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LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS, AND OTHER EVENTS | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2015
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS, AND OTHER EVENTS |
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS, AND OTHER EVENTS | NOTE K — LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS, AND OTHER EVENTS The Company is involved in various legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company maintains liability insurance against certain risks arising out of the normal course of its business, subject to certain self-insured retention limits. The Company routinely establishes and reviews the adequacy of reserves for estimated legal, environmental, and self-insurance exposures. While management believes that amounts accrued in the consolidated financial statements are adequate, estimates of these liabilities may change as circumstances develop. Considering amounts recorded, routine legal matters are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows; however, the Company is currently involved in certain environmental compliance matters and legal proceedings, as further described below, for which the outcome and related financial impact cannot be determined at this time. Environmental Matters The Company’s subsidiaries store fuel for use in tractors and trucks in 63 underground tanks located in 19 states. Maintenance of such tanks is regulated at the federal and, in most cases, state levels. The Company believes it is in substantial compliance with all such regulations. The Company’s underground storage tanks are required to have leak detection systems. The Company is not aware of any leaks from such tanks that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company has received notices from the Environmental Protection Agency and others that it has been identified as a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, or other federal or state environmental statutes, at several hazardous waste sites. After investigating the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ involvement in waste disposal or waste generation at such sites, the Company has either agreed to de minimis settlements or determined that its obligations, other than those specifically accrued with respect to such sites, would involve immaterial monetary liability, although there can be no assurances in this regard. Certain ABF Freight branch facilities operate with storm water permits under the federal Clean Water Act (the “CWA”). The storm water permits require periodic monitoring and reporting of storm water sampling results and establish maximum levels of certain contaminants that may be contained in such samples. ABF Freight received, in late March 2014, a sixty-day Notice of Intent to Sue under the provisions of the CWA from a citizens group alleging multiple violations since 2009 by ABF Freight of the requirements of a storm water permit in force at the ABF Freight branch located in Kent, Washington. On July 6, 2014, the citizens group filed suit against ABF Freight in the United States District Court in Seattle, Washington seeking to collect fines and obtain injunctive relief for the alleged violations. ABF Freight intends to vigorously defend against the claims in this matter. Due to the nature of the materials in the runoff samples taken at the site by Company representatives, it is unlikely that this matter will result in any requirement for remediation of contaminants. The litigation is in the very early stages and it is not possible to determine the likelihood of loss or the amount of any penalties which might be assessed against ABF Freight. Therefore, no liability has been established at March 31, 2015 in connection with this matter. ABF Freight received a similar Notice of Intent to Sue from another citizens group in December 2014 alleging CWA violations at its Brooklyn, New York branch. During the investigation of the allegations contained in the Notice of Intent to Sue, it was determined that the operations at the Brooklyn site were being conducted in a manner protected from storm water and, as a result, the site qualified for exemption from the permitting requirements of the Clean Water Act under a procedure known as “no exposure certification” (“NEC”). In December 2014, ABF Freight made an NEC filing with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation covering the Brooklyn facility. During first quarter 2015, the citizens group filed suit against ABF Freight in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York asserting the violations of the CWA that were identified in the Notice of Intent to Sue and contesting the validity of the NEC filing. The lawsuit is in the early stages and it is not possible to assess potential damages or make an assessment of the probability of future losses at this time. Therefore, no liability has been established at March 31, 2015 in connection with this matter. At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company’s reserve, which was reported in accrued expenses, for estimated environmental cleanup costs of properties currently or previously operated by the Company totaled $0.9 million and $0.8 million, respectively. Amounts accrued reflect management’s best estimate of the future undiscounted exposure related to identified properties based on current environmental regulations, management’s experience with similar environmental matters, and testing performed at certain sites. Legal Proceedings Trademark Infringement On December 23, 2014, Jaguar Land Rover Limited filed suit against Panther in the Northern District of Ohio under various causes of action, collectively falling under a trademark infringement claim. Panther believes the claim is without merit and will vigorously defend itself against this claim. The litigation process is in the very early stages; therefore, it is not possible to determine the likelihood of loss or the amount of any damages that could be assessed against Panther in this matter. Therefore, no liability has been established in connection with this matter as of March 31, 2015.

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