Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Jan. 02, 2021

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Proceedings

We are involved from time to time in various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business, including primarily commercial, product liability, employment and intellectual property claims. In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, we record a liability in our consolidated financial statements with respect to any of these matters when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. If a material loss is reasonably possible but not known or probable, and may be reasonably estimated, the estimated loss or range of loss is disclosed. With respect to currently pending legal proceedings, we have not established an estimated range of reasonably possible material losses either because we believe that we have valid defenses to claims asserted against us, the proceeding has not advanced to a stage of discovery that would enable us to establish an estimate, or the potential loss is not material. We currently do not expect the outcome of pending legal proceedings to have a material effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows. Litigation, however, is inherently unpredictable, and it is possible that the ultimate outcome of one or more claims asserted against us could adversely impact our consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows. We expense legal costs as incurred.

On September 18, 2018, two former Home Delivery team members filed suit, now venued in San Diego County Superior Court, California, alleging representative claims on a purported class action basis under the California Labor Code Private Attorney General Act. While the two representative plaintiffs were in the Home Delivery workforce, the Complaint does not limit the purported plaintiff class to that group. The plaintiffs allege that Sleep Number failed or refused to adopt adequate practices, policies and procedures relating to wage payments, record keeping, employment disclosures, meal and rest breaks, among other claims, under California law. The Complaint sought damages in the form of civil penalties and plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees. The parties have executed a settlement agreement, including the settlement and release of certain additional related claims that are contained in a consolidated complaint, which received final Court approval on January 8, 2021 and is proceeding through the final administrative and appeal processes.

On March 27, 2018, Level Sleep, LLC (Level Sleep) filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Sleep Number in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. In its Complaint, Level Sleep claims that Sleep Number infringed two patents owned by Level Sleep, U.S. Patent Nos. 6,807,698 and 7,036,172 (the Patents), by, among other things, making, using, offering for sale, or selling within the United States, and/or importing into the United States, beds with sleep surfaces having foam with multiple zones in the longitudinal direction. Level Sleep has asserted that five non-360® beds no longer sold and two current non-360 beds infringe the Patents. Level Sleep seeks damages in the form of a reasonable royalty. Sleep Number has asserted that the Patents are invalid and that our products do not infringe the Patents. On January 14, 2020, the Court granted summary judgment in favor of Sleep Number, finding that Sleep Number’s products do not infringe the Patents. Level Sleep has filed an appeal of the Court’s summary judgment order, which is currently pending with the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. We intend to continue vigorously defending this matter.

Consumer Credit Arrangements

We refer customers seeking extended financing to certain third-party financiers (Card Servicers). The Card Servicers, if credit is granted, establish the interest rates, fees, and all other terms and conditions of the customer’s account based on their evaluation of the creditworthiness of the customer. As the accounts are owned by the Card Servicers, at no time are the accounts purchased or acquired from us. We are not liable to the Card Servicers for our customers’ credit defaults.

Commitments

As of January 2, 2021, we had $53 million of inventory purchase commitments. As part of the normal course of business, there are a limited number of inventory supply contracts that contain penalty provisions for failure to purchase contracted quantities. We do not currently expect any payments under these provisions. At January 2, 2021, we had entered into 52 lease commitments primarily for future retail store locations. These lease commitments provide for total lease payments over the next three to 10 years, which if consummated based on current cost estimates, would approximate $87 million over the initial lease term. The future lease payments for these lease commitments have been excluded in the total operating lease payments in Note 7, Leases.