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Note 11 - Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]
11.         CONTINGENCIES

Litigation

From time to time, in the normal course of its operations, the Company is a party to litigation matters and claims. Litigation can be expensive and disruptive to normal business operations.  Moreover, the results of complex legal proceedings are difficult to predict and the Company’s view of these matters may change in the future as the litigation and events related thereto unfold. The Company expenses legal fees as incurred.  The Company records a provision for contingent losses when it is both probable that a liability will be incurred and the amount or range of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Except as otherwise stated below, we have concluded that we cannot estimate the reasonably possible loss or range of loss, including reasonably possible losses in excess of amounts already accrued, for each specific matter disclosed below. An unfavorable outcome to any legal matter, if material, could have an adverse effect on the Company’s operations or its financial position, liquidity or results of operations.

Bally

2004 Federal District Court of Nevada

On December 7, 2004, IGT filed a complaint in US District Court for the District of Nevada, alleging that defendants Alliance Gaming Corp., Bally Gaming Int'l, Inc., and Bally Gaming, Inc. infringed six US patents held by IGT: US Patent Nos. 6,827,646; 5,848,932; 5,788,573; 5,722,891; 6,712,698; and 6,722,985. On January 21, 2005, defendants filed an answer denying the allegations in the complaint and raising various affirmative defenses to IGT's asserted claims. Defendants also asserted fourteen counterclaims against IGT, including counterclaims for a declaratory judgment of non-infringement, invalidity, and unenforceability of the asserted patents, and for antitrust violations and intentional interference with prospective business advantage. IGT successfully moved for partial summary judgment on defendants’ counterclaims for intentional interference with prospective business advantage and defendants’ antitrust allegations related to the gaming machine market. IGT denied the remaining allegations.

On May 9, 2007, the Court issued an order construing disputed terms of the asserted patent claims. On October 16, 2008, the Court issued summary judgment rulings finding certain of IGT’s patents, including patents that IGT believes cover bonus wheel gaming machines, invalid as obvious. The rulings also found that Bally was not infringing certain patents asserted by IGT. Bally’s antitrust and unfair competition counterclaims remained pending. On November 7, 2008, the Court issued an order staying the proceedings and certifying the summary judgment and claim construction rulings for immediate appeal. On December 1, 2008, IGT appealed the rulings to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. On October 22, 2009, the Federal Circuit affirmed the District Court’s summary judgment rulings.

On December 7, 2009, Bally filed a motion to lift the stay and schedule a trial on the remaining issues. At a February 1, 2010 hearing on the motion, the Court indicated that it would revisit earlier motions for summary judgment on the issues not addressed on appeal, including IGT’s motions for summary judgment on Bally’s antitrust and unfair competition counterclaims. On November 29, 2010, the Court granted summary judgment in favor of IGT on all antitrust and unfair competition counterclaims by Bally and dismissed all other remaining claims. Bally appealed the grant of summary judgment. On December 17, 2012 the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the rulings in IGT’s favor.  On January 14, 2013, Bally filed a petition for rehearing of its appeal.  On February 15, 2013, the Federal Circuit denied Bally’s petition for rehearing.

Aristocrat

2006 Northern Federal District Court of California

On June 12, 2006, Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Ltd. and Aristocrat Technologies, Inc. filed a patent infringement lawsuit against IGT. Aristocrat alleged that IGT willfully infringed US Patent No. 7,056,215 (the “’215 patent”), which issued on June 6, 2006. On December 15, 2006, Aristocrat filed an amended complaint, adding allegations that IGT willfully infringed US Patent No. 7,108,603, which issued on September 19, 2006. The IGT products named in the original and amended complaints were the Fort Knox® mystery progressive slot machines. On June 13, 2007, the US District Court for the Northern District of California entered an order granting summary judgment in favor of IGT declaring both patents invalid. The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed this decision on September 22, 2008. IGT’s request for a rehearing was denied on November 17, 2008.

This case recommenced in the District Court and on May 13, 2010, the District Court entered an order granting IGT’s motion for summary judgment of non-infringement.  Aristocrat appealed this judgment.  Proceedings on IGT’s claim that Aristocrat committed inequitable conduct in reviving the ‘215 patent application continued in the District Court.  A trial was held the week of April 4, 2011 on that inequitable conduct issue, and that claim was dismissed on May 6, 2011.

