Litigation and Related Matters | LITIGATION AND RELATED MATTERS Environmental Matters Environmental Compliance Our manufacturing and research facilities are affected by various federal, state and local requirements relating to the discharge of materials and the protection of the environment. We make expenditures necessary for compliance with applicable environmental requirements at each of our operating facilities. These regulatory requirements continually change, therefore we cannot predict with certainty future expenditures associated with compliance with environmental requirements. Environmental Sites In connection with our current or legacy manufacturing operations, or those of former owners, we may from time to time become involved in the investigation, closure and/or remediation of existing or potential environmental contamination under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, and state or international Superfund and similar type environmental laws. For those matters, we may have rights of contribution or reimbursement from other parties or coverage under applicable insurance policies; however, we cannot predict with certainty the future identification of or expenditure for any investigation, closure or remediation of any environmental site. Summary of Financial Position There were no material liabilities recorded as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 for potential environmental liabilities that we consider probable and for which a reasonable estimate of the probable liability could be made. Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Cases In October 2010, a coalition of U.S. producers of multilayered wood flooring (not including AWI and its subsidiaries) filed petitions seeking antidumping duties (“AD”) and countervailing duties (“CVD”) with the United States Department of Commerce (“DOC”) and the United States International Trade Commission against imports of multilayered wood flooring from China. The AD and CVD petitions ultimately resulted in DOC issuing AD and CVD orders (the “Orders”) against multilayered wood flooring imported into the U.S. from China. These Orders and the associated additional duties they have imposed have been the subject of extensive litigation, both at DOC and in the U.S. courts. We produce multilayered wood flooring domestically and import multilayered wood flooring from third party suppliers in China. Until October 2014, AWI also operated a plant in Kunshan, China (“Armstrong Kunshan”) that manufactured multilayered wood flooring for export to the U.S. As a result, we have been directly involved in the multilayered wood flooring-related litigation at DOC and in the U.S. courts. Our consistent view through the course of this matter has been, and remains, that our imports are neither dumped nor subsidized. In 2013, in the sole DOC investigation of AWI and its subsidiaries (as a mandatory respondent in connection with the first annual administrative review), Armstrong Kunshan received a final CVD rate of 0.98% and a final AD rate of 0.00% . Litigation regarding this matter has continued in the U.S. courts. Armstrong Kunshan, as well as other respondents, have appealed DOC’s original decision to apply an AD rate to AWI and its subsidiaries and other “separate rate” respondents in the original investigation (for which we received a final initial AD rate of 3.31% ) to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ("CAFC"). The CAFC, on February 15, 2017, found that DOC did not make the requisite factual findings necessary to support its original investigation determination. The CAFC vacated and remanded the Court of International Trade decision for further proceedings. Success in the subsequent remand proceedings (and any further appeals) could result in a revocation of the AD order with respect to us and other separate rate respondents. DOC also continues to conduct annual administrative reviews of the AD and CVD final duty rates under the Orders. Armstrong Kunshan was not selected as a mandatory respondent for the second, third and fourth reviews and, therefore, was not subject to individual review, but we are subject to the rates applicable to importers that were not individually reviewed (the “separate rate” or “all other” respondents). The second administrative review period covered imports of multilayered wood flooring made between December 1, 2012 and November 30, 2013 (AD) and between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012 (CVD). In July 2015, the DOC issued a final “all others” CVD rate of 0.99% and a 13.74% AD rate. The AD rate was determined solely on the basis of the AD duty rate assigned to the only mandatory respondent that did not receive a de minimis rate. DOC assigned these rates to all separate rate respondents that were not individually investigated, including Armstrong Kunshan. We, along with other respondents, have filed complaints against DOC challenging the rate in the U.S. Court of International Trade. If such rates are ultimately upheld after any court appeals are exhausted, the estimated additional liability to us for the relevant period is approximately $4.8 million , which is recorded in accounts payable and accrued expenses. The court granted the preliminary injunction requested by plaintiffs on August 13, 2015, and enjoined the U.S. Government agencies from causing or permitting liquidation of unliquidated entries of multilayered wood flooring from China, pending final decision on the case. The third administrative review period covered all multilayered wood flooring imports made between December 1, 2013 and November 30, 2014 (AD) and between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013 (CVD). On May 16, 2016, the DOC issued a final “all others” CVD rate of 1.38% and on July 13, 2016, DOC imposed a 17.37% “all others” AD rate. The AD rate was determined again solely on the basis of the AD duty rate assigned to the only mandatory respondent that did not receive a de minimis rate. DOC assigned these rates to all separate rate respondents that were not individually investigated, including Armstrong Kunshan. We continue to defend our import practices by pursuing our available legal rights and remedies, including litigation at DOC and in the U.S. courts. If such rates are ultimately upheld after any potential court appeals are exhausted, the estimated additional liability to us for the relevant period is approximately $6.0 million , which is recorded in accounts payable and accrued expenses. We successfully filed an injunction request. The court granted the preliminary injunction on January 4, 2017 and enjoined the U.S. Government agencies from causing or permitting liquidation of unliquidated entries of multilayered wood flooring from China, pending final decision on the case. The preliminary injunction also ensures that our entries made during the 2013-14 review period will ultimately be liquidated in accordance with the final decision by the courts. The fourth administrative review period covered all multilayered wood flooring imports made between December 1, 2014 and November 30, 2015 (AD) and between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014 (CVD). On May 15, 2017, DOC published a final “all others” CVD rate of 1.06% and on June 5, 2017, DOC imposed a de minimis “all others” AD rate which will apply to our multilayered wood flooring imports during this period. We have begun receiving refunds for our multilayered wood flooring imports during this time period as our deposit rate exceeded this de minimis rate. The petitioners initially appealed this decision, but withdrew their appeal on October 17, 2017. We will accrue and make cash deposits for duties when we are the importer of record at the rates established by DOC based on the fourth administrative review process. Administrative reviews for the fifth review period (December 1, 2015-November 30, 2016 for AD and January 1, 2015-December 31, 2015 for CVD) have been initiated and are currently pending. We are not subject to review for this period; however, we will be liable for other manufacturers’ applicable rates to the extent we were importer of record of products covered by the AD/CVD orders during this period. The preliminary "all others" rate for this period is 0.89% for CVD and 0.00% for AD. The final rate is expected in the second quarter of 2018. The U.S. International Trade Commission completed a sunset review of the original Orders in the fourth quarter of 2017 and determined to continue the Orders for an additional five year period. Other Claims We are involved in various lawsuits, claims, investigations and other legal matters from time to time that arise in the ordinary course of conducting business, including matters involving our products, intellectual property, relationships with suppliers, relationships with distributors, relationships with competitors, employees and other matters. For example, we are currently a party to various litigation matters that involve product liability, tort liability and other claims under a wide range of allegations, including illness due to exposure to certain chemicals used in the workplace, or medical conditions arising from exposure to product ingredients or the presence of trace contaminants. In some cases, these allegations involve multiple defendants and relate to legacy products that we and other defendants purportedly manufactured or sold. We believe these claims and allegations to be without merit and intend to defend them vigorously. For these matters, we also may have rights of contribution or reimbursement from other parties or coverage under applicable insurance policies. While complete assurance cannot be given to the outcome of these proceedings, we do not believe that any of these matters, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. |