NEW YORK (Reuters) - CKE Restaurants Inc., which runs the Carl's Jr. and Hardee's fast-food chains, posted a quarterly net loss Monday due to one-time charges for lawsuits and debt retirement.

CKE (CKR: down $1.55 to $10.83, Research, Estimates) shares tumbled almost 12 percent in morning trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

CKE, which operates some 3,200 restaurants, said beef costs increased in the quarter and it raised reserves for compensation and liability claims, hurting profit margins at its Carl's Jr. unit.

The Carpinteria, California-based company reported a net loss of $11.4 million, or 20 cents per share, for the fiscal second quarter ended Aug. 9, compared with a year-earlier profit of $6.3 million, or 11 cents per share.

Excluding charges of $7 million to settle three related wage-and-hour class-action lawsuits and $12.5 million related to retirement of debt and other matters, CKE said it had a profit of $10.8 million, or 17 cents per share, in the latest quarter.

On that basis, latest-quarter earnings missed analysts' average estimates of 20 cents a share, according to Reuters Estimates.

CKE said sales at company-operated restaurants open at least a year, an important measure of retail strength, rose 8.1 percent at Carl's Jr. for the quarter, helped by new products such as the Loaded Breakfast Burrito.

Hardee's same-store sales climbed 6.2 percent, benefiting from the introduction of the Western Bacon Thickburger in the latter part of the quarter.

CKE owns or franchises 1,016 Carl's Jr., 2,067 Hardee's, and 105 La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill restaurants.