Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

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Commitments and Contingencies
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 29, 2012
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is from time-to-time subject to various claims, other possible legal actions for product liability and other damages, and other matters arising out of the normal conduct of the Company's business.  The Metals Segment recorded claim expense of $330,000, $100,000 and $500,000 for 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, for specific customers' product claims.
In November 2012, after almost twelve months of collection efforts, the Specialty Chemicals Segment filed suit against a former customer for past due invoices totaling $134,000. That former customer, in turn, filed a variety of counterclaims against the Specialty Chemicals Segment and alleged $3,000,000 in damages. The Company believes the counterclaims are baseless and without merit. The case is currently pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
Other than the environmental contingencies discussed in Note 5 and the matters discussed in this Note 11, management is not currently aware of any other asserted or unasserted matters which could have a significant effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company.