Commitments And Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]

Commitments And Contingencies

2.Commitments and Contingencies.

Legal . On September 23, 2004, the Company brought suit against News America and Albertson's Inc. (Albertson's) in Federal District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for violations of federal and state antitrust and false advertising laws, alleging that News America has acquired and maintained monopoly power through various wrongful acts designed to harm the Company in the in-store advertising and promotion products and services market.  The suit sought injunctive relief sufficient to prevent further antitrust injury and an award of treble damages for the harm caused to the Company. On September 20, 2006, the State of Minnesota through its Attorney General intervened as a co-plaintiff in the business disparagement portion of the case. In December 2006, News America filed counterclaims in the case that included claims of alleged interference with contracts and alleged libel and slander against Insignia and one of its officers. On February 4, 2008, the Court approved a consent decree entered into by News America and the State of Minnesota under which News America agreed to not violate Minnesota's statutes prohibiting commercial disparagement. On July 29, 2008, the Company and Albertson's entered into a settlement agreement and mutual release, in which they each agreed to release all claims against the other, and the Company agreed to dismiss its lawsuit against Albertson's.

On February 7, 2011, trial in the Company's lawsuit against News America commenced in U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. On February 9, 2011, the Company and News America entered into a Settlement Agreement to settle the lawsuit. The Settlement Agreement included the dismissal with prejudice of the Company's lawsuit against News America. Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, News America paid the Company $125,000,000, and the Company paid News America $4,000,000 in exchange for a 10-year arrangement to sell signs with price into News America's network of retailers as News America's exclusive agent. The Company is amortizing this amount on a straight-line basis over the 10-year term of the arrangement. Amortization expense related to this arrangement was $100,000 and $183,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011. The Company expects amortization expense of $400,000 per year for the next five years related to this arrangement. The definitive agreement for the 10-year arrangement was approved by the U.S. District Court on June 6, 2011 and signed by both parties. Certain issues have arisen in connection with the implementation of the definitive agreement, which the parties are attempting to resolve.

A reconciliation of the settlement proceeds to the gain from litigation settlement recognized in the statement of operations is as follows:

	Three Months Ended		Nine Months Ended
	September 30		September 30
	2011	2010	2011	2010
Settlement proceeds	$        -	$        -	$  125,000,000	$        -
Less contingent attorney's fees	-	-	(31,250,000)	-
Less bonuses paid to employees	-	-	(3,988,000)	-
Gain from litigation settlement, net	$        -	$        -	$    89,762,000	$        -

Legal fees of $1,098,000 were incurred for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 in connection with this lawsuit, as the Company prepared for trial, worked through settlement discussions, and conducted post-settlement activities. Additionally, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, a contingent fee payment of $31,250,000 was made to the Company's lead trial counsel out of the settlement proceeds. Management does not expect significant legal fees and expenses in future periods after post-settlement activities are concluded. Legal fees and expenses are expensed as incurred and are included in general and administrative expenses in the statements of operations, except for the contingent fee payment which was included as a reduction of the gain from the litigation settlement.

The Company is subject to various other legal proceedings in the normal course of business. Management believes the outcome of these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.