Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2023

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Contingencies

The Company assesses its exposure related to legal matters, including those pertaining to product liability, safety and health matters and other items that arise in the regular course of its business. If the Company determines that it is probable a loss has been incurred, the amount of the loss, or an amount within the range of loss, that can be reasonably estimated will be recorded.

Environmental Remediation

The Company accrues for losses associated with environmental remediation obligations when such losses are probable and estimable. Remediation obligations are accrued based on the latest available information and are recorded at undiscounted amounts. The Company regularly monitors the progress of environmental remediation. If studies indicate that the cost of remediation has changed from the previous estimate, an adjustment to the liability would be recorded in the period in which such determination is made (See Note 20).

Legal Proceedings

The Company had been sued, together with approximately 90 other defendants, in a lawsuit styled: Brenda E. Bostian, individually and as representative of the Estate of Hoyle Steven Bostian, deceased, case number 2021-CP-40-04877 South Carolina Court of Common Pleas, Fifth Judicial Circuit- Richland County (Columbia SC), alleging that indirect exposure to asbestos at a plant in North Carolina contributed to the wrongful death of Mr. Bostian. The complaint alleged that Mr. Hoyle Bostian’s father worked at a facility in North Carolina where he was exposed to asbestos and that Mr. Bostian’s exposure indirectly caused Mr. Bostian (the decedent) to be exposed to asbestos. The plaintiff’s “secondary” exposure allegedly occurred in the 1950s - prior to the Company’s 1987 acquisition of China Grove Cotton Mills, the company that owned the facility. This lawsuit was settled during the quarter upon payment to the plaintiff of a sum deemed to be immaterial.

The Company had been sued together with several other defendants, in a lawsuit styled: James Franklin Davis and Vera C. Davis v. 3M Company, et al., in the court of Common Pleas, Fifth Judicial Circuit, County of Richmond, State of South Carolina (C'/A NO. 2022-CP-40-02381) alleging various health related and economic damages resulting from alleged exposure to asbestos at a plant in North Carolina formerly owned by the Company. During April 2023, the court dismissed the Company from the case.