Contingent Liabilities

6 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2023

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Contingent Liabilities

Contingent Liabilities

Litigation.  CarMax entities are defendants in a proceeding asserting wage and hour claims with respect to non-exempt CarMax employees in California. The asserted claims include failure to provide meal periods and rest breaks; pay statutory or contractual wages; reimburse for work-related expenses; and Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) claims. On July 9, 2021, Daniel Bendure v. CarMax Auto Superstores California, LLC et al., a putative class action, was filed in the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino. The Bendure lawsuit seeks civil penalties for violation of the Labor Code, attorneys’ fees, costs, restitution of unpaid wages, interest, injunctive and equitable relief, general damages, and special damages. Bendure subsequently decided not to proceed with an individual or putative class claim, but rather filed and served a PAGA-only complaint in the Superior Court of California for the County of San Bernardino on December 7, 2021, based on the same allegations pled in the original complaint. CarMax filed a motion to compel arbitration.

On June 15, 2022, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Viking River Cruises v. Moriana, holding that an individual who signs an arbitration agreement cannot circumvent that agreement by filing a related PAGA claim in court. The U.S. Supreme Court further held that, based on California law, an individual who pursues his PAGA claim in arbitration does not have standing to pursue a representative PAGA claim. However, the U.S. Supreme Court indicated that the issue of whether an individual has standing to pursue a representative PAGA claim is a question of state law. The California Supreme Court thereafter heard a new case, Adolph v. Uber, to address this issue of state law.

In light of the Viking River decision, CarMax filed a motion to compel arbitration of the individual Bendure claim and to dismiss Bendure’s representative PAGA claims. On November 29, 2022, the Court granted the motion to compel arbitration of the Bendure individual PAGA claims and stayed the motion to dismiss any representative PAGA claims pending the Adolph v. Uber decision.

The California Supreme Court has issued its decision in Adolph v. Uber. The Court held that that an employee who signs an arbitration agreement may still pursue a representative PAGA action in court in certain circumstances. The Court held that an employee can be compelled to pursue his individual PAGA action in arbitration while his representative PAGA claims are stayed. If the employee is successful in his individual PAGA action in arbitration, then he can pursue a representative PAGA action in court. If, however, the employee is unsuccessful in arbitration, then he loses standing and cannot pursue a representative PAGA action in court. In light of this decision, CarMax expects Bendure to pursue his individual PAGA action in arbitration.

We are unable to make a reasonable estimate of the amount or range of loss that could result from an unfavorable outcome in this matter.

The company is a class member in a consolidated and settled class action lawsuit (In re: Takata Airbag Product Liability Litigation (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida)) against Toyota, Mazda, Subaru, BMW, Honda, Nissan, Ford and Volkswagen related to the economic loss associated with defective Takata airbags installed as original equipment in certain model vehicles from model years 2000-2019. In April 2020, CarMax received $40.3 million in net recoveries from the Toyota, Mazda, Subaru, BMW, Honda and Nissan settlement funds. In January 2022, CarMax received $3.8 million in net recoveries from the Ford settlement funds. On April 21, 2023, CarMax received $59.3 million in net recoveries from residual undisbursed funds in the Toyota, Mazda, Subaru, BMW, Honda and Nissan settlements. On August 9, 2023, CarMax received $7.9 million in additional residual funds in the BMW, Mazda, and Nissan settlements. CarMax remains a class member for residual funds in the Ford settlement. The Volkswagen settlement has not been resolved yet. We are unable to make a reasonable estimate of the amount or range of gain that could result from CarMax’s participation in the Ford residual or Volkswagen matters.

We are involved in various other legal proceedings in the normal course of business. Based upon our evaluation of information currently available, we believe that the ultimate resolution of any such proceedings will not have a material adverse effect, either individually or in the aggregate, on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Other Matters.  In accordance with the terms of real estate lease agreements, we generally agree to indemnify the lessor from certain liabilities arising as a result of the use of the leased premises, including environmental liabilities and repairs to leased property upon termination of the lease.  Additionally, in accordance with the terms of agreements entered into for the sale of properties, we generally agree to indemnify the buyer from certain liabilities and costs arising subsequent to the date of the sale, including environmental liabilities and liabilities resulting from the breach of representations or warranties made in accordance with the agreements.  We do not have any known material environmental commitments, contingencies or other indemnification issues arising from these arrangements.

As part of our customer service strategy, we guarantee the used vehicles we retail with a 90-day/4,000 mile limited warranty.  A vehicle in need of repair within this period will be repaired free of charge.  As a result, each vehicle sold has an implied liability associated with it.  Accordingly, based on historical trends, we record a provision for estimated future repairs during the guarantee period for each vehicle sold.  The liability for this guarantee was $30.5 million as of August 31, 2023, and $27.1 million as of February 28, 2023, and is included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities.