COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE 18 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Franchise Agreements

The Partnership entered into a Franchise License Agreement (the “License Agreement”) with the HLT Existing Franchise Holding LLC (“Hilton”) on November 24, 2004. The term of the License agreement was for an initial period of 15 years commencing on the date the Hotel began operating as a Hilton hotel, with an option to extend the License Agreement for another five years, subject to certain conditions. On June 26, 2015, Operating and Hilton entered into an amended franchise agreement which amongst other things extended the License Agreement through 2030, and also provided the Partnership certain key money cash incentives to be earned through 2030.

Since the opening of the Hotel in January 2006, the Partnership has incurred monthly royalties, program fees and information technology recapture charges equal to a percent of the Hotel’s gross room revenue. Fees for such services during fiscal year 2018 and 2017 totaled approximately $3.8 million and $3.3 million, respectively.

Hotel Employees

Effective February 3, 2017, the Partnership had no employees. On February 3, 2017, Interstate assumed all labor union agreements and retained employees of their choice to continue providing services to the Hotel.  As of June 30, 2018, approximately 85% of those employees were represented by one of four labor unions, and their terms of employment were determined under a collective bargaining agreement (“CBA”) to which the Partnership was a party. During the year ended June 30, 2018, the Partnership renewed the CBA for Local 856 (International Brotherhood of Teamsters). The present CBAs for Local 2 (Hotel and Restaurant Employees), Local 39 (Stationary Engineers), and Local 665 (Parking Employees) will expire on August 13, 2018, July 31, 2018, and November 30, 2018, respectively.

Negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, which includes not just terms and conditions of employment, but scope and coverage of employees, is a regular and expected course of business operations for the Partnership. The Partnership expects and anticipates that the terms of conditions of CBAs will have an impact on wage and benefit costs, operating expenses, and certain hotel operations during the life of each CBA, and incorporates these principles into its operating and budgetary practices.

Legal Matters

In 2014, Evon Corporation ("Evon") filed a complaint in San Francisco Superior Court against the Partnership, Portsmouth, and a limited partner and related party asserting contract and tort claims based on Justice’s withholding of $4.7 million to pay the transfer tax described in Item 3 - Legal Proceedings. Evon’s complaint asserted various tort and contract claims against Justice and Portsmouth; and also a tort against a Justice limited partner and related party. In July 2014, Justice paid to Holdings $4.7 million, the amount Evon claimed to be incorrectly withheld.  In June 2014, the Partnership sued Evon and related defendants, seeking a judicial declaration as to certain issues arising out of the partnership redemption documents. Evon filed a cross-complaint in December 2014, alleging torts against the Partnership in connection with the redemption transaction.  On May 5, 2016, Justice Investors and Portsmouth (parent company) settled these actions via a global settlement agreement. The Partnership agreed to pay Evon $5,575,000. As of January 10, 2017, the Company has satisfied all conditions of the settlement agreement. 

In March 2017, Justice entered into a settlement agreement with RSUI Indemnity Company (“RSUI”), the insurer for Portsmouth’s Directors and Officers Liability Policies. Under this settlement agreement, Justice received $900,000 from RSUI to resolve allegations that RSUI had committed breach of contract and bad faith in handling a claim. The $900,000 was recorded as a reduction of legal expense for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017.  

In April 2014, the Partnership commenced an arbitration action against Glaser Weil Fink Howard Avchen & Shapiro, LLP (formerly known as Glaser Weil Fink Jacobs Howard Avchen & Shapiro, LLP), Brett J. Cohen, Gary N. Jacobs, Janet S. McCloud, Paul B. Salvaty, and Joseph K. Fletcher III (collectively, the “Respondents”) in connection with the redemption transaction. The arbitration alleged legal malpractice against the Respondents and also sought declaratory relief regarding provisions of the option agreement in the redemption transaction and regarding the engagement letter with Respondents. Prior to arbitration proceedings, the parties agreed in principle to settle the matter, and entered into a settlement agreement and mutual general release in April 2018. The Respondents agreed to pay $8,300,000, which was received in May of 2018. $5,575,000 was recorded as a recovery of legal settlement cost and $2,725,000 was recorded as a reduction of legal expense for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018.  

The Company is subject to legal proceedings, claims, and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company defends itself vigorously against any such claims. Management does not believe that the impact of such matters will have a material effect on the financial conditions or result of operations when resolved.