COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

15. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company leases buildings, vehicles and equipment under operating leases, some of which contain escalation clauses. The Company’s operating leases expire at various dates through 2028:

For the years ended December 31,	2018		2017		2016
(in thousands)
Rental Expense	$	79,631	$	72,030	$	66,774

Future commitments under operating leases are as summarized:

(in thousands)	Operating leases
2019	$	28,751
2020		18,024
2021		14,463
2022		11,142
2023		8,998
Thereafter		16,234
Total minimum obligation	$	97,612

In the normal course of business, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries are defendants in a number of lawsuits, claims or arbitrations which allege that the subsidiaries’ services caused damage. In addition, the Company defends employment related cases and claims from time to time. We are involved in certain environmental matters primarily arising in the normal course of business. We are actively contesting each of these matters.

Management does not believe that any pending claim, proceeding or litigation, either alone or in the aggregate will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity; however, it is possible that an unfavorable outcome of some or all of the matters, however unlikely, could result in a charge that might be material to the results of an individual quarter or year.