18. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Lease commitments

We lease retail business locations, office and warehouse facilities, and equipment under various non-cancelable operating leases expiring in various years through 2029. Rent expense for operating leases for fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $254.5 million, $261.5 million and $268.9 million, respectively, and includes contingent rentals of $2.1 million, $2.0 million and $2.6 million, respectively. Sublease rentals of $1.2 million, $1.3 million, and $1.2 million were received in fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Minimum future rental payments under non‑cancelable operating leases as of February 3, 2018 for each of the next five years and in the aggregate are as follows (in thousands):


	Operating
Fiscal Year	Leases
2018	$	249,614
2019		219,003
2020		187,632
2021		154,676
2022		114,418
Thereafter		185,643
Total	$	1,110,986

The total minimum lease commitments above do not include minimum sublease rent income of $1.6 million receivable in the future under non‑cancelable sublease agreements.

Leases on retail locations specify minimum rentals plus common area maintenance charges and possible additional rentals based upon percentages of sales. Most of the retail location leases provide for renewal options at rates specified in the leases. In the normal course of business, these leases are generally renewed or replaced by other leases.

Legal matters

On March 29, 2016, a putative class action lawsuit was filed against the Company and its Chief Executive Officer, Douglas S. Ewert, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas (Case No. 4:16-cv-00838). The complaint attempts to allege claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of a putative class of persons who purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's securities between June 18, 2014 and December 9, 2015 (the "Class Period"). On May 26, 2017, Lead Plaintiff Strathclyde Pension Fund filed an Amended Complaint alleging that during the Class Period Defendants omitted facts about the Company's Jos. A. Bank's business, financial status, and operations, the omission of which rendered Defendants' statements about the Jos. A. Bank business false or misleading. The amended complaint also named Jon W. Kimmins, the Company's former Chief Financial Officer, and Mary Beth Blake, the Company's current Brand President, Jos. A. Bank, as additional named defendants. On July 28, 2017, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint, which is fully briefed. We believe that the claims are without merit and are defending the lawsuit vigorously. The range of loss, if any, is not reasonably estimable at this time. We do not currently believe, however, that it will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

On February 17, 2016, Anthony Oliver filed a putative class action lawsuit against our Men's Wearhouse subsidiary in the United States District Court for the Central District of California (Case No. 2:16-cv-01100). The complaint attempts to allege claims under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. In particular the complaint alleges that the Company sent unsolicited text messages to cellular telephones beginning October 1, 2013 to the present day. After we demonstrated that the Company had the plaintiff's permission to send him texts, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint alleging the Company sent text messages exceeding the number plaintiff had agreed to receive each week. The parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment on what constitutes a “week” and the Court recently issued an order granting the plaintiff’s motion and denying our motion on what period constitutes a “week.” We continue to believe that the claims are without merit and intend to defend the lawsuit vigorously. The range of loss, if any, is not reasonably estimable at this time. We do not currently believe, however, that it will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

On August 2, 2017, two American Airlines employees filed a putative class action lawsuit against our Twin Hill subsidiary in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Case No. 1:17-cv-05648). The complaint attempts to allege claims for strict liability and negligence based on allegedly defective uniforms Twin Hill supplied to American Airlines for its employees. On September 28, 2017, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding nine additional named plaintiffs and adding claims for civil battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. On November 17, 2017, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the plaintiffs’ claims. We believe that any lawsuit filed on the basis of the safety of the Twin Hill uniforms supplied to American Airlines is without merit, and we intend to contest this action vigorously. Twin Hill has substantial and convincing evidence of the uniforms' safety and fitness for their intended purpose and we believe that there is no evidence linking any of the plaintiffs' alleged injuries to our uniforms. The range of loss, if any, is not reasonably estimable at this time. We do not currently believe, however, that it will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

On September 27, 2017, Heather Poole and numerous other American Airlines employees filed a lawsuit against our Twin Hill subsidiary in the Superior Court for the State of California for the County of Alameda (Case No. RG17876798). The complaint attempts to allege claims for strict liability and negligence based on allegedly defective uniforms Twin Hill supplied to American Airlines for its employees. On December 11, 2017, the Company filed a demurrer to Plaintiff’s complaint. On or about February 20, 2018, the Court granted our demurrer and dismissed the plaintiffs’ Complaint ruling that the plaintiffs did not allege enough facts to state a claim against Twin Hill. The plaintiffs have until April 6, 2018 to file an amended Complaint. To date, we have not received an amended Complaint. We believe that any lawsuit filed on the basis of the safety of the Twin Hill uniforms supplied to American Airlines is without merit, and we intend to contest this action vigorously. Twin Hill has substantial and convincing evidence of the uniforms' safety and fitness for their intended purpose and we believe that there is no evidence linking any of the plaintiffs' alleged injuries to our uniforms. The range of loss, if any, is not reasonably estimable at this time. We do not currently believe, however, that it will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

On October 30, 2017, Melodie Agnello, Denise Mumma, and numerous other American Airlines employees filed a lawsuit against our Twin Hill subsidiary in the Superior Court for the State of California for the County of Alameda (Case No. RG17880635). The complaint attempts to allege claims for strict liability and negligence based on allegedly defective uniforms Twin Hill supplied to American Airlines for its employees. On December 11, 2017, the Company filed a demurrer to plaintiff’s complaint. On or about February 20, 2018, the Court granted our demurrer and dismissed the plaintiffs’ Complaint ruling that the plaintiffs did not allege enough facts to state a claim against Twin Hill. The plaintiffs have until April 6, 2018 to file an amended Complaint. To date, we have not received an amended Complaint. We believe that any lawsuit filed on the basis of the safety of the Twin Hill uniforms supplied to American Airlines is without merit, and we intend to contest this action vigorously. Twin Hill has substantial and convincing evidence of the uniforms' safety and fitness for their intended purpose and we believe that there is no evidence linking any of the plaintiffs' alleged injuries to our uniforms. The range of loss, if any, is not reasonably estimable at this time. We do not currently believe, however, that it will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In addition, we are involved in various routine legal proceedings, including ongoing litigation, incidental to the conduct of our business. Management does not believe that any of these matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.