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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

(9) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (See Also Note 13):

Potential Contractual Billing Adjustments

        DLH Solutions is currently seeking approval from the Federal government for gross profit on retroactive billing rate increases associated with certain government contracts at which it had employees. These adjustments are due to changes in the contracted wage determination rates for these employees. A wage determination is the listing of wage rates and fringe benefit rates for each classification of laborers whom the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL") has determined to be prevailing in a given locality. Contractors performing services for the Federal government under certain contracts are required to pay service employees in various classes no less than the wage rates and fringe benefits determined to be prevailing in these localities. An audit by the DOL in fiscal 2008 at one of the facilities revealed that notification, as required by contract, was not provided to DLH Solutions in order to effectuate the wage increases in a timely manner. Wages for employees on assignment at the time have been adjusted prospectively to the prevailing rate and hourly billing rates to the DVA have been increased accordingly. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, TeamStaff recognized nonrecurring revenues of $10.8 million and direct costs of $10.1 million, based on amounts that are contractually due under its arrangements with the Federal agencies. At September 30, 2011, the amount of the remaining accounts receivable with the DVA approximates $9.3 million. The Company has been and continues to be in discussions with representatives of the DVA regarding the matter and anticipates resolution during fiscal 2012. The Company is currently in the process of negotiating a final amount related to indirect cost and fees applied to these amounts. As such, there may be additional revenues recognized in future periods once the approval for such additional amounts is obtained. The ranges of indirect costs and fees are estimated to be between $0.4 million and $0.6 million. At present, the Company expects to collect such amounts during the first half of fiscal 2012 based on current discussions with the DVA and collection efforts. Because these amounts are subject to government review, no assurances can be given that we will receive any additional amounts from our government contracts or that if additional amounts are received, that the amount will be within the range specified above.

Leases

        Minimum payments, assuming no expected sublease payments, under non-cancelable operating lease obligations at September 30, 2011 are as follows (amounts in thousands):

Years Ending September 30,
   
 

2012

  $ 176  

2013

    163  

2014

    169  

2015

    143  

2016

    152  
       

 

  $ 803  
       

        Rent expense, net of sublease income, under all operating leases in fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, was $155,000. Rent expense, net of sublease income, under all operating leases in fiscal year ended September 30, 2010, was $551,000, of which $151,000 is attributed to continuing operations and $400,000 is attributed to discontinued operations.

        As discussed in Note 4, as part of the sale of TeamStaff Rx, Advantage RN had the right to use, through February 28, 2011, the premises located in Clearwater, Florida that was used by TeamStaff Rx for its principal executive offices. In connection with such use, Advantage RN was obligated to make rent subsidy payments to TeamStaff Rx totaling $125,000, consisting of (i) $25,000 payable at the closing and (ii) an additional $100,000 payable in 10 equal monthly installments of $10,000 payable on the first day of each calendar month beginning on March 1, 2010 until December 1, 2010. Advantage RN has since vacated the premises and ceased making installment payments. The Company is pursuing a claim against Advantage RN for all amounts owed. The Company has provided an allowance of $50,000 for their estimate of uncollectible sub-lease funding.

Prepaid Workers' Compensation

        As part of the Company's discontinued PEO operations, TeamStaff had a workers' compensation program with Zurich American Insurance Company ("Zurich") which covered the period from March 22, 2002 through November 16, 2003, inclusive. Payments for the policy were made to a trust monthly based on projected claims for the policy period. Interest on all assets held in the trust is credited to TeamStaff. Payments for claims and claims expenses are made from the trust. From time-to-time, trust assets have been refunded to the Company based on Zurich's and managers' overall assessment of claims experience and historical and projected settlements. The final amount of trust funds that could be refunded to the Company is subject to a number of uncertainties (e.g. claim settlements and experience, health care costs, the extended statutory filing periods for such claims); however, based on a third party's study of claims experience, TeamStaff estimates that at September 30, 2011, the remaining prepaid asset of $0.3 million will be received within the next twelve to thirty-six months. This amount is reflected on TeamStaff's balance sheet as of September 30, 2011 as a current asset, in addition to approximately $0.2 million related to other policy deposits.

Workers' Compensation Insurance

        From November 17, 2003 through April 14, 2009, inclusive, TeamStaff's workers' compensation insurance program was provided by Zurich. This program covered TeamStaff's temporary, contract and corporate employees. This program was a fully insured, guaranteed cost program that contained no deductible or retention feature. The premium for the program was paid monthly based upon actual payroll and is subject to a policy year-end audit. Effective April 15, 2009, TeamStaff entered into a partially self-funded workers' compensation insurance program with a national insurance carrier for the premium year April 15, 2009 through April 14, 2010 and has been renewed through April 14, 2012. The Company pays a base premium plus actual losses incurred, not to exceed certain stop-loss limits. The Company is insured for losses above these limits, both per occurrence and in the aggregate.

