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Commitments and Contingencies
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 28, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
California’s Wage and Hour Laws Complaint
In December 2020, a representative action under California’s Private Attorneys General Act was filed against us in the Superior Court for the State of California, County of San Bernardino. We received service of process of this complaint in January 2021. The complaint alleged violations of California’s wage and hour laws relating to our current and former employees and sought attorney’s fees and penalties. We vigorously refuted and defended against these claims and reached a tentative settlement of $0.8 million during the fourth quarter 2021, which was subject to court approval. Thus, we recorded accrued liabilities of $0.8 million as of December 31, 2021. During the second quarter of 2022, additional factual information was identified resulting in an increase in the amount of the tentative settlement to $0.9 million. Therefore, we recorded an additional accrued liabilities of $0.1 million for a total accrued liabilities amount of $0.9 million as of the end of the second quarter of 2022 which remained unchanged as of December 31, 2022 as we were awaiting final court approval of this settlement. Subsequent to final court approval and paying of the $0.9 million in January 2023, during the third quarter of 2023 and upon plaintiff's motion, the court re-opened the settlement agreement to determine whether the class list captured all affected employees. We are appealing this decision and intend to defend our position vigorously. Any amount of additional liability is still undetermined pending the appeal and as such, there is no amount of loss that is probable and reasonably estimable at this time. Thus, no additional accrual was recorded during the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024.
Groundwater
Structural Systems has been directed by California environmental agencies to investigate and take corrective action for groundwater contamination at our facilities located in El Mirage and Monrovia, California. Based on currently available information, we have established an accrual for its estimated liability for such investigation and corrective action of $1.5 million at both September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023, which is reflected in other long-term liabilities on our condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Waste Disposal
Structural Systems also faces liability as a potentially responsible party for hazardous waste disposed at landfills located in Casmalia and West Covina, California. Structural Systems and other companies and government entities have entered into consent decrees with respect to these landfills with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and/or California environmental agencies under which certain investigation, remediation and maintenance activities are being performed. Based on currently available information, we preliminarily estimate that the range of our future liabilities in connection with the landfill located in West Covina, California is between $0.4 million and $3.1 million. We have established an accrual for the estimated liability in connection with the West Covina landfill of $0.4 million as of both September 28, 2024 and December 31, 2023, which is reflected in other long-term liabilities on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. We anticipate an updated estimate will be available over the next 12 to 24 months however, and will update our accrual for the estimated liability at that time, if needed. Our ultimate liability in connection with these matters will depend upon a number of factors, including changes in existing laws and regulations, the design and cost of construction, operation and maintenance activities related to a final remedy, and the allocation of liability among potentially responsible parties.
Guaymas Performance Center Fire
In June 2020, a fire severely damaged our performance center in Guaymas, Mexico, which is part of our Structural Systems segment. There were no injuries; however, property and equipment, inventories, and tooling in this leased facility were damaged. Our Guaymas performance center, comprised of two buildings with an aggregate total of 62,000 square feet, was severely damaged. The loss of production from the Guaymas performance center was absorbed by our other existing performance centers; however, we have reestablished our operations and are in the process of certification with various customers and ramping up our manufacturing capabilities in a different leased facility with 117,000 square feet in Guaymas. A neighboring, non-related manufacturing facility also suffered fire damage during the same time as the fire that severely damaged our Guaymas performance center, and in November 2023, the occupant of the neighboring facility filed suit against us in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California seeking unspecified amounts for damages relating to the fire. In addition, subsequent to the quarter end, we received a subrogation demand from our landlord’s insurer, which we are currently evaluating. We intend to defend these matters vigorously and believe we have substantial defenses in relation to these claims. As responsibility for the fire is still undetermined, there is no amount of loss that is probable and reasonably estimable at this time. If we are ultimately deemed to be responsible or partly responsible, it is possible we could incur a loss in excess of our insurance coverage limits, which could be material to our cash flow, liquidity, or financial results.
Our insurance covers damage, up to a capped amount, to the facility, equipment, unfinished inventory, and other assets at replacement cost, finished goods inventory at selling price, as well as business interruption, third party property damage, and recovery related expenses caused by the fire, less our per claim deductible. The anticipated insurance recoveries related to
losses and incremental costs incurred are recognized when receipt is probable. The anticipated insurance recoveries in excess of net book value of the damaged operating assets and business interruption are not recorded until all contingencies related to our claim have been resolved.
The insurance claim for damages to our operating assets and business interruption was deemed final and closed by our insurance company during the three months ended July 1, 2023. Thus, the final $3.8 million of insurance recoveries were also received and recorded as other income during the three months ended July 1, 2023. In addition, the gain contingencies associated with the remaining general insurance recoveries that were received in 2020 of $3.9 million, but for which recognition was deferred until all the gain contingencies were resolved, were deemed resolved, and thus, recorded as other income during the three months ended July 1, 2023. Cumulatively, as of July 1, 2023, we received insurance recoveries in aggregate total of $23.7 million, with $7.5 million for business interruption and $16.2 million for damages to property and equipment, inventories, and tooling. Further, all insurance recovery amounts received related to this claim have been recognized up to the amount of net book value loss and presented within the same financial statement line item in the condensed consolidated statements of income resulting in no net impact, with the remaining amounts recognized as other income in our condensed consolidated statements of income when the contingencies were deemed resolved.
Other Structural Systems Performance Center Fire
In April 2023, a fire damaged a relatively small portion of one of our performance centers in our Structural Systems reporting segment. There were no injuries; however, subsequent to the fire, we determined that some property and equipment in this company-owned facility were damaged. Our insurance covers damage, up to a capped amount, to the property and equipment at replacement cost, as well as business interruption and recovery related expenses caused by the fire, less our per claim deductible. There was a loss of production in this damaged portion of the performance center for a short period of time, but the incident did not otherwise result in significant disruption to customer delivery schedules. Production in this damaged portion resumed later that same quarter. As such, during the three months ended July 1, 2023, we wrote off property and equipment with an aggregate total net book value of $0.2 million. Also during the three months ended July 1, 2023, we received insurance recoveries of $0.3 million (which was net of our deductible of $0.1 million) and thus, such insurance recoveries were also presented within the same financial statement line item in the condensed consolidated statements of income resulting in no net impact. The amount of the insurance recoveries received in excess of the loss on operating assets was deemed a contingent gain, and since the gain contingencies were deemed resolved, the $0.1 million was also recorded as other income during the three months ended July 1, 2023. Finally, during the three months ended December 31, 2023, the insurance claim was deemed final and closed by our insurance company and we received a final payment of $0.3 million, which was recorded as other income.
In the normal course of business, Ducommun and its subsidiaries are defendants in certain other litigation, claims and inquiries, including matters relating to environmental laws. In addition, Ducommun makes various commitments and incurs contingent liabilities in the ordinary course of business. While it is not feasible to predict the outcome of these matters, Ducommun does not presently expect that any sum it may be required to pay in connection with these matters would have a material adverse effect on its condensed consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.