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Commitments, Contingencies and Other | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2012
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments, Contingencies and Other | Commitments, Contingencies and Other Legal proceedings:
(a) | On July 19, 2011, an individual purporting to act on behalf of a class of similarly situated individuals commenced a civil action in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Samantha Ellison, individually and on behalf of a class of similarly situated individuals v. Steven Madden, Ltd., No. CV11-05935 (the “Ellison Action”). The Ellison Action asserts that the Company made unsolicited commercial text calls to wireless telephone numbers of the class members in violation of the Telecommunications Privacy Act and seeks, on behalf of the class, an injunction requiring the Company to cease all wireless spam activities and an award of statutory damages to the class members together with costs and reasonable attorneys' fees. The Company responded by challenging the suit on several grounds. Settlement discussions have resulted in a settlement being reached on July 30, 2012 for an aggregate gross fund amount of $10,000, including all settlement costs and administration fees, as well as the fees recoverable by class counsel. As the settlement calls for the reversion of all monies not paid to class claimants, it is possible that the actual settlement amount paid will be substantially less than $10,000. In addition, the Company's insurance coverage will cover a portion of the settlement at the rate of 45% of the initial settlement payment of $5,000 and 30% of amounts over and above the initial settlement payment. On September 25, 2012 the court certified the class for settlement purposes only and approved the settlement on a preliminary basis. The court further ordered all litigants to make further submissions to the court concerning, among other things, the merits and value of the case and to deliver notice of the proposed settlement to all class members prior to a fairness hearing and final approval of the settlement. Based on the settlement as contemplated and applying the insurance coverage as applicable, the maximum exposure to the Company is approximately $6,250; however, in light of historical "take rates" in cases of this type, the Company's counsel estimates that the actual liability to the Company will be between approximately $2,000 and $2,500. Accordingly, the Company recorded a liability in the amount of $2,500 in the second quarter of 2012. This liability is subject to change to reflect any change in the status of this matter.
(b) | On February 2, 2012, two individuals purporting to be stockholders of the Company commenced separate civil actions in the Supreme Court of New York, Queens County, Mark Ioffe, Derivatively on Behalf of Nominal Defendant Steven Madden, Ltd. v. Steven Madden, et. al, No. 700188-2012 (the “Ioffe Action”) and Catherine L. Phillips, Derivatively on Behalf of Nominal Defendant Steven Madden, Ltd. v. Steven Madden, et. al, No. 700189-2012 (together with the Ioffe Action, the “Actions”). The Actions assert derivative claims challenging the decision of the Company’s Board of Directors in January 2012 to amend Steven Madden’s employment agreement dated July 15, 2005, and amended as of December 14, 2009 (the “Madden Employment Agreement”) and to amend the promissory note (the “Promissory Note”) setting forth Mr. Madden’s obligations in respect of a loan made by the Company to Mr. Madden in 2007 and amended in 2009. The Actions assert that the Board violated its duties of loyalty and good faith by approving the amendments to the Madden Employment Agreement and the Promissory Note and that the changes set forth in the amendments constitute a waste of corporate assets. The Actions also assert claims of unjust enrichment against Mr. Madden. The Actions seek, on behalf of the Company, disgorgement of any compensation that Mr. Madden has received as a result of the amended Madden Employment Agreement, an award of damages to the Company, and a declaration that the amendments of the Madden Employment Agreement and the Promissory Note are void. The Company and the other defendants filed a motion for dismissal of the Actions based on, among other things, the plaintiffs’ failure to make a demand that the Company’s Board of Directors investigate their claims. On September 13, 2012 the court granted the defendants' motion to dismiss the Actions. As of the date hereof, the plaintiffs have not filed a notice of appeal with respect to the dismissal of the actions.
(c) | On August 10, 2005, following the conclusion of an audit of the Company conducted by auditors for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“U.S. Customs”) during 2004 and 2005, U.S. Customs issued a report that asserts that certain commissions that the Company treated as “buying agents’ commissions” (which are non-dutiable) should be treated as “selling agents’ commissions” and hence are dutiable. Subsequently, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement notified the Company’s legal counsel that a formal investigation of the Company’s importing practices had been commenced as a result of the audit. In September of 2007, U.S. Customs notified the Company that it had finalized its assessment of the underpaid duties at $1,400. The Company, with the advice of legal counsel, evaluated the liability in the case, including additional duties, interest and penalties, and believed that it was not likely to exceed $3,045, and accordingly, a liability for this amount was recorded as of December 31, 2009. The Company contested the conclusions of the U.S. Customs audit and filed a request for review and issuance of rulings thereon by U.S. Customs
Note S – Commitments, Contingencies and Other (continued) Headquarters, of Regulations and Rulings, under internal advice procedures. On September 20, 2010, the Company was advised by legal counsel that U.S. Customs had issued a ruling in the matter, concluding that the commissions paid by the Company pursuant to buying agreements entered into by the Company and one of its two buying agents under review were bona fide buying-agent commissions and, therefore, were non-dutiable. With respect to the second buying agent, U.S. Customs also ruled that beginning in February of 2002, commissions paid by the Company were bona fide buying agent commissions and, therefore, were non-dutiable. However, U.S. Customs found that the Company’s pre-2002 buying agreements with the second agent were legally insufficient to substantiate a buyer-buyer’s agent relationship between the Company and the agent and that commissions paid to the second agent under such buying agreements, in fact, were dutiable. On the basis of the U.S. Customs ruling, the Company reevaluated the liability in the case and believes that it is not likely to exceed $1,248 and the liability was reduced from $3,045 to such amount as of September 30, 2010. On November 21, 2011, U.S. Customs issued a pre-penalty notice to the Company in which it alleges that gross negligence by the Company resulted in an underpayment of duties with respect to certain pre-2002 buying agreements and claims that the Company owes $342 as an additional duty and $1,367 in monetary penalties. In its February 16, 2012 response to the pre-penalty notice, the Company submitted that it owes no additional duty and, further, did not through negligence or gross negligence fail to pay any duty or engage in conduct amounting to either gross negligence or negligence. The Company requested that U.S. Customs withdraw its proposal to issue a notice of penalty and take no further adverse action against the Company. In the event that U.S. Customs is not inclined to withdraw the pre-penalty notice after review of the Company’s response, the Company has requested the opportunity to make an oral presentation to U.S. Customs prior to the issuance of a notice of penalty. In the event that U.S. Customs decides to issue a notice of penalty, the Company intends to file a petition for relief requesting a reduction of the level of culpability and mitigation of the penalty amount assessed. The maximum total amount of damages related to this matter is approximately $1,700 for which the Company has accrued $1,248.
(d) | The Company has been named as a defendant in certain other lawsuits in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, after consulting with legal counsel, the liabilities, if any, resulting from these matters should not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. It is the policy of management to disclose the amount or range of reasonably possible losses in excess of recorded amounts in its annual report.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for commitments and contingencies. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6398077&loc=d3e12565-110249 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 14 -Paragraph 3 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 440 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394976&loc=d3e25287-109308 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6449706&loc=d3e16207-108621 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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