COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

15.           COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Operating Leases

We rent office space and equipment under operating lease agreements expiring at various dates through January 2016.  Rent expense for office facilities was $884,000 in 2014, $946,000 in 2013 and $947,000 in 2012.  Minimum annual rental commitments under noncancelable operating leases are as follows (in thousands):

	Future Lease Payments
2015	$	426
2016		404
2017		377
2018		313
2019		313

Litigation

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 generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, 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. With respect to currently pending legal proceedings, we have not established an estimated range of reasonably possible additional losses either because we believe that we have valid defenses to claims asserted against us or the proceeding has not advanced to a stage of discovery that would enable us to establish an estimate. We currently do not expect the outcome of these matters 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 results of operations, financial position or cash flows. We expense legal costs as incurred.

Investigation Matter

As previously disclosed, Polish authorities conducted an investigation into violations of Polish law related to tenders in the City of Łodź, Poland. A Special Subcommittee of our Audit Committee comprised solely of independent directors retained independent counsel and accounting advisors who conducted an investigation focusing on possible violations of Company policy, internal controls, and laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Anti-Bribery Act and Polish law. We voluntarily disclosed this matter to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Department of Justice (“DOJ”).

During the third quarter of 2014, we received a letter from the DOJ informing us that their inquiry into this matter has been closed, citing the Company’s voluntary disclosure, thorough investigation, cooperation and voluntary enhancements to its compliance program. Additionally, the SEC previously notified the Company that it had closed its investigation without recommending enforcement action.

Neither the Company nor any of our subsidiaries was charged with any offense, and there were no fines levied at the close of the investigation by the DOJ or SEC.