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Other Commitments And Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Other Commitments And Contingencies
Other Commitments and Contingencies

As of September 30, 2017, the Company had an aggregate of approximately $202.4 million of commitments to fund development projects including 34 entertainment development projects for which it had commitments to fund approximately $97.0 million, nine education development projects for which it had commitments to fund approximately $40.9 million, and six recreation development projects for which it had commitments to fund approximately $64.5 million. Development costs are advanced by the Company in periodic draws. If the Company determines that construction is not being completed in accordance with the terms of the development agreement, it can discontinue funding construction draws. The Company has agreed to lease the properties to the operators at pre-determined rates upon completion of construction.

Additionally as of September 30, 2017, the Company had a commitment to fund approximately $155.0 million over the next three years, of which $22.3 million had been funded, to complete an indoor waterpark hotel and adventure park at the Adelaar casino and resort project in Sullivan County, New York. The Company is also responsible for the construction of the casino and resort project common infrastructure. In June 2016, the Sullivan County Infrastructure Local Development Corporation issued $110.0 million of Series 2016 Revenue Bonds which is expected to fund a substantial portion of such construction costs. The Company received an initial reimbursement of $43.4 million of construction costs during the year ended December 31, 2016 and an additional reimbursement of $23.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The Company expects to receive an additional $21.0 million of reimbursements over the balance of the construction period. Construction of infrastructure improvements is currently expected to be completed in 2018.

The Company has certain commitments related to its mortgage note investments that it may be required to fund in the future. The Company is generally obligated to fund these commitments at the request of the borrower or upon the occurrence of events outside of its direct control. As of September 30, 2017, the Company had eight mortgage notes receivable with commitments totaling approximately $25.7 million. If commitments are funded in the future, interest will be charged at rates consistent with the existing investments.

The Company has provided guarantees of the payment of certain economic development revenue bonds totaling $24.9 million related to two theatres in Louisiana for which the Company earns a fee at annual rates of 2.88% to 4.00% over the 30-year terms of the related bonds. The Company recorded $10.4 million as a deferred asset included in other assets and $10.4 million included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2017 related to these guarantees. No amounts have been accrued as a loss contingency related to these guarantees because payment by the Company is not probable.

In connection with construction of its development projects and related infrastructure, certain public agencies require posting of surety bonds to guarantee that the Company's obligations are satisfied. These bonds expire upon the completion of the improvements or infrastructure. As of September 30, 2017, the Company had six surety bonds outstanding totaling $24.3 million.

Prior proposed casino and resort developers Concord Associates, L.P., Concord Resort, LLC and Concord Kiamesha LLC, which are affiliates of Louis Cappelli and from whom the Company acquired the Adelaar resort property (the Cappelli Group), commenced litigation against the Company beginning in 2011 regarding matters relating to the acquisition of that property and the Company's relationship with the Empire Resorts, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries. This litigation involves three separate cases filed in state and federal court. Two of the cases, a state and the federal case, are closed and resulted in no liability by the Company.

The remaining case was filed on October 20, 2011 by the Cappelli Group against the Company and two of its affiliates in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Westchester (the Westchester Action), asserting a claim for breach of contract and the implied covenant of good faith, and seeking damages of at least $800 million, based on allegations that the Company had breached an agreement (the Casino Development Agreement), dated June 18, 2010. The Company moved to dismiss the complaint in the Westchester Action based on a decision issued by the Sullivan County Supreme Court (one of the two closed cases referenced above) on June 30, 2014, as affirmed by the Appellate Division, Third Department (the Sullivan Action). On January 26, 2016, the Westchester County Supreme Court denied the Company's motion to dismiss but ordered the Cappelli Group to amend its pleading and remove all claims and allegations previously determined by the Sullivan Action. On February 18, 2016, the Cappelli Group filed an amended complaint asserting a single cause of action for breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing based upon allegations the Company had interfered with plaintiffs’ ability to obtain financing which complied with the Casino Development Agreement. On March 23, 2016, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the Cappelli Group’s revised amended complaint. On January 5, 2017, the Westchester County Supreme Court denied the Company’s second motion to dismiss. Discovery is ongoing.

The Company has not determined that losses related to the remaining Westchester Action are probable. In light of the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of litigation generally, the Company does not have sufficient information to determine the amount or range of reasonably possible loss with respect to these matters. The Company’s assessments are based on estimates and assumptions that have been deemed reasonable by management, but that may prove to be incomplete or inaccurate, and unanticipated events and circumstances may occur that might cause the Company to change those estimates and assumptions. The Company intends to vigorously defend the claims asserted against the Company and certain of its subsidiaries by the Cappelli Group and its affiliates, for which the Company believes it has meritorious defenses, but there can be no assurances as to the outcome of the claims and related litigation.