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Commitments and Contingent Liabilities | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2020
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingent Liabilities | NOTE 14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES Environmental Matters We have recorded liabilities totaling $48 million at both September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 for anticipated costs related to various environmental matters, primarily the remediation of numerous waste disposal sites and certain properties sold by us. Of these amounts, $12 million and $13 million were included in Other Current Liabilities at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The costs include legal and consulting fees, site studies, the design and implementation of remediation plans, post-remediation monitoring and related activities, and will be paid over several years. The amount of our ultimate liability in respect of these matters may be affected by several uncertainties, primarily the ultimate cost of required remediation and the extent to which other responsible parties contribute. We have limited potential insurance coverage for future environmental claims. Since many of the remediation activities related to environmental matters vary substantially in duration and cost from site to site and the associated costs for each vary depending on the mix of unique site characteristics, in some cases we cannot reasonably estimate a range of possible losses. Although it is not possible to estimate with certainty the outcome of all of our environmental matters, management believes that potential losses in excess of current reserves for environmental matters, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, cash flows or results of operations. Workers’ Compensation We have recorded liabilities, on a discounted basis, totaling $204 million and $198 million for anticipated costs related to workers’ compensation at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. Of these amounts, $35 million and $39 million was included in Current Liabilities as part of Compensation and Benefits at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The costs include an estimate of expected settlements on pending claims, defense costs and a provision for claims incurred but not reported. These estimates are based on our assessment of potential liability using an analysis of available information with respect to pending claims, historical experience, and current cost trends. The amount of our ultimate liability in respect of these matters may differ from these estimates. We periodically, and at least annually, update our loss development factors based on actuarial analyses. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the liability was discounted using a risk-free rate of return. At September 30, 2020, we estimate that it is reasonably possible that the liability could exceed our recorded amounts by approximately $25 million. General and Product Liability and Other Litigation We have recorded liabilities totaling $295 million and $293 million, including related legal fees expected to be incurred, for potential product liability and other tort claims, including asbestos claims, at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. Of these amounts, $39 million and $43 million was included in Other Current Liabilities at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The amounts recorded were estimated based on an assessment of potential liability using an analysis of available information with respect to pending claims, historical experience and, where available, recent and current trends. Based upon that assessment, at September 30, 2020, we do not believe that estimated reasonably possible losses associated with general and product liability claims in excess of the amounts recorded will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, cash flows or results of operations. However, the amount of our ultimate liability in respect of these matters may differ from these estimates. We have recorded an indemnification asset within Accounts Receivable of $3 million and within Other Assets of $22 million for Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.'s ("SRI") obligation to indemnify us for certain product liability claims related to products manufactured by a formerly consolidated joint venture entity, subject to certain caps and restrictions. Asbestos. We are a defendant in numerous lawsuits alleging various asbestos-related personal injuries purported to result from alleged exposure to asbestos in certain products manufactured by us or present in certain of our facilities. Typically, these lawsuits have been brought against multiple defendants in state and federal courts. To date, we have disposed of approximately 153,900 claims by defending, obtaining the dismissal thereof, or entering into a settlement. The sum of our accrued asbestos-related liability and gross payments to date, including legal costs, by us and our insurers totaled approximately $564 million through September 30, 2020 and $554 million through December 31, 2019. A summary of recent approximate asbestos claims activity follows. Because claims are often filed and disposed of by dismissal or settlement in large numbers, the amount and timing of settlements and the number of open claims during a particular period can fluctuate significantly.
|  | Nine Months Ended |  |  | Year Ended |
(Dollars in millions) |  | September 30, 2020 |  |  | December 31, 2019 |
Pending claims, beginning of period |  |  | 39,600 |  |  |  | 43,100 |
New claims filed |  |  | 900 |  |  |  | 1,500 |
Claims settled/dismissed |  |  | (1,700 | ) |  |  | (5,000 | )
Pending claims, end of period |  |  | 38,800 |  |  |  | 39,600 |
Payments(1) |  | $ | 9 |  |  | $ | 22 |
(1) | Represents cash payments made during the period by us and our insurers on asbestos litigation defense and claim resolution.
