Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Contingencies

Contingencies

In the ordinary course of business, we are involved in various pending and threatened litigation and regulatory matters related to our operations, such as claims brought by our clients in connection with commercial disputes, defamation claims by subjects of our reporting, and employment claims made by our current or former employees, some of which include claims for punitive or exemplary damages. Our ordinary course litigation may also include class action lawsuits, which make allegations related to various aspects of our business. From time to time, we are also subject to regulatory investigations or other proceedings by state and federal regulatory authorities, some of which take the form of civil investigative demands or subpoenas. Some of these regulatory inquiries may result in the assessment of fines for violations of regulations or settlements with such authorities requiring a variety of remedies. We believe that none of these actions depart from customary litigation or regulatory inquiries incidental to our business.

We review lawsuits and other legal and regulatory matters (collectively "legal proceedings") on an ongoing basis when making accrual and disclosure decisions. When assessing reasonably possible and probable outcomes, management bases its decision on its assessment of the ultimate outcome assuming all appeals have been exhausted. For legal proceedings where it has been determined that a loss is both probable and reasonably estimable, a liability based on known facts and which represents our best estimate has been recorded. Actual losses may materially differ from the amounts recorded and the ultimate outcome of our pending cases is generally not yet determinable.

While some of these matters could be material to our operating results or cash flows for any particular period if an unfavorable outcome results, at present we do not believe the ultimate resolution of currently pending legal proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

Ellis v. Dun and Bradstreet, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

On December 6, 2018, the Company was served with a complaint, captioned Dr. Jonathan C. Ellis v. Dun and Bradstreet, Inc. (the “Complaint”). The Complaint alleged that in or about April 2018, the Dun & Bradstreet report on Doheny Endosurgical Center, which is owned by the plaintiff, was updated to incorrectly include a reference to a Dr. Jonathon Ellis, who was charged with criminal activity relating to a minor. The Complaint contained two causes of action, libel per se and false light invasion of privacy, and sought compensatory and punitive damages. The parties reached a settlement in September 2020 and the case has been dismissed with prejudice.

Federal Trade Commission Investigation

On April 10, 2018, the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”) issued a Civil Investigative Demand (“CID”) to Dun & Bradstreet, Inc. (“D&B Inc.,” a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) related to an investigation by the FTC into potential violations of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (the “FTC Act”), primarily concerning our credit managing and monitoring products such as CreditBuilder. D&B Inc. completed its response to the CID in November 2018. On May 28, 2019, the FTC staff informed D&B Inc. that it believes that certain of D&B’s practices violated Section 5 of the FTC Act, and informed D&B that it had been given authority by the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection to engage in consent negotiations. Following discussions between the Company and the FTC staff, on September 9, 2019, the FTC issued a second CID seeking additional information, data and documents. We have completed our response to the second CID. In a letter dated March 2, 2020, the FTC staff identified areas of interest related to the CIDs and we completed our responses to the letter on April 7, 2020. On April 20, 2020, the FTC and D&B Inc. entered a tolling agreement with respect to potential claims related to the subject matter of the investigation. On February 23, 2021, the FTC staff provided D&B Inc. with a draft complaint and consent order outlining its allegations and the forms of relief sought, and advised that it has been given authority to engage in consent negotiations for 30 days until March 25, 2021.

At this time, the Company is unable to predict the final outcome of the FTC investigation and the terms of any potential final consent order due, among other things, to the current stage of the matter and the fact that it raises difficult factual and legal issues and is subject to many uncertainties and complexities. As a result, we are unable to make an estimate of a reasonably possible settlement or other resolution of the matters that are the subject of the FTC CID. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will not incur costs in the future related to the settlement or resolution of the CID that would be material, including but not limited to settlements, damages, fines or penalties, and legal costs, or be subject to other remedies. Therefore, it is reasonably possible that any settlement or other resolution of this matter could become material to the consolidated financial statements.

In addition, in the normal course of business, and including without limitation, our merger and acquisition activities, strategic relationships and financing transactions, the Company indemnifies other parties, including clients, lessors and parties to other transactions with the Company, with respect to certain matters. We have agreed to hold the other parties harmless against losses arising from a breach of representations or covenants, or arising out of other claims made against certain parties. These agreements may limit the time within which an indemnification claim can be made and the amount of the claim. The Company has also entered into indemnity obligations with its officers and directors.