Legal Matters

6 Months Ended

Sep. 24, 2011

Legal Matters [Abstract]

Legal Matters

11.Legal Matters

During the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, the Company incurred $135 thousand in settlement costs related to a dispute with a former distributor of the Company's products. This transaction is reflected as a separate line item on the consolidated condensed statement of operations in operating expenses under the caption "Provision for litigation expenses and settlements."

On September 1, 2011, HSM Portfolio LLC and Technology Properties Limited LLC (collectively, the "Plaintiffs") filed suit against Cirrus Logic and 17 other defendants in the U.S. District Court, District of Delaware.  The Plaintiffs allege that Cirrus Logic infringed U.S. Patent No. 5,030,853.   In their complaint, the Plaintiffs indicated that they are seeking unspecified monetary damages, including up to treble damages for willful infringement.  Our answer to the complaint is due on October 24, 2011.  At this stage of the litigation, we cannot predict the ultimate outcome and we are unable to estimate any potential liability that we may incur.  

      From time to time, other various claims, charges and litigation are asserted or commenced against us arising from, or related to, contractual matters, intellectual property, employment disputes, as well as other issues.  Frequent claims and litigation involving these types of issues are not uncommon in our industry.  As to any of these claims or litigation, we cannot predict the ultimate outcome with certainty.