We periodically, and at least annually, review our existing reserves for pending claims, including a reasonable estimate of the liability associated with unasserted asbestos claims, and estimate our receivables from probable insurance recoveries. We recorded gross liabilities for both asserted and unasserted claims, inclusive of defense costs, totaling $154 million and $153 million at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. In determining the estimate of our asbestos liability, we evaluated claims over the next ten-year period. Due to the difficulties in making these estimates, analysis based on new data and/or a change in circumstances arising in the future may result in an increase in the recorded obligation, and that increase could be significant. We maintain certain primary and excess insurance coverage under coverage-in-place agreements, and also have additional excess liability insurance with respect to asbestos liabilities. After consultation with our outside legal counsel and giving consideration to agreements with certain of our insurance carriers, the financial viability and legal obligations of our insurance carriers and other relevant factors, we determine an amount we expect is probable of recovery from such carriers. We record a receivable with respect to such policies when we determine that recovery is probable and we can reasonably estimate the amount of a particular recovery. We recorded a receivable related to asbestos claims of $95 million at both September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019. We expect that approximately 60% of asbestos claim related losses would be recoverable through insurance during the ten-year period covered by the estimated liability. Of these amounts, $13 million was included in Current Assets as part of Accounts Receivable at both September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019. The recorded receivable consists of an amount we expect to collect under coverage-in-place agreements with certain primary and excess insurance carriers as well as an amount we believe is probable of recovery from certain of our other excess insurance carriers. We believe that, at December 31, 2019, we had approximately $555 million in excess level policy limits applicable to indemnity and defense costs for asbestos products claims under coverage-in-place agreements. We also had additional unsettled excess level policy limits potentially applicable to such costs. We had coverage under certain primary policies for indemnity and defense costs for asbestos products claims under remaining aggregate limits pursuant to a coverage-in-place agreement, as well as coverage for indemnity and defense costs for asbestos premises claims pursuant to coverage-in-place agreements. With respect to both asserted and unasserted claims, it is reasonably possible that we may incur a material amount of cost in excess of the current reserve; however, such amounts cannot be reasonably estimated. Coverage under insurance policies is subject to varying characteristics of asbestos claims including, but not limited to, the type of claim (premise vs. product exposure), alleged date of first exposure to our products or premises and disease alleged. Recoveries may be limited by insurer insolvencies or financial difficulties. Depending upon the nature of these characteristics or events, as well as the resolution of certain legal issues, some portion of the insurance may not be accessible by us. Amiens Labor Claims Approximately 850 former employees of the closed Amiens, France manufacturing facility have asserted wrongful termination or other claims totaling approximately €140 million ($164 million) against Goodyear France SAS. On May 28, 2020, Goodyear France SAS received a judgment from the labor court with respect to approximately 790 of these former employees. As a result of this ruling and settlement discussions to resolve these claims and other similar claims, we accrued €4 million ($5 million) and €26 million ($30 million) in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, for estimated additional termination benefits. We have appealed this ruling and will continue to defend ourselves against these claims and any additional claims that may be asserted against us. Other Actions We are currently a party to various claims, indirect tax assessments and legal proceedings in addition to those noted above. If management believes that a loss arising from these matters is probable and can reasonably be estimated, we record the amount of the loss, or the minimum estimated liability when the loss is estimated using a range and no point within the range is more probable than another. As additional information becomes available, any potential liability related to these matters is assessed and the estimates are revised, if necessary. Based on currently available information, management believes that the ultimate outcome of these matters, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or overall trends in results of operations. Our recorded liabilities and estimates of reasonably possible losses for the contingent liabilities described above are based on our assessment of potential liability using the information available to us at the time and, where applicable, any past experience and recent and current trends with respect to similar matters. Our contingent liabilities are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable judicial or administrative decisions could occur which we did not anticipate. Such an unfavorable decision could include monetary damages, fines or other penalties or an injunction prohibiting us from taking certain actions or selling certain products. If such an unfavorable decision were to occur, it could result in a material adverse impact on our financial position and results of operations in the period in which the decision occurs, or in future periods. Income Tax Matters The calculation of our tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations. We recognize liabilities for anticipated tax audit issues based on our estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be due. If we ultimately determine that payment of these amounts is unnecessary, we reverse the liability and recognize a tax benefit during the period in which we determine that the liability is no longer necessary. We also recognize income tax benefits to the extent that it is more likely than not that our positions will be sustained when challenged by the taxing authorities. We derecognize income tax benefits when based on new information we determine that it is no longer more likely than not that our position will be sustained. To the extent we prevail in matters for which liabilities have been established, or determine we need to derecognize tax benefits recorded in prior periods, our results of operations and effective tax rate in a given period could be materially affected. An unfavorable tax settlement would require use of our cash, and lead to recognition of expense to the extent the settlement amount exceeds recorded liabilities and, in the case of an income tax settlement, result in an increase in our effective tax rate in the period of resolution. A favorable tax settlement would be recognized as a reduction of expense to the extent the settlement amount is lower than recorded liabilities and, in the case of an income tax settlement, would result in a reduction in our effective tax rate in the period of resolution. While we apply consistent transfer pricing policies and practices globally, support transfer prices through economic studies, seek advance pricing agreements and joint audits to the extent possible and believe our transfer prices to be appropriate, such transfer prices, and related interpretations of tax laws, are occasionally challenged by various taxing authorities globally. We have received various tax assessments challenging our interpretations of applicable tax laws in various jurisdictions. Although we believe we have complied with applicable tax laws, have strong positions and defenses and have historically been successful in defending such claims, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected in the case we are unsuccessful in the defense of existing or future claims. Guarantees We have off-balance sheet financial guarantees and other commitments totaling approximately $73 million and $74 million at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. We issue guarantees to financial institutions or other entities on behalf of certain of our affiliates, lessors or customers. We generally do not require collateral in connection with the issuance of these guarantees. In 2017, we issued a guarantee of approximately PLN165 million ($43 million) in connection with an indirect tax assessment in EMEA. This guarantee amount was subsequently increased to PLN181 million ($47 million). We have concluded our performance under this guarantee is not probable and, therefore, have not recorded a liability for this guarantee. In 2015, as a result of the dissolution of the global alliance with SRI, we issued a guarantee of approximately $46 million to an insurance company related to SRI's obligation to pay certain outstanding workers' compensation claims of a formerly consolidated joint venture entity. As of September 30, 2020, this guarantee amount has been reduced to $26 million. We have concluded the probability of our performance to be remote and, therefore, have not recorded a liability for this guarantee. While there is no fixed duration of this guarantee, we expect the amount of this guarantee to continue to decrease over time as the formerly consolidated joint venture entity pays its outstanding claims. If our performance under these guarantees is triggered by non-payment or another specified event, we would be obligated to make payment to the financial institution or the other entity, and would typically have recourse to the affiliate, lessor, customer, or SRI. Except for the workers' compensation guarantee described above, the guarantees expire at various times through 2021. We are unable to estimate the extent to which our affiliates’, lessors’, customers’, or SRI's assets would be adequate to recover any payments made by us under the related guarantees.

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