XML 38 R24.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.24.3
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
12 Months Ended
Sep. 29, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
Capital Expenditures
At September 29, 2024, we had construction and equipment purchase commitments totaling approximately $6.4 million.
Income Taxes
Commitments exclude unrecognized tax benefits to be recorded in accordance with ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes. We are unable to reasonably estimate the ultimate amount or timing of cash settlements with the respective taxing authorities for such matters. See Note 12.
We file income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service and various state tax jurisdictions. From time to time, we are subject to routine audits by those agencies, and those audits may result in proposed adjustments. We have considered the alternative interpretations that may be assumed by the various taxing agencies, believe our positions taken regarding our filings are valid, and that adequate tax liabilities have been recorded to resolve such matters. However, the actual outcome cannot be determined with certainty and the difference could be material, either positively or negatively, to the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income and Comprehensive Income (Loss) in the periods in which such matters are ultimately determined. We do not believe the final resolution of such matters will be material to our consolidated financial position or cash flows.
We have various income tax examinations ongoing and at various stages of completion, but generally our income tax returns have been audited or closed to audit through 2014.
Legal Proceedings
We are involved in a variety of legal actions that arise in the normal course of business. Insurance coverage mitigates potential loss for certain of these matters. While we are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of these legal actions except for one case, which amounts are recognized in "Prepaids and Other" and "Compensation and other accrued liabilities" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets), it is our opinion that the disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements, taken as a whole.
The Company was named as a defendant by a group of Plaintiffs acting on behalf of a proposed class of digital subscribers in a lawsuit in 2022. The lawsuit alleged that the Company violated the Video Privacy Protection Act (“VPPA”) by using pixels to track subscribers’ video viewing activity on Company websites and sharing it with Meta without consent.

The Company has agreed to a preliminary settlement with the Plaintiffs for $9.5 million, subject to required court approval. The entire settlement amount will be paid by the Company’s insurance carriers.

The settlement liability and insurance receivable are recorded within “Compensation and other accrued liabilities” and “Prepaids and other” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 29, 2024, respectively.