finally approved by the trial court. The Company has recorded a $142.9 million settlement accrual, which includes an accrual of $2.9 million of related payroll taxes, for the Bucio case within “Other current liabilities” on the unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets as of July 31, 2021, and $112.9 million and $142.9 million of related expense in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in our unaudited Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three and nine months ending July 31, 2021, respectively.

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