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Commitments and Contingencies
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
We are involved in various legal and regulatory proceedings (“Proceedings”) arising in the ordinary course of business. The Proceedings include, but are not limited to, legal claims made by employees, vendors and customers, and notices, consent decrees, information requests, additional permit requirements and other similar enforcement actions by governmental agencies relating to our utility infrastructure, including water and wastewater treatment plants and other waste treatment facilities and electrical systems. Additionally, in the ordinary course of business, our operations are subject to audit by various taxing authorities. Management believes these Proceedings taken together do not represent a material liability. In addition, to the extent any such Proceedings or audits relate to newly acquired Properties, we consider any potential indemnification obligations of sellers in our favor.
The Operating Partnership operated and managed Westwinds, a 720 site mobilehome community, and Nicholson Plaza, an adjacent shopping center, both located in San Jose, California pursuant to ground leases that expired on August 31, 2022 and did not contain extension options. The master lessor of these ground leases, The Nicholson Family Partnership (together with its predecessor in interest, the “Nicholsons”), expressed a desire to redevelop Westwinds, and in a written communication, they claimed that we were obligated to deliver the property free and clear of any and all subtenancies upon the expiration of the ground leases on August 31, 2022. In connection with any redevelopment, the City of San Jose’s conversion ordinance requires, among other things, that the landowner provide relocation, rental and purchase assistance to the impacted residents.
We believe the Nicholsons’ demand to be unlawful, and on December 30, 2019, the Operating Partnership, together with certain interested parties, filed a complaint in California Superior Court for Santa Clara County, seeking declaratory relief pursuant to which it requested that the Court determine, among other things, that the Operating Partnership had no obligation to deliver the property free and clear of the mobilehome residents upon the expiration of the ground leases. The Operating Partnership and the interested parties filed