Chapter 5, Problem 1QAP

Wooten Co. is being sued for illness caused to local residents as a result of negligence on the company's part in permitting the local residents to be exposed to highly toxic chemicals from its plant. Wooten's lawyer states that it is probable that Wooten will lose the suit and be found liable for a judgment costing Wooten anywhere from $1,800,000 to $9,000,000. However, the lawyer states that the most probable cost is $5,400,000. As a result of the above facts, Wooten should accrue A) a loss contingency of $1,800,000 and disclose an additional contingency of up to $7,200,000. B) a loss contingency of $5,400,000 and disclose an additional contingency of up to $3,600,000. C) a loss contingency of $5,400,000 but not disclose any additional contingency. D) no loss contingency but disclose a contingency of $1,800,000 to $9,000,000.

Bu Co. is being sued for illness caused to local residents as a result of negligence on the company's part in permitting the local residents to be exposed to highly toxic chemicals from its plant. Bu's lawyer states that it is probable that Bu will lose the suit and be found liable for a judgment costing Bu anywhere from P1,600,000 to P8,000,000. However, the lawyer states that the most probable cost is P 4,800,000. As a result of the above facts, Bu should accrue: *a. a loss contingency of P 4,800,000 and disclose an additional contingency of up to P 3,200,000b. a loss contingency of P 1,600,000 and disclose an additional contingency of up to P 6,400,000c. a loss contingency of P 4,800,000 but not disclose any additional contingencyd. no loss contingency but disclose a contingency of P 1,600,000 to P 8,000,000

“Give me the ‘McFacts,’ ma’am, nothing but the McFacts!” So argued the defense attorney for McDonald’s Corporation as she questioned Stella Liebeck, an 81-year-old retired sales clerk, two years after her initial lawsuit against McDonald’s claiming that it served dangerously hot coffee.Liebeck had bought a 49-cent cup of coffee at the drive-in window of an Albuquerque McDonald’s, and while removing the lid to add cream and sugar, she spilled the coffee and suffered third-degree burns of the groin, inner thighs, and buttocks. Her suit claimed that the coffee was “defective.”During the trial, it was determined that testing of coffee at other local restaurants found that none came closer than 20° to the temperature at which McDonald’s coffee is poured (about 180°F). The jury decided in favor of Liebeck and awarded her compensatory damages of $200,000, which they reduced to $160,000 after determining that 20 percent of the fault belonged with Liebeck for spilling the coffee. The jury then…

WBM Motorworks is a manufacturer of high-end touring and off-road motorcycles. On November 30, the company was sued by a customer who was injured when the front shock absorber on the WBM Series 3 motorcycle cracked during use. The company conducted a preliminary investigation into the matter during December and found evidence of amanufacturing defect in the shock absorber. While it is uncertain whether the manufacturing defect is the source of the product failure, the company has voluntarily recalled the front shock absorbers on the Series 3 motorcycles. The company is uncertain how the lawsuit will be resolved. Similar lawsuits against other manufacturers have been settledfor approximately $2,000,000.Write a brief memo to the president of WBM Motorworks, U. D. Mach III,discussing how the lawsuit might be reported in the financial statements.

A saw a TV advertisement of a body cologne showing women getting attracted to and running after the man who used the said product. Believing what he saw on TV, A bought the cologne, wear it and walked along Session Road. He was disappointed when women gave no attention to him. A. A can complain for damages on ground of fraud because the advertisement is not true. B. A can complain for damages because the advertisement is an exaggeration. C. A cannot complain because the advertisement is in the nature of a "trader's talk" or "dealer's talk”. D. A cannot complain because there is no contract between him and the cologne's manufacturer.

An accounting intern for a local CPA firm was reviewing the financial statements of a client in the electronics industry. The intern noticed that the client used the FIFO method of determining ending inventory and cost of goods sold. When she asked a colleague why the firm used FIFO instead of LIFO, she was told that the client used FIFO to minimize its income tax liability. This response puzzled the intern because she thought that LIFO would minimize income tax liability. Required: What would you tell the intern to resolve the confusion?

Several months ago, Ayers Industries Inc. experienced a hazardous materials spill at one of its plants. As a result, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fined the company $240,000. The company is contesting the fine. In addition, an employee is seeking $220,000in damages related to the spill. Finally, a homeowner has sued the company for $310,000. The homeowner lives 35 miles from the plant but believes that the incident has reduced the home’s resale value by $310,000. Ayers’ legal counsel believes that it is probable that the EPA fine will stand. In addition, counsel indicates that an out-of-court settlement of $125,000 has recently been reached with the employee. The final papers will be signed next week. Counsel believes that the homeowner’s case is much weaker and will be decided in favor of Ayers. Otherlitigation related to the spill is possible, but the damage amounts are uncertain. a. Journalize the contingent liabilities associated with the hazardous materials spill. Use…