        As of September 30, 2011 and 2010, the adequacy of the workers' compensation reserves (including those periods' amounts that are offset against the trust fund balances in prepaid assets) was determined, in management's opinion, to be reasonable. In determining our reserves, we rely in part upon information regarding loss data received from our workers' compensation insurance carriers that may include loss data for claims incurred during prior policy periods. In addition, these reserves are for claims that have not been sufficiently developed and such variables as timing of payments and investment returns thereon are uncertain or unknown, therefore actual results may vary from current estimates. TeamStaff will continue to monitor the development of these reserves, the actual payments made against the claims incurred, the timing of these payments, the interest accumulated in TeamStaff's prepayments and adjust the related reserves as deemed appropriate.

Payroll Taxes

        TeamStaff has received notices from the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") claiming taxes, interest and penalties due related to payroll taxes predominantly from its former PEO operations which were sold in fiscal 2003. TeamStaff has also received notices from the IRS reporting overpayments of taxes. Management believes that these notices are predominantly the result of misapplication of payroll tax payments between its legal entities. If not resolved favorably, the Company may incur interest and penalties. Until the sale of certain assets related to the former PEO operations, TeamStaff operated through 17 subsidiaries, and management believes that the IRS has not correctly identified payments made through the different entities, therefore leading to the notices. TeamStaff has been working with the IRS to resolve these discrepancies and has had certain interest and penalty claims abated. TeamStaff has also received notices from the Social Security Administration claiming variances in wage reporting compared to IRS transcripts. TeamStaff believes the notices from the Social Security Administration are directly related to the IRS notices received. TeamStaff had retained the services of Ernst & Young LLP as a consultant to assist in resolving certain of these matters with the IRS and Social Security Administration. TeamStaff believes that after the IRS applies all the funds correctly, any significant interest and penalties will be abated; however, there can be no assurance that each of these matters will be resolved favorably. In settling various years for specific subsidiaries with the IRS, the Company has received refunds for those specific periods; however, as the process of settling and concluding on other periods and subsidiaries is not yet completed, the potential exists for related penalties and interest and the remaining liability ($1.3 million at September 30, 2011) has been recorded in accounts payable and includes estimated penalties and interest currently sought by the IRS totaling approximately $500,000.

        The Company believes it has accrued for the entire estimated remaining liability, inclusive of interest and penalties through the date of the financial statements. The Company will incur additional interest and may incur possible additional penalties through the future date that this obligation is settled, however, it is not currently possible to estimate what, if any, additional amount(s) may be claimed in future, given the uncertain timing and nature of any future settlement negotiations. No payments were made in fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2011. Management believes that the ultimate resolution of these remaining payroll tax matters will not have a significant adverse effect on its financial position or future results of operations. The Company's intention is that it will in due course seek to negotiate a mutually satisfactory payment plan with the IRS, but there is no assurance that it would be successful in doing so and the Company's future cash flows and liquidity could therefore be materially affected by this matter.

Legal Proceedings

        As a commercial enterprise and employer, we are subject to various claims and legal actions in the ordinary course of business. These matters can include professional liability, employment-relations issues, workers' compensation, tax, payroll and employee-related matters and inquiries and investigations by governmental agencies regarding our employment practices or other matters. We are not aware of any pending or threatened litigation that we believe is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

        In connection with its healthcare business, TeamStaff is exposed to potential liability for the acts, errors or omissions of its healthcare employees. The professional liability insurance policy provides up to $5,000,000 aggregate coverage with a $2,000,000 per occurrence limit. Although TeamStaff believes the liability insurance is reasonable under the circumstances to protect it from liability for such claims, there can be no assurance that such insurance will be adequate to cover all potential claims.

        TeamStaff is engaged in no other litigation, the effect of which is expected to have a material adverse impact on TeamStaff's results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

Employment Agreements

        From time-to-time, we enter into employment agreements with certain key executives which provide for fixed compensation, criterion for earning bonuses and other incentives and, in certain instances, issuance of share based equity grants. These agreements generally continue until terminated by the employee or the Board of Directors or, upon the occurrence of defined certain events or circumstances (including a defined change in control), and provide for salary continuance for specified periods of generally no more than a year and or lump sum payments in the event of a change of control of up to 150% of annual salary.

        During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010, the Company terminated certain executives, management and staff personnel, and as a result, incurred severance related expenses of approximately $0.3 million in staff personnel severance (included in selling, general and administrative expense within results of discontinued operations) and $0.3 million in officer severance. At September 30, 2011 and 2010, the remaining liability from these arrangements was $0 and approximately $0.1 million, respectively, which was included in accrued expenses. With respect to the termination of the Company's former Chief Executive Officer and President, the Company entered into a separation agreement with him in February 2010, which sets forth the terms of his departure from the Company.

Government Assignment of Contracts

        Availability of funds under the Presidential Financial line of credit is directly related to the successful assignment of certain accounts receivable. Certain government accounts of DLH Solutions are required to execute "Acknowledgements of Assignment." There can be no assurance that every DLH Solutions government account will execute the documentation to effectuate the assignment and secure availability. The failure of government third parties to sign the required documentation could result in a decrease in availability under the existing line of credit.