IGT and Aristocrat entered into an agreement, effective September 30, 2011, settling the lawsuit. On October 6, 2011, the parties filed a letter with the court advising the court that, in accordance with the parties’ resolution of several disputes between them, the case would be concluded by dismissal with prejudice following the final resolution of the pending appeal of the judgment of non-infringement.  In connection with the settlement, IGT was granted an irrevocable paid-up license to the Aristocrat patents that were the subject of the litigation and related patents. On March 13, 2013, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the District Court’s grant of summary judgment with regard to direct infringement and vacated and remanded the District Court’s judgment with respect to indirect infringement. In accordance with the settlement agreement, the parties have stipulated to dismissal of the case and moved for entry of an order dismissing all claims and counterclaims with prejudice.

Atlantic Lotteries

In an action brought in the Supreme Court of New Foundland and Labrador by Babstock and Small as representatives of a purported class of persons allegedly harmed by VLT gaming in the Province of New Foundland and Labrador. Atlantic Lottery Corporation has impleaded VLC, Inc. IGT-Canada, Inc., International Game Technology and other third party defendants seeking indemnification for any judgment recovered against Atlantic Lottery Corporation in the main action.  Plaintiffs filed a motion for class action certification on September 17, 2012. The Court has decided to address the motion for certification in two phases. Under Phase 1, the Court will determine whether the Plaintiffs have pleaded a cause of action. Hearings on Phase 1 are scheduled to be heard on June 6 and 7, 2013. Should the Court conclude that Plaintiffs have pleaded a cause of action, then, under Phase 2, the Court would determine the appropriateness of certification of the putative class.

Shareholder Actions

Securities Class Action

On July 30, 2009, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 697 filed a putative securities fraud class action in the US District Court for the District of Nevada, alleging causes of action under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act against IGT and certain of its current and former officers and directors. The complaint alleges that between November 1, 2007 and October 30, 2008, the defendants inflated IGT's stock price through a series of materially false and misleading statements or omissions regarding IGT's business, operations, and prospects. In April 2010, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint.  In March 2011, defendants’ motion to dismiss that complaint was granted in part and denied in part. The Court found that the allegations concerning statements about the seasonality of game play levels and announcements of projects with Harrah’s and City Center were sufficient to state a claim.  Plaintiffs did not state a claim based on the remaining statements about earnings, operating expense, or forward-looking statements about play levels and server-based technology.

The parties have settled this action.  On February 1, 2012, at the direction of the Court, the plaintiffs filed a Notice of Pending Settlement. On March 28, 2012, the parties submitted to the Court a stipulation to settle the litigation for a payment of $12.5 million. On March 30, 2012 the Court issued an order of preliminary approval and the settlement was paid into escrow by insurance in April 2012. The Court approved the stipulated settlement on October 19, 2012.

Derivative Actions

Between August 20, 2009 and September 17, 2009, the Company was nominally sued in a series of derivative lawsuits filed in the US District Court for the District of Nevada, captioned Fosbre v. Matthews et al., Case No. 3:09-cv-00467; Calamore v. Matthews et al., Case No. 3:09-cv-00489; Israni v. Bittman, et al., Case No. 3:09-cv-00536; and Aronson v. Matthews et al., Case No. 3:09-cv-00542. Plaintiffs purportedly brought their respective actions on behalf of the Company. The complaints asserted claims against various current and former officers and directors of the Company, for breaches of fiduciary duties, unjust enrichment, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, waste of corporate assets, and contribution and indemnification. The complaints sought an unspecified amount of damages and alleged similar facts as the securities class action lawsuit.

The complaints additionally alleged that certain individual defendants engaged in insider trading and that the director defendants improperly handled Thomas J. Matthews’ resignation as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The actions were consolidated and subsequently a consolidated derivative complaint was filed in December 2009. Defendants moved to dismiss that complaint. On July 6, 2010, the Court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss, with leave to amend.  After plaintiffs elected not to amend, the court entered judgment in favor of the defendants.  The plaintiff in Israni v. Bittman, et al. appealed to the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. On April 2, 2012, the appeals court affirmed the district court’s decision dismissing the action.

