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Commitments And Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]  
Commitments And Contingencies

Note 19 - Commitments and Contingencies

Unconsolidated Joint Venture Loans

            The following section describes any loans associated with our investments in unconsolidated joint ventures.  As these investments are unconsolidated, any associated bank loans are not reflected in our Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2012.  Each loan is without recourse to any assets other than our interests in the individual joint venture.

Rialto Distribution.  We are the 33.3% co-owners of the assets of Rialto Distribution.  At December 31, 2012 and 2011, Rialto Distribution had a bank line of credit of $1.7 million (NZ$2.0 million) and $1.6 million (NZ$2.0 million), respectively, and had an outstanding balance of $703,000 (NZ$850,000) and $663,000 (NZ$850,000), respectively.  This loan is guaranteed by one of our subsidiaries to the extent of our ownership percentage.

Tax Audit/Litigation

The Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) has examined the tax return of Reading Entertainment Inc. (“RDGE”) for its tax years ended December 31, 1996 through December 31, 1999 and the tax return of Craig Corporation (“CRG”) for its tax year ended June 30, 1997.  These companies are both now wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company, but for the time periods under audit, were not consolidated with the Company for tax purposes. 

CRG and the IRS agreed to compromise the claims made by the IRS against CRG and the Tax Court’s order was entered on January 6, 2011.  In the settlement, the IRS conceded 70% of its claimed adjustment to income.  Instead of a claim for unpaid taxes of $20.9 million plus interest, the effect of settlement on the Reading consolidated group was to require a total federal income tax obligation of $5.4 million, reduced by a federal tax refund of $800,000 and increased by interest of $9.3 million, for a net federal tax liability of $13.9 million as of January 6, 2011.  On October 26, 2011, CRG reached an agreement with the IRS for an installment plan to pay off this federal tax liability, including additional interest accruals at the prescribed IRS floating rate.  The agreement requires monthly payments of $290,000 over a period of approximately five years.  As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, after the payments made during 2012 and 2011, respectively, the remaining federal tax obligation was $10.0 million and $13.5 million, respectively, in tax and interest.  Of the $10.0 million owed under the installment agreement as of December 31, 2012,  $3.5 million was recorded as current taxes payable, with the remaining balance being recorded as non-current tax liability.  Of the $13.5 million owed under the installment agreement as of December 31, 2011,  $3.5 million was recorded as current taxes payable, with the remaining balance being recorded as non-current tax liability.

The impact of the settlement upon the state taxes of the Reading consolidated group, if the adjustment to income agreed with the IRS were reflected on state returns, would be an obligation of approximately $1.4 million in tax plus interest and potential penalty.  CRG’s 1997 tax year remains open with respect to CRG’s potential tax liability to the State of California.  As of December 31, 2012, no deficiency has been asserted by the State of California, and we have made no final decision as to the course of action to be followed when a deficiency is asserted.

Environmental and Asbestos Claims

Certain of our subsidiaries were historically involved in railroad operations, coal mining, and manufacturing.  Also, certain of these subsidiaries appear in the chain of title of properties that may suffer from pollution.  Accordingly, certain of these subsidiaries have, from time to time, been named in and may in the future be named in various actions brought under applicable environmental laws.  Also, we are in the real estate development business and may encounter from time to time unanticipated environmental conditions at properties that we have acquired for development.  These environmental conditions can increase the cost of such projects, and adversely affect the value and potential for profit of such projects.  We do not currently believe that our exposure under applicable environmental laws is material in amount.

From time to time, we have claims brought against us relating to the exposure of former employees of our railroad operations to asbestos and coal dust.  These are generally covered by an insurance settlement reached in September 1990 with our insurance carriers.  However, this insurance settlement does not cover litigation by people who were not our employees and who may claim second hand exposure to asbestos, coal dust and/or other chemicals or elements now recognized as potentially causing cancer in humans.  Our known exposure to these types of claims, asserted or probable of being asserted, is not material.

In connection with the development of our 50.6 acre Burwood site, it will be necessary to address certain environmental issues.  That property was at one time used as a brickworks and we have discovered petroleum and asbestos at the site.  During 2007, we developed a plan for the remediation of these materials, in some cases through removal and in other cases through encapsulation.  As of December 31, 2012, we estimate that the total site preparation costs associated with the removal of this contaminated soil will be $17.7 million (AUS$17.1 million) and as of that date we had incurred a total of $8.6 million (AUS$8.3 million) of these costs.  We do not believe that this has added materially to the overall development cost of the site, as it is anticipated that all of the work will be done in connection with the excavation and other development activity already contemplated for the property.