(9) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal Proceedings

In the ordinary course of conducting business, the Company is involved in various legal proceedings, specifically claims litigation. The company’s insurance subsidiaries participate in most of these proceedings by either defending third-party claims brought against insureds or litigating first-party coverage claims. The company accounts for such activity through the establishment of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves. We believe that the ultimate liability, if any, with respect to such ordinary-course claims litigation, after consideration of provisions made for potential losses and costs of defense, is immaterial to our consolidated financial statements. The Company is also occasionally involved in other legal and regulatory proceedings, some of which may assert claims for substantial amounts. These other legal proceedings may occasionally make us party to individual actions in which extra-contractual damages, punitive damages or penalties are sought, such as claims alleging bad faith in the handling of insurance claims.

On a quarterly basis, the Company reviews these outstanding matters, if any. Consistent with GAAP, the Company establishes accruals when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the Company can reasonably estimate its potential exposure. We record for such probable and estimable losses, if any, through the establishment of legal expense reserves. Based on our quarterly review, the Company believes that our accruals for probable and estimable losses are reasonable and that the amounts accrued do not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Assessment Related Activity

We operate in a regulatory environment where certain entities and organizations have the authority to require us to participate in assessments. Currently these entities and organizations include, but are not limited to, Florida Insurance Guaranty Association (“FIGA”), Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (“Citizens”), FHCF and Florida Joint Underwriters Insurance Association (“JUA”). As a direct premium writer in the state of Florida, we are required to participate in certain insurer solvency associations under Florida Statutes Section 631.57(3) (a), administered by FIGA. Future assessments are likely, although the impact of these assessments on our balance sheet, results of operations or cash flow are undeterminable at this time.

FNIC is also required to participate in an insurance apportionment plan under Florida Statutes Section 627.351, which is referred to as a JUA Plan. The JUA Plan provides for the equitable apportionment of any profits realized, or losses and expenses incurred, among participating automobile insurers. In the event of an underwriting deficit incurred by the JUA Plan which is not recovered through the policyholders in the JUA Plan, such deficit shall be recovered from the companies participating in the JUA Plan in the proportion that the net direct written premiums of each such member during the preceding calendar year bear to the aggregate net direct premiums written in this state by all members of the JUA Plan. FNIC was not assessed by the JUA Plan. Future assessments by this association are undeterminable at this time.

Leases

The Company is committed under various operating lease agreements for office space. Rental expense for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $0.7 million, $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, the future minimum lease payments under these agreements are as follows:

Year Ended December 31,	Aggregate Minimum Lease Payments
	(in thousands)
2016	$	918
2017		934
2018		953
2019		981
2020		1,019
Thereafter		2,104
Total	$	6,909