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Self-Insurance Reserves
6 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2013
Self-Insurance Reserves

(10) Self-Insurance Reserves:

As of October 31, 2013 and April 30, 2013, we had reserves for workers’ compensation, product liability, municipal liability, and medical/dental costs totaling $10.0 million and $9.6 million, respectively, of which $6.1 million and $5.7 million, respectively, have been classified as non-current and included in other non-current liabilities. As of October 31, 2013 and April 30, 2013, $2.4 million and $2.3 million, respectively, has been included in accrued expenses, and $1.5 million and $1.6 million, respectively, has been included in accrued product/municipal liability on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. In addition, as of October 31, 2013 and April 30, 2013, $380,000 and $332,000, respectively, of excess workers’ compensation receivable has been classified as an other asset. While we believe these reserves to be adequate, it is possible that the ultimate liabilities will exceed such estimates. Amounts charged to expense were $2.8 million for the three months ended October 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Amounts charged to expense were $5.6 million and $6.2 million for the six months ended October 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

It is our policy to provide an estimate for loss as a result of expected adverse findings or legal settlements on product liability, municipal liability, workers’ compensation, and other matters when such losses are probable and are reasonably estimable. It is also our policy to accrue for reasonably estimable legal costs associated with defending such litigation. While such estimates involve a range of possible costs, we determine, in consultation with litigation counsel, the most likely cost within such range on a case-by-case basis. We also record receivables from insurance carriers relating to these matters when their collection is probable. As of October 31, 2013 and April 30, 2013, we had accrued reserves for product and municipal litigation liabilities of $4.5 million and $4.4 million, respectively (of which $3.0 million and $2.8 million, respectively, were non-current), consisting entirely of expected legal defense costs. In addition, as of October 31, 2013 and April 30, 2013, we had recorded receivables from insurance carriers related to these liabilities of $1.9 million, nearly all of which has been classified as other assets with $25,000 classified as other current assets.