In a letter dated October 7, 2009 to the Company’s Board of Directors, a shareholder made factual allegations similar to those set forth in the above derivative and securities class actions and demanded that the Board investigate, address and remedy the harm allegedly inflicted on IGT. In particular, the letter alleged that certain officers and directors grossly mismanaged the Company by overspending in the area of R&D of server-based game technology despite a looming recession to which the Company was particularly vulnerable; by making or allowing false and misleading statements regarding the Company’s growth prospects and earnings guidance; and by wasting corporate assets by causing the Company to repurchase Company stock at inflated prices. The letter asserts that this alleged conduct resulted in breaches of fiduciary duties and violations of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and SEC Rule 10b-5. On July 9, 2010, the shareholder filed a derivative lawsuit in the US District Court for the District of Nevada, captioned Sprando v. Hart, et al., Case No. 3:10-cv-00415 and asserting claims similar to those described above. No claims were asserted against the Company, which is a nominal defendant.  On July 25, 2011, the Court granted the Company’s motion to dismiss with prejudice. Plaintiff appealed to the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on August 23, 2011. Oral argument has been scheduled for May 15, 2013.

In February 2011, another shareholder sent a letter to the Company’s Board of Directors requesting that the Board investigate allegations similar to those set forth in the derivative actions described above and bring a lawsuit against various of the Company’s current or former officers and directors. In response the Board of Directors formed a litigation committee comprised of disinterested outside directors and assisted by outside counsel to investigate and evaluate the allegations raised in this letter. At the conclusion of this investigation, the committee concluded and recommended that it would not be in the best interests of the Company or its shareholders to pursue the proposed claims. The Board considered and accepted this recommendation and the Company informed the shareholder of the Board’s resolution in September 2011. On March 15, 2012, the shareholder filed a derivative action in state court in Reno, Nevada (Gusinsky v. Thomas J. Matthews, et. al.), Second Judicial Court of the State of Nevada. Plaintiff filed an amended complaint on September 24, 2012. The Company was named as a nominal defendant only. On January 9, 2013, the Court granted the Company’s and individual defendants’ motions to dismiss the action. Plaintiff appealed, but withdrew his appeal of that order in exchange for the Defendants’ withdrawal of their request for costs and fees. The court entered the stipulation of dismissal on March 21, 2013.

On April 8, 2011, the Company was nominally sued in a derivative complaint filed in the US District Court for the District of Nevada, captioned Arduini v. Hart, et al., Case No. 3:11-cv-00255.  The claims and allegations in this complaint are similar to those asserted in the securities class action and derivative actions described above.  A motion to dismiss was filed. On March 14, 2012, defendants’ motion to dismiss the action was granted. On April 3, 2012, the plaintiff appealed to the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

ERISA Actions

On October 2, 2009, two putative class action lawsuits were filed on behalf of participants in the Company’s employee pension plans, naming as defendants the Company, the IGT Profit Sharing Plan Committee, and several current and former officers and directors. The actions, filed in the US District Court for the District of Nevada, are captioned Carr et al. v. International Game Technology et al., Case No. 3:09-cv-00584, and Jordan et al. v. International Game Technology et al., Case No. 3:09-cv-00585. The actions were consolidated.  The consolidated complaint (which seeks unspecified damages) asserts claims under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, 29 U.S.C §§ 1109 and 1132.

The consolidated complaint is based on allegations similar to those in the securities and derivative lawsuits described above, and further alleges that the defendants breached fiduciary duties to plan participants by failing to disclose material facts to plan participants, failing to exercise their fiduciary duties solely in the interest of the participants, failing to properly manage plan assets, and permitting participants to elect to invest in Company stock. In March 2011, defendants’ motion to dismiss the consolidated complaint was granted in part and denied in part.  On March 16, 2012, the Court denied plaintiff’s motion for class certification. On December 21, 2012, the parties submitted a stipulation to settle the litigation for a payment of $500,000 and up to $25,000 towards settlement administrative expenses, which was accrued for in our 2013 first quarter. On January 22, 2013, the Court granted preliminary approval of the settlement. A hearing for final approval of the settlement has been set for June 3, 2013.

OSHA / Wrongful Termination Matter

On July 8, 2004, two former employees filed a complaint with the US Department of Labor, OSHA alleging retaliatory termination in violation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The former employees allege that they were terminated in retaliation for questioning whether Anchor and its executives failed to properly disclose information allegedly affecting the value of Anchor's patents in connection with IGT's acquisition of Anchor in December 2001. The former employees also allege that the acquired patents were overvalued on the financial statements of IGT. Outside counsel, retained by an independent committee of our Board of Directors, reviewed the allegations and found them to be entirely without merit.

