LEGAL MATTERS	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023
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, against the Company and its Colorado subsidiaries, in connection with the Company’s now completed expansion of the Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk. The complaint alleges, among other things, that the defendants breached the construction contract with PCL and certain implied warranties. On December 5, 2019, the Company filed its 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. On September 1, 2022, the judge previously assigned to the Denver Action recused herself, resulting in a continuance of the trial then set for September 6, 2022, and reassignment to another courtroom. Following reassignment, the court set a new trial date of September 5, 2023. Limited discovery and disputes regarding the scope of discovery remaining are 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, against the Company and its Colorado subsidiaries, in connection with the Company’s now completed expansion of the Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk. The complaint essentially mirrors the claims and allegations made by PCL in the lawsuit it previously filed in the City and County of Denver, Colorado, Case No. 2019CV33368, as described above. The lawsuit filed on March 26, 2021 includes an additional claim, however, for foreclosure of PCL’s purported mechanics’ lien against the property on which the Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk is situated (the “Property”). PCL also joined additional parties who may claim a purported lien against the Property, as defendants. 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. Monarch filed its answer and counterclaims to PCL’s second amended complaint on July 15, 2021, but a trial of the matter has not been set. Monarch has also filed answers to all cross claims due to date, denying the claimants’ rights to relief. Monarch anticipates filing further answers to additional cross claims, also denying the claimants’ rights to relief. The case remains stayed pending the outcome of Case No. 2019CV33368. We are currently unable to determine the probability of the outcome or reasonably estimate the loss or gain, if any. On February 9, 2023, Monarch Growth, Inc., Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. and Monarch Black Hawk, Inc. filed a complaint in District Court, City and County of Denver, Colorado, against PCL, in connection with the Company’s now completed expansion of the Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk. The complaint alleges, among other things, that PCL breached the construction contract, duties of good faith and fair dealing, and implied and express warranties, and includes claims for monetary damages as well as equitable and declaratory relief. The lawsuit was served on PCL, but PCL has not yet filed an answer or other response to Monarch’s complaint. On April 18, 2023, at the parties’ joint request, the Court ordered the matter stayed for ninety days from date of the stay order until July 17, 2023. We are currently unable to determine the probability of the outcome or reasonably estimate the loss or gain, if any. The Company recognized $0.5 million and $1.3 million in construction litigation expense relating to these lawsuits for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which is 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.

LEGAL MATTERS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

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, against the Company and its Colorado subsidiaries, in connection with the Company’s now completed expansion of the Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk. The complaint alleges, among other things, that the defendants breached the construction contract with PCL and certain implied warranties. On December 5, 2019, the Company filed its 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.

On September 1, 2022, the judge previously assigned to the Denver Action recused herself, resulting in a continuance of the trial then set for September 6, 2022, and reassignment to another courtroom. Following reassignment, the court set a new trial date of September 5, 2023. Limited discovery and disputes regarding the scope of discovery remaining are 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, against the Company and its Colorado subsidiaries, in connection with the Company’s now completed expansion of the Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk. The complaint essentially mirrors the claims and allegations made by PCL in the lawsuit it previously filed in the City and County of Denver, Colorado, Case No. 2019CV33368, as described above. The lawsuit filed on March 26, 2021 includes an additional claim, however, for foreclosure of PCL’s purported mechanics’ lien against the property on which the Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk is situated (the “Property”). PCL also joined additional parties who may claim a purported lien against the Property, as defendants. 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.

Monarch filed its answer and counterclaims to PCL’s second amended complaint on July 15, 2021, but a trial of the matter has not been set. Monarch has also filed answers to all cross claims due to date, denying the claimants’ rights to relief. Monarch anticipates filing further answers to additional cross claims, also denying the claimants’ rights to relief. The case remains stayed pending the outcome of Case No. 2019CV33368. We are currently unable to determine the probability of the outcome or reasonably estimate the loss or gain, if any.

On February 9, 2023, Monarch Growth, Inc., Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. and Monarch Black Hawk, Inc. filed a complaint in District Court, City and County of Denver, Colorado, against PCL, in connection with the Company’s now completed expansion of the Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk. The complaint alleges, among other things, that PCL breached the construction contract, duties of good faith and fair dealing, and implied and express warranties, and includes claims for monetary damages as well as equitable and declaratory relief. The lawsuit was served on PCL, but PCL has not yet filed an answer or other response to Monarch’s complaint. On April 18, 2023, at the parties’ joint request, the Court ordered the matter stayed for ninety days from date of the stay order until July 17, 2023. We are currently unable to determine the probability of the outcome or reasonably estimate the loss or gain, if any.

The Company recognized $0.5 million and $1.3 million in construction litigation expense relating to these lawsuits for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which is 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.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for loss and gain contingencies. Describes any existing condition, situation, or set of circumstances involving uncertainty as of the balance sheet date (or prior to issuance of the financial statements) as to a probable or reasonably possible loss incurred by an entity that will ultimately be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur, and typically discloses the amount of loss recorded or a range of possible loss, or an assertion that no reasonable estimate can be made.

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