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Commitments and Contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Sep. 24, 2011
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies |
11. | Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments. The Partnership leases certain property, plant and equipment, including portions of the Partnership's vehicle fleet, for various periods under noncancelable leases. Rental expense under operating leases was $18,868, $17,561 and $17,254 for fiscal 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Future minimum rental commitments under noncancelable operating lease agreements as of September 24, 2011 are as follows:
|  |  |  | Minimum
|  |  |  | Lease
Fiscal Year |  |  |  | Payments
2012 |  | $ | 15,836 |  |
2013 |  |  | 13,346 |  |
2014 |  |  | 11,540 |  |
2015 |  |  | 8,480 |  |
2016 |  |  | 4,993 |  |
2017 and thereafter |  |  | 4,709 |  |
Contingencies. Self Insurance. As described in Note 2, the Partnership is self-insured for general and product, workers' compensation and automobile liabilities up to predetermined amounts above which third party insurance applies. At September 24, 2011 and September 25, 2010, the Partnership had accrued liabilities of $52,841 and $55,445, respectively, representing the total estimated losses under these self-insurance programs. For the portion of the estimated liability that exceeds insurance deductibles, the Partnership records an asset within other assets (or prepaid expenses and other current assets, as applicable) related to the amount of the liability expected to be covered by insurance which amounted to $17,513 and $17,990 as of September 24, 2011 and September 25, 2010, respectively. Legal Matters. As described in Note 2, the Partnership's operations are subject to all operating hazards and risks normally incidental to handling, storing and delivering combustible liquids such as propane. The Partnership has been, and will continue to be, a defendant in various legal proceedings and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, both as a result of these operating hazards and risks, and as a result of other aspects of its business. In this regard, the Partnership currently is a defendant in putative suits in several states. The complaints allege a number of claims, including as to the Partnership's pricing, fee disclosure and tank ownership, under various consumer statutes, the Uniform Commercial Code, common law and antitrust law. Based on the nature of the allegations under these suits, the Partnership believes that the suits are without merit and are the Partnership is contesting each of these suits vigorously. With respect to the pending putative suits, other than for legal defense fees and expenses based on the merits of the allegations, a liability for a loss contingency is not required.

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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 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 2: 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 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 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. Reference 6: 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 7: 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 + Details
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