Commitments and contingencies |
7.Commitments and contingencies Legal proceedings From time to time, the Company is a party to various legal matters in the ordinary course of its business, including actions by employees, consumers, suppliers, government agencies, or others. The Company has recorded accruals with respect to these matters, where appropriate, which are reflected in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. For some matters, a liability is not probable or the amount cannot be reasonably estimated and therefore an accrual has not been made. On November 27, 2023, and November 30, 2023, respectively, the following putative shareholder class action lawsuits were filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee in which the plaintiffs allege that during the putative class periods noted below, the Company and certain of its current and former officers violated the federal securities laws by misrepresenting the impact of alleged store labor, inventory, pricing and other practices on the Company’s financial results and prospects: Washtenaw County Employees’ Retirement System v. Dollar General Corporation, et al. (Case No. 3:23-cv-01250) (putative class period of May 28, 2020 to August 30, 2023) (“Washtenaw County”); Robert J. Edmonds v. Dollar General Corporation, et al. (Case No. 3:23-cv-01259) (putative class period of February 23, 2023 to August 31, 2023) (“Edmonds”) (collectively, the “Shareholder Securities Litigation”). The plaintiffs seek compensatory damages, equitable/injunctive relief, pre- and post-judgment interest and attorneys’ fees and costs. The Edmonds matter was voluntarily dismissed on January 19, 2024. On April 4, 2024, the court appointed lead plaintiffs and lead counsel in the Shareholder Securities Litigation. On June 17, 2024, lead plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended complaint, adding a claim that lead plaintiffs and certain members of the putative class purchased shares of the Company’s common stock contemporaneously with common stock sales by certain individual defendants. Defendants’ deadline to respond to the consolidated amended complaint is September 16, 2024. At this time, it is not possible to estimate the value of the claims asserted in the Shareholder Securities Litigation or the potential range of loss in this matter, and no assurances can be given that the Company will be successful in its defense on the merits or otherwise. However, if the Company is not successful in its defense efforts, the resolution of the Shareholder Securities Litigation could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as a whole. On January 26 and 29, 2024, and February 1, 2024, respectively, the following shareholder derivative actions were filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee in which the plaintiff shareholders, purportedly on behalf and for the benefit of the Company, allege that certain of the Company’s current and former officers and directors (i) violated their fiduciary duties by misrepresenting the impact of alleged store labor, inventory pricing, and other practices on the Company’s financial results, prospects, and reputation, as well as creating a risk of adverse regulatory action; (ii) wasted corporate assets; and (iii) were unjustly enriched: Nathan Silva v. Todd J. Vasos, et. al. (Case No. 3:24-cv-00083) (“Silva”); Terry Dunn v. Todd J. Vasos, et. al. (Case No. 3:24-cv-00093) (“Dunn”); Kathryn A. Caliguiri Inh Ira Bene Of Catherine Sugarbaker v. Todd J. Vasos, et. al. (Case No. 3:24-cv-00117) (“Caliguiri”) (collectively, the “Federal Court Shareholder Derivative Litigation”). The Silva complaint also alleges certain of the Company’s current and former officers and directors violated federal securities laws and aided and abetted breach of fiduciary duty and that Mr. Vasos violated his fiduciary duties by misusing material, non-public information. The Dunn and Caliguiri complaints additionally allege that certain of the Company’s officers and directors violated their fiduciary duties by recklessly or negligently disregarding workplace safety practices, and that Mr. Vasos, John Garratt and Patricia Fili-Krushel violated their fiduciary duties by misusing material, non-public information. The plaintiffs in the Federal Court Shareholder Derivative Litigation seek both non-monetary and monetary relief for the benefit of the Company. On April 2, 2024, the court consolidated the Silva, Dunn, and Caliguiri actions. On May 2, 2024, the Silva action was dismissed. On May 22, 2024, the court entered an order staying the Dunn and Caliguiri actions pending resolution of the defendants’ anticipated motion to dismiss in the Shareholder Securities Litigation. On March 26, 2024 and March 28, 2024, respectively, the following shareholder derivative actions were filed in the Chancery Court for Davidson County, Tennessee: Todd Hellrigel v. Todd J. Vasos et al. (Case No. 24-0392-I) (“Hellrigel"); Steve Southwell v. Todd Vasos, et al. (Case No. 24-0379-I) (“Southwell”) (collectively, the “State Court Shareholder Derivative Litigation”). The claims in the State Court Shareholder Derivative Litigation include allegations that certain of the Company’s current and former officers and directors (i) violated their fiduciary duties by misrepresenting the impact of alleged store labor, inventory pricing and other practices on the Company’s financial results, prospects, and reputation, as well as creating a risk of adverse regulatory action; (ii) were unjustly enriched; and (iii) that Mr. Vasos, Mr. Garratt, Warren Bryant, and Ms. Fili-Krushel violated their fiduciary duties by misusing material, non-public information. The relief sought is substantially the same as the relief sought in the Federal Court Derivative Shareholder Litigation. On May 20, 2024, the court entered an agreed order consolidating the Hellrigel and Southwell actions, appointing lead counsel, and staying the State Court Shareholder Derivative Litigation pending resolution of defendants’ anticipated motion to dismiss the Shareholder Securities Litigation. Based on information currently available, the Company believes that its pending legal matters, both individually and in the aggregate, will be resolved without a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as a whole. However, litigation and other legal matters involve an element of uncertainty. Adverse decisions and settlements, including any required changes to the Company’s business, or other developments in such matters could affect the consolidated operating results in future periods or result in liability or other amounts material to the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements.
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