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Contingencies | 6 Months Ended
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Jul. 31, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] |
11. | Contingencies
Litigation: The Company is involved in various litigation proceedings arising during the normal course of business which, in the opinion of the management of the Company, will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows; however, there can be no assurance as to the ultimate outcome of these matters. As of July 31, 2017, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, there were no outstanding claims or litigation. The Company’s exit from Brazil: Transfer of Shares Agreement On July 31, 2015 (the “Closing Date”), Lakeland and Lake Brasil Industria E Comercio de Roupas E Equipamentos de Protecao Individual LTDA (“Lakeland Brazil”), completed a conditional closing of a Shares Transfer Agreement (the “Shares Transfer Agreement”) with Zap Comércio de Brindes Corporativos Ltda (“Transferee”), a company owned by an existing Lakeland Brazil manager, entered into on June 19, 2015. Pursuant to the Shares Transfer Agreement, the Transferee has acquired all of the shares of Lakeland Brazil owned by the Company. The closing of this agreement was subject to Brazilian approval of the Shares transfer, which was received in October 2015. The Company understands that under the laws of Brazil, a concept of fraudulent bankruptcy exists, which may hold a parent company liable for the liabilities of its Brazilian subsidiary in the event some level of fraud or misconduct is shown during the period that the parent company owned the subsidiary. While the Company believes that there has been no such fraud or misconduct relating to the proposed transfer of stock of Lakeland Brazil and the transactions contemplated by the Shares Transfer Agreement, as evidenced by the Company’s funding support for continuing operations of Lakeland Brazil, there can be no assurance that the courts of Brazil will not make such a finding nonetheless. The risk of exposure to the Company continues to diminish as the Transferee continues to operate Lakeland Brazil, as the risk of a finding of fraudulent bankruptcy lessens and pre-sale liabilities are paid off. Should the Transferee operate Lakeland Brazil for a period of two years, the Company believes the risk of a finding of fraudulent bankruptcy is eliminated. VAT Tax Issues in Brazil Value Added Tax (“VAT”) in Brazil is charged at the state level. Lakeland Brazil has three pending VAT claims totaling R$1.3 million (USD $0.5 million) excluding interest, penalties and fees of R$2.7 million (USD $0.9 million), which our attorney informed us were likely to be successfully defended based on state auditor misunderstanding. Any liabilities hereunder are the responsibility of Lakeland Brazil which, as described above, is no longer owned by the Company. Labor Claims in Brazil The Company may continue to be exposed to certain liabilities arising in connection with lawsuits pending in the labor courts in Brazil in which plaintiffs were seeking, as at July 31, 2015, a total of nearly USD $8,000,000 in damages from the Company’s then Brazilian subsidiary (Lakeland Brazil). The Company believes many of these labor court claims are without merit and the amount of damages being sought is significantly higher than any damages which may have been incurred. Pursuant to the Shares Transfer Agreement, the Company is required to fully fund amounts owed by Lakeland Brazil in connection with the then existing labor claims and to pay amounts potentially owed for future labor claims up to an aggregate amount of $375,000 plus 60% of the excess of such amount until the earlier of (i) the date all labor claims against Lakeland Brazil deriving from events prior to the sale are settled, (ii) by our mutual agreement with Lakeland Brazil or (iii) on the two (2) year anniversary of closing of the sale. While the vast majority of these labor suits have been resolved, there are four which remain active. In one such case a former employee of our former Brazilian subsidiary recently filed a counterclaim in the action seeking approximately USD $700,000 that he purports to be owed to him by our former Brazilian subsidiary under a purported promissory note and alleges that we are liable for payment therefor. Management firmly believes the counterclaim is without merit, intends to vigorously defend our position, and does not anticipate a negative outcome resulting in significant expense to us.

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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 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2127136 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 440 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2144648 + Details
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