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LEGAL MATTERS
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022
LEGAL MATTERS  
LEGAL MATTERS

NOTE 9. LEGAL MATTERS

On August 30, 2019, PCL Construction Services, Inc. (“PCL”) filed a complaint in District Court, City and County of Denver, Colorado (the “Denver Action”), against the Company and its Colorado subsidiaries, in connection with certain disputes regarding construction of the Company’s expansion of Monarch Black Hawk. The complaint alleges, among other things, the defendants breached the construction contract with PCL and certain implied warranties. On December 5, 2019, the Company and its Colorado subsidiaries filed an answer and counterclaim, which alleges, among other items, that PCL breached the construction contract, duties of good faith and fair dealing, and implied and express warranties, made fraudulent or negligent misrepresentations on which the Company and its Colorado subsidiaries relied, and included claims for monetary damages as well as equitable and declaratory relief.

The trial date for this matter has again been rescheduled and is now set for September 6, 2022, based on PCL’s failure to produce relevant documents. Discovery in the action is thus ongoing, and we are currently unable to determine the probability of the outcome or reasonably estimate the loss or gain, if any.

In connection with the expansion of the Monarch Black Hawk, as described above, PCL and certain subcontractors have provided purported notice of liens filed against the real property on which the Monarch Black Hawk is situated (the “Monarch Black Hawk Property”), for sums allegedly owed for construction of the expansion.  Some of the subcontractors have recorded such liens in the property records of Gilpin County, Colorado. 

On March 26, 2021, PCL filed a mechanics’ lien foreclosure action in District Court, County of Gilpin, Colorado (the “Gilpin Action”), against the Company and its Colorado subsidiaries, in connection with the Company’s expansion plans for the Monarch Black Hawk Property. The complaint essentially mirrors the claims and allegations made by PCL in the Denver Action, as described above.  The new lawsuit includes an additional claim, however, for foreclosure of PCL’s purported mechanics’ lien against the Monarch Black Hawk Property. PCL also joined additional subcontractors as defendants who have claimed a purported lien against the Monarch Black Hawk Property.  Effective May 10, 2021, PCL filed its second amended complaint, joining more such parties as defendants. Many of the Company’s co-defendants have filed cross claims against Monarch for foreclosure of mechanics’ liens and related claims, including unjust enrichment, and have also filed counterclaims against PCL.  The Company and its Colorado subsidiaries filed an answer and counterclaims in the Gilpin Action on July 15, 2021.  Monarch has also filed answers to all cross claims, denying the claimants’ rights to relief.  The Company and its Colorado subsidiaries intend to defend against PCL’s claims and the cross claims filed by certain subcontractors, and will vigorously prosecute its counterclaims for damages. The case remains stayed pending the outcome of the Denver Action.

 

The Company recognized $1.3 million and $0.6 million in construction litigation expense relating to these lawsuits for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, which are included in Other operating items, net on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

From time to time, we may be subject to other legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business. Management believes that the amount of any reasonably possible or probable loss for such other known matters would not have a material adverse impact on our financial conditions, cash flows or results of operations; however, the outcome of these actions is inherently difficult to predict.