COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2019

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Leases — The Company leases its restaurants, bar facilities, and administrative headquarters through its subsidiaries under terms expiring at various dates through 2033. Most of the leases provide for the payment of base rents plus real estate taxes, insurance and other expenses and, in certain instances, for the payment of a percentage of the restaurants’ sales in excess of stipulated amounts at such facility and in one instance based on profits.

As of September 28, 2019, future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable leases are as follows:


	Amount
Fiscal Year	(in thousands)
2020	$	9,570
2021	9,553
2022	9,654
2023	8,022
2024	7,197
Thereafter	33,487
Total minimum payments	$	77,483

In connection with certain of the leases included in the table above, the Company obtained and delivered irrevocable letters of credit in the aggregate amount of approximately $388,000 as security deposits under such leases.

Rent expense was approximately $13,879,000 and $14,649,000 for the years ended September 28, 2019 and September 29, 2018, respectively. Contingent rentals, included in rent expense, were approximately $5,336,000 and $5,454,000 for the years ended September 28, 2019 and September 29, 2018, respectively.

Legal Proceedings — In the ordinary course its business, the Company is a party to various lawsuits arising from accidents at its restaurants and workers’ compensation claims, which are generally handled by the Company’s insurance carriers. The employment by the Company of management personnel, waiters, waitresses and kitchen staff at a number of different restaurants has resulted in the institution, from time to time, of litigation alleging violation by the Company of employment discrimination laws. Management believes, based in part on the advice of counsel, that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

On May 1, 2018, two former tipped service workers (the “Plaintiffs”), individually and on behalf of all other similarly situated personnel, filed a putative class action lawsuit (the “Complaint”) against the Company and certain subsidiaries as well as certain officers of the Company (the “Defendants”). Plaintiffs allege, on behalf of themselves and the putative class, that the Company violated certain of the New York State Labor Laws and related regulations. The Complaint seeks unspecified money damages, together with interest, liquidated damages and attorney fees. There has been no discovery on the merits of the Complaint and the matter is still in the initial stages of discovery concerning whether the named Plaintiffs are seeking to represent an appropriate class of tipped service workers and, if so, whether the named Plaintiffs are appropriate class representatives. The Company's Motion to Dismiss the Complaint was denied on June 27, 2019. The Company believes that the allegations and claims in the Complaint are without merit, and it intends to defend itself vigorously in this litigation. However, the outcomes of legal actions are unpredictable and subject to significant uncertainties, and thus it is

inherently difficult to determine the probability or quantification of any loss. Based on information currently available, including the Company’s assessment of the facts underlying the Complaint and advice of counsel, the amount or range of reasonably possible losses, if any, cannot be estimated. Accordingly, the Company has not recorded any accrual related to this matter as of September 28, 2019.