Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

15. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

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15. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
15. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

15.             COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

In the normal course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries are involved in, and will continue to be involved in, various claims, arbitrations, contractual disputes, investigations, and regulatory and litigation matters relating to, and arising out of, our businesses and our operations. These matters may involve, but are not limited to, allegations that our services or vehicles caused damage or injury, claims that our services did not achieve the desired results, claims related to acquisitions and allegations by federal, state or local authorities of violations of regulations or statutes. In addition, we are parties to employment-related cases and claims from time to time, which may include claims on a representative or class action basis alleging wage and hour law violations. We are also involved from time to time in certain environmental matters primarily arising in the normal course of business. We evaluate pending and threatened claims and establish loss contingency reserves based upon outcomes we currently believe to be probable and reasonably estimable. We do not believe that the ultimate resolution of the claims we are currently involved in will have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flow and prospects; however, it is possible that an unfavorable outcome of some or all of the matters, however unlikely, could result in a charge that might be material to the results of an individual quarter or year.

As previously disclosed, the SEC is conducting an investigation, which the Company believes is primarily focused on how it established accruals and reserves at period-ends and the impact of those accruals and reserves on reported earnings. The investigation relates to period-ends for periods beginning January 1, 2015. The Company is fully cooperating with the SEC’s investigation. The Company cannot predict the outcome of this investigation. The Company’s Audit Committee retained independent counsel to conduct an internal investigation into matters related to the SEC investigation and, in particular, the Company’s processes for establishing reserves for each quarter in the relevant periods. The internal investigation was concluded in October 2020. The Company, after consultation with the Audit Committee and the independent counsel, believes that its financial statements filed with the SEC on Forms 10-K and 10-Q for the relevant periods fairly present in all material respects its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows as of their respective balance sheet dates and for the periods then ended.

Management does not believe that any pending claim, proceeding or litigation, either alone or in the aggregate will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity; however, it is possible that an unfavorable outcome of some or all of the matters, however unlikely, could result in a charge that might be material to the results of an individual quarter or year.