In conjunction with the Anchor acquisition purchase price allocation as of December 31, 2001, IGT used the relief of royalty valuation methodology to estimate the fair value of the patents at $164.4 million. The carrying value of the patents at March 31, 2013 totaled $12.0 million.

On November 10, 2004, the employees withdrew their complaint filed with OSHA and filed a notice of intent to file a complaint in federal court. On December 1, 2004, a complaint was filed under seal in the US District Court for the District of Nevada, based on the same facts set forth above regarding their OSHA complaint. IGT filed a motion for summary judgment as to all claims in plaintiffs’ complaint. On June 14, 2007, the US District Court for the District of Nevada entered an order granting summary judgment in favor of IGT as to plaintiffs’ Sarbanes-Oxley whistle-blower claims and dismissed their state law claims without prejudice. Plaintiffs’ motion for reconsideration of the District Court’s decision was denied.

Plaintiffs appealed to the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Oral argument was heard on March 12, 2009, and on August 3, 2009, the Ninth Circuit reversed the District Court’s decision. IGT’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiffs’ state law claims was argued on October 22, 2009 and granted in IGT’s favor on December 8, 2009. On April 13, 2010, the District Court granted IGT’s motion to strike the plaintiffs’ jury demand and granted IGT’s motion to retax costs and fees. It denied plaintiffs’ motion for certification and/or reconsideration.

On February 8, 2011, a jury verdict was entered in favor of the plaintiffs as to their Sarbanes-Oxley claims and plaintiffs were awarded damages in an amount equal to approximately $2.2 million.  On March 9, 2011, IGT filed a Renewed Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law and Motion for a New Trial or for Remittitur.  On May 24, 2011, the Court denied these motions, and on May 27, 2011, the Court entered an amended judgment for prejudgment interest of approximately $1.3 million, attorneys’ fees of approximately $1.0 million, and court costs of approximately $132,000.  IGT filed a notice of appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on June 21, 2011, which is pending. On July 1, 2011 plaintiffs filed a notice of cross appeal. The parties’ cross appeals have been fully briefed.

Arrangements with Off-Balance Sheet Risks

In the normal course of business, we are party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk, such as performance bonds not reflected in our balance sheet. We do not expect any material losses to result from these arrangements and are not dependent on off-balance sheet financing arrangements to fund our operations.

Performance Bonds

Performance bonds outstanding related to certain gaming operations equipment totaled $14.3 million at March 31, 2013. We are liable to reimburse the bond issuer in the event of exercise due to our nonperformance.

Letters of Credit

Outstanding letters of credit issued under our domestic credit facility to ensure payment to certain vendors and governmental agencies totaled $8.9 million at March 31, 2013.

IGT Licensor Arrangements

Our sales agreements that include software and IP licensing arrangements may require IGT to indemnify the third-party licensee against liability and damages (including legal defense costs) arising from any claims of patent, copyright, trademark infringement, or trade secret misappropriation. Should such a claim occur, we could be required to make payments to the licensee for any liabilities or damages incurred. Historically, we have not incurred any significant settlement costs due to infringement claims. As we consider the likelihood of incurring future costs to be remote, no liability has been recorded.

Self-Insurance

We are self-insured for various levels of workers’ compensation, directors’ and officers’ liability, and electronic errors and omissions liability, as well as employee medical, dental, prescription drug, and disability coverage. We purchase stop loss coverage to protect against unexpected claims. Accrued insurance claims and reserves include estimated settlements for known claims, and actuarial estimates for claims incurred but not reported.

State and Federal Taxes

We are subject to sales, use, income, gaming and other tax audits and administrative proceedings in various US federal, state, local, and foreign jurisdictions. While we believe we have properly reported our tax liabilities in each jurisdiction, we can give no assurance that taxing authorities will not propose adjustments that increase our tax liabilities.

Product Warranties

The majority of our products are generally covered by a warranty for periods ranging from 90 to 180 days. We estimated accrued warranty costs in the table below based on historical trends in product failure rates and expected costs to provide warranty services.

Six Months Ended March 31,
 
2013
   
2012
 
Beginning balance
  $ 4.2     $ 6.2  
Reduction for payments made
    (3.4 )     (2.8 )
Accrual for new warranties issued
    5.0       4.4  
Adjustments for pre-existing warranties
    (1.5 )     (2.9 )
Ending balance
  $ 4.3     $ 4.9