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Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Contingencies
Contingencies

Legal Proceedings

From time to time, we are identified as a "potentially responsible party" (PRP) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) and/or similar state laws that impose liability without regard to fault for costs and damages relating to the investigation and clean-up of contamination resulting from releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances. We are also subject to similar laws in some of the countries where our facilities are located. Our environmental, health, and safety department monitors compliance with applicable laws on a global basis.

On October 30, 2009, the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("US EPA") designated Syracuse China Company ("Syracuse China"), our wholly-owned subsidiary, as one of eight PRPs with respect to the Lower Ley Creek sub-site of the Onondaga Lake Superfund site located near the ceramic dinnerware manufacturing facility that Syracuse China operated from 1995 to 2009 in Syracuse, New York. As a PRP, we may be required to pay a share of the costs of investigation and clean-up of the Lower Ley Creek sub-site.

Although US EPA has completed its Remedial Investigation (RI), US EPA has not yet issued a Feasibility Study (FS), Risk Assessment (RA) or Proposed Remedial Action Plan (PRAP) with respect to the Lower Ley Creek sub-site. Accordingly, the nature of any plan of remediation, and the costs of any such plan of remediation, are not yet known. Additionally, it is not yet known whether amounts previously recovered by US EPA are adequate to cover the costs associated with any such plan of remediation, nor is it known how any excess costs may be allocated among the PRPs.

Depending on the results of the FS, RA and PRAP, it is reasonably possible that Syracuse China may be required to record a liability related to remediation costs at the Ley Creek sub-site. As of December 31, 2013, the possible loss or range of loss is not reasonably estimable. To the extent that Syracuse China may have liability with respect to this sub-site and to the extent that the liability arose prior to our 1995 acquisition of the Syracuse China assets, the liability would be subject to the indemnification provisions contained in the Asset Purchase Agreement between the Company and The Pfaltzgraff Co. (now known as TPC-York, Inc. ("TPC York")) and certain of its subsidiaries. Accordingly, Syracuse China has notified TPC York of its claim for indemnification under the Asset Purchase Agreement. Although we cannot predict the ultimate impact of this proceeding, we believe that the outcome will not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

Insurance claim

We currently have an open insurance claim related to a 2013 furnace malfunction at our manufacturing facility in Toledo, Ohio. At December 31, 2013, partial insurance proceeds of $5.0 million were recognized in accounts receivable and the Consolidated Statements of Operations ($4.4 million in other income (expense) for expenses incurred and $0.6 million against cost of sales for business interruption). The insurance claim is still ongoing and the amount of any future recovery is uncertain at this time.

Abandoned Property Audit

We have completed an unclaimed property audit. The property subject to review in this audit process generally included unclaimed wages, vendor payments and customer refunds. State escheat laws generally require entities to report and remit abandoned and unclaimed property. Failure to timely report and remit the property can result in assessments that include interest and penalties, in addition to the payment of the escheat liability itself. At the completion of the audit in the second quarter of 2013, we paid $4.5 million, which resulted in additional expense of $1.8 million in selling, general and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Expense of $2.7 million ($1.8 million and $0.9 million in cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses, respectively) was recorded in the third quarter of 2011 and accrued at December 31, 2012 in accrued liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.