Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation

Over the years, the Company has been named as a defendant, along with numerous other defendants, in lawsuits in various state courts in which plaintiffs have alleged injury due to exposure to asbestos-containing brakes, which Carlisle manufactured in limited amounts between the late-1940s and the mid-1980s. In addition to compensatory awards, these lawsuits may also seek punitive damages. Generally, the Company has obtained dismissals or settlements of its asbestos-related lawsuits with no material effect on its financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. The Company maintains insurance coverage that applies to the Company’s defense costs and payments of settlements or judgments in connection with asbestos-related lawsuits. At this time, the amount of reasonably possible asbestos claims, if any, is not material to the Company's financial position, results of operations, or operating cash flows, although these matters could result in the Company being subject to monetary damages, costs or expenses, and charges against earnings in particular periods.

The Company may occasionally be involved in various other legal actions arising in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate outcome of such actions, either individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position or annual operating cash flows of the Company. 

Environmental Matters

The Company is subject to increasingly stringent environmental laws and regulations, including those relating to air emissions, wastewater discharges, chemical and hazardous waste management, and disposal. Some of these environmental laws hold owners or operators of land or businesses liable for their own and for previous owners’ or operators’ releases of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes. Other environmental laws and regulations require the obtainment of, and compliance with, environmental permits. To date, costs of complying with environmental, health, and safety requirements have not been material, and the Company did not have any significant accruals related to potential future costs of environmental remediation as of September 30, 2018, nor are any asset retirement obligations recorded as of that date. However, the nature of the Company’s operations and its long history of industrial activities at certain of its current or former facilities, as well as those acquired, could potentially result in material environmental liabilities or asset retirement obligations.

While the Company must comply with existing and pending climate change legislation, regulation, international treaties or accords, current laws and regulations do not have a material impact on its business, capital expenditures or financial position. Future events, including those relating to climate change or greenhouse gas regulation, could require the Company to incur expenses related to the modification or curtailment of operations, installation of pollution control equipment, or investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites.