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Commitments, Contingencies and Legal Matters | 12 Months Ended
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Sep. 27, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Purchase commitments — We have entered into long-term beverage agreements with The Coca-Cola Company and Dr. Pepper / Seven Up, Inc., which provide fountain products and certain marketing support funding to the Company and its franchisees. These agreements require minimum purchases of fountain beverage syrup, by the Company and its franchisees at agreed upon prices until the total volume commitments have been reached. The volume commitments are not subject to any time limit and as of September 27, 2020, we estimate that it will take approximately 5 years for both of these commitments to be completed. The Company estimates future annual purchases under these agreements to be approximately $62.1 million as of September 27, 2020 based on the expected ratio of usage at company-operated to franchise restaurants. We also have entered into various arrangements with vendors providing information technology services with no early termination fees. The Company’s unconditional purchase obligations on these contracts total approximately $11.3 million over the next three years. Legal matters — We assess contingencies, including litigation contingencies, to determine the degree of probability and range of possible loss for potential accrual in our financial statements. An estimated loss contingency is accrued in the financial statements if it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Because litigation is inherently unpredictable, assessing contingencies is highly subjective and requires judgments about future events. When evaluating litigation contingencies, we may be unable to provide a meaningful estimate due to a number of factors, including the procedural status of the matter in question, the availability of appellate remedies, insurance coverage related to the claim or claims in question, the presence of complex or novel legal theories, and the ongoing discovery and development of information important to the matter. In addition, damage amounts claimed in litigation against us may be unsupported, exaggerated, or unrelated to possible outcomes, and as such are not meaningful indicators of our potential liability or financial exposure. We regularly review contingencies to determine the adequacy of the accruals and related disclosures. The ultimate amount of loss may differ from these estimates. As of September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019, the Company had recorded aggregate liabilities of $3.8 million and $10.0 million, respectively, within “Accrued liabilities” on our consolidated balance sheets for all matters including those described below, that were probable and reasonably estimable. While we believe that additional losses beyond these accruals are reasonably possible, we cannot estimate a possible loss contingency or range of reasonably possible loss contingencies beyond these accruals. Gessele v. Jack in the Box Inc. — In August 2010, five former employees instituted litigation in federal court in Oregon alleging claims under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and Oregon wage and hour laws. The plaintiffs alleged that the Company failed to pay non-exempt employees for certain meal breaks and improperly made payroll deductions for shoe purchases and for workers’ compensation expenses, and later added additional claims relating to timing of final pay and related wage and hour claims involving employees of a franchisee. In 2016, the court dismissed the federal claims and those relating to franchise employees. In June 2017, the court granted class certification with respect to state law claims of improper deductions and late payment of final wages. In November 2019, the court issued a ruling on various dispositive motions, disallowing a portion of plaintiffs’ claimed damages. The parties participated in a voluntary mediation on March 16, 2020, but the matter did not settle. The plaintiffs recently filed a motion for reconsideration of the court’s prior denial of class certification regarding meal and rest break claims which was denied by the court. The plaintiffs have now filed a motion requesting permission to appeal this ruling. The Company has opposed the motion and the parties are currently awaiting a decision from the 9th Circuit as to whether or not it will allow the appeal. The Company continues to dispute liability and the plaintiffs’ damage calculations and will continue to vigorously defend against the lawsuit. Other legal matters — In addition to the matter described above, we are subject to normal and routine litigation brought by former or current employees, customers, franchisees, vendors, landlords, shareholders or others. We intend to defend ourselves in any such matters. Some of these matters may be covered, at least in part, by insurance or other third party indemnity obligation. We record receivables from third party insurers when recovery has been determined to be probable. We believe that the ultimate determination of liability in connection with legal claims pending against us, if any, in excess of amounts already provided for such matters in the consolidated financial statements, will not have a material adverse effect on our business, our annual results of operations, liquidity or financial position; however, it is possible that our business, results of operations, liquidity, or financial condition could be materially affected in a particular future reporting period by the unfavorable resolution of one or more matters or contingencies during such period.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for legal proceedings, legal contingencies, litigation, regulatory and environmental matters and other 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 + Details
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