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LITIGATION
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
LITIGATION LITIGATION
 
The Company is a party to routine legal proceedings arising out of the normal course of business. Due to the difficult nature of predicting unresolved and future legal claims, the Company cannot anticipate or predict the material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows as a result of efforts to comply with, or liabilities pertaining to, legal judgments.

At December 31, 2018, two of Titan’s subsidiaries were involved in litigation concerning environmental laws and regulations.

In June 2015, Titan Tire Corporation (Titan Tire) and Dico, Inc. (Dico) appealed a U.S. District Court order granting the U.S. motion for summary judgment that found Dico liable for violating the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) and an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrative Order and awarded response costs, civil penalties, and punitive damages.

In December 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit reversed the District Court’s summary judgment order with respect to “arranger” liability for Titan Tire and Dico under CERCLA and the imposition of punitive damages against Dico for violating the EPA Administrative Order, but affirmed the summary judgment order imposing civil penalties in the amount of $1.62 million against Dico for violating the EPA Administrative Order. The case was remanded to the District Court for a new trial on the remaining issues.

The trial occurred in April 2017. On September 5, 2017, the District Court issued an order: (a) concluding Titan Tire and Dico arranged for the disposal of a hazardous substance in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 9607(a); (b) holding Titan Tire and Dico jointly and severally liable for $5.45 million in response costs previously incurred and reported by the United States relating to the alleged violation, including enforcement costs and attorney’s fees; and (c) awarding a declaratory judgment holding Titan Tire and Dico jointly and severally liable for all additional response costs previously incurred but not yet reported or to be incurred in the future, including enforcement costs and attorney’s fees. The District Court also held Dico liable for $5.45 million in punitive damages under 42 U.S.C. § 9607(c)(3) for violating a unilateral administrative order. The punitive damages award does not apply to Titan Tire. The Company accrued a contingent liability of $6.5 million, representing $5.45 million in costs incurred by the United States and $1.05 million of additional response costs, for this order in the quarter ended September 30, 2017. As of December 31, 2018, the $6.5 million remains outstanding.

Titan Tire and Dico are appealing the case to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. The Notice of Appeal was filed on November 2, 2017, and the Appellants' brief was filed on February 26, 2018. The Appellee’s brief was filed on May 30, 2018, and the Appellants’ reply was filed on July 9, 2018. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit conducted the oral argument on January 15, 2019, and the parties are now awaiting a ruling from the appellate court. While the Company believes it has meritorious arguments, the outcome of this appeal cannot be predicted. As a result of the current judgment in favor of the United States, and pursuant to Iowa Code § 624.23, a judgment lien exists over Titan Tire’s real property in the State of Iowa. The United States has agreed, however, that it will take no steps to execute on this judgment lien. In exchange, Titan Tire has obtained a supersedeas bond in the amount of $6.0 million that stays enforcement of the judgment pending the outcome of the appeal.