COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

13.   COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company leases certain facilities and equipment under various non-cancelable operating lease agreements that expire at various dates through 2025.  At December 31, 2011, the future minimum lease payments under operating leases with initial non-cancelable terms in excess of one year are as follows:

Year ending December 31:
2012	$	6,183
2013		5,898
2014		4,918
2015		4,108
2016		3,355
Thereafter		10,754
	$	35,216

Rent expense totaled $6,546, $6,714 and $7,048 in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

The Company has been named as a defendant in certain lawsuits in the normal course of business.  It is the policy of management to disclose the amount or range of reasonably possible losses.  In the opinion of management, after consulting with legal counsel, the liabilities, if any, resulting from these matters should not have a material effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

The Company has entered into employment agreements with certain members of senior management, the terms of which expire on January 1, 2014.  The terms of these agreements are up to three years, include non-compete and non-disclosure provisions, and provide for defined severance payments in the event of termination.