NOTE 13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Lease Commitments

Rental expense for fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $25.2 million, $24.7 million and $21.5 million. The table below indicates the minimum annual rental commitments (excluding renewable periods) aggregating $73.8 million, for manufacturing facilities, warehouse distribution centers, service centers and sales offices, under non-cancelable operating leases.

	Amount
2016	$	28.2
2017	$	18.4
2018	$	12.1
2019	$	6.3
2020	$	3.2
2021 and beyond	$	5.6

Self Insurance

We are involved with various possible claims, including product and general liability, workers' compensation, auto liability and employment related matters. Such claims in the United States have deductibles and self-insured retentions ranging from $25 thousand to $1.0 million per occurrence or per claim, depending upon the type of coverage and policy period. International deductibles and self-insured retentions are lower. We are also generally self-insured up to certain stop-loss limits for certain employee health benefits, including medical, drug and dental. Our policy is to estimate reserves based upon a number of factors including known claims, estimated incurred but not reported claims and outside actuarial analysis, which are based on historical information along with certain assumptions about future events. Such estimated reserves are classified as Other Current Liabilities and Other Long-Term Liabilities within the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Legal Proceedings

Universal Hospital Services, Inc. Litigation

On January 13, 2015, Universal Hospital Services, Inc. filed a complaint against us in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. The plaintiff alleges, among other things, that we engaged in certain customer contracting practices in violation of state and federal antitrust laws. The plaintiff also has asserted claims for tortious interference with business relationships. The plaintiff seeks injunctive relief and money damages in an unspecified amount. We believe that the allegations are without merit and intend to defend this matter vigorously.

Stryker Litigation

On April 4, 2011, we filed two separate actions against Stryker Corporation alleging infringement of certain Hill-Rom patents covering proprietary communications networks, status information systems and powered wheels used in our beds or stretchers. Both suits sought monetary damages and injunctions against Stryker for selling or distributing any beds, stretchers or ancillary products that infringe on Hill-Rom's patents. On August 14, 2012, we entered into a confidential favorable settlement agreement with Stryker Corporation to resolve our claims about our powered wheel patents, and on March 26, 2015, we entered into a confidential favorable settlement agreement with Stryker Corporation to resolve our claims about our status information systems. No trial date for the remaining claims covering proprietary communications networks has been set, and accordingly we cannot, at this time, assess the likelihood of any potential outcome or damages or other relief.

General

We are subject to various other claims and contingencies arising out of the normal course of business, including those relating to governmental investigations and proceedings, commercial transactions, product liability, employee related matters, antitrust, safety, health, taxes, environmental and other matters. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties and the outcome of individual litigated matters is not predictable with assurance. It is possible that some litigation matters for which reserves have not been established could be decided unfavorably to us, and that any such unfavorable decisions could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.