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Commitments and Contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Sep. 28, 2019
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies |
1 3. | 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 $31,300, $30,075 and $30,582 for fiscal 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Future minimum rental commitments under noncancelable operating lease agreements as of September 28, 2019 are as follows:
Fiscal Year |  | Minimum Lease Payments |
2020 |  | $ | 27,110 |
2021 |  |  | 23,875 |
2022 |  |  | 21,068 |
2023 |  |  | 16,267 |
2024 |  |  | 10,980 |
2025 and thereafter |  |  | 25,128 |
Contingencies Accrued 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 28, 2019 and September 29, 2018, the Partnership had accrued liabilities of $67,279 and $70,567, respectively, representing the total estimated losses for known and anticipated or unasserted general and product, workers’ compensation and automobile claims. 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 $18,110 and $20,837 as of September 28, 2019 and September 29, 2018, respectively. Legal Matters. The Partnership’s operations are subject to 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 as a result of these operating hazards and risks, and as a result of other aspects of its business. In this regard, the Partnership’s natural gas and electricity business is currently a defendant in two putative class action suits in the federal district courts of New York and Pennsylvania. The complaints allege a number of claims under various consumer statutes and common law in New York and Pennsylvania regarding pricing offered to electricity customers in those states. The complaint in the Pennsylvania action was dismissed in its entirety by the district court, which dismissal is being appealed by the plaintiff. The complaint in the New York action was dismissed in part by the district court, but causes of action based on the New York consumer statute and breach of contract were allowed to proceed. Based on the nature of the allegations under these suits, the Partnership believes that the suits are without merit and is defending each of these suits vigorously. With respect to these pending suits, the Partnership has determined, based on the allegations and discovery to date, that no reserve for a loss contingency is required. The Partnership is unable to reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss, if any, arising from either of these two actions. Although any litigation is inherently uncertain, based on past experience, the information currently available to the Partnership, and the amount of its accrued insurance liabilities, the Partnership does not believe that currently pending or threatened litigation matters, or known claims or known contingent claims, will have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, financial condition or cash flow.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for commitments and contingencies. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2127136 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 440 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2144648 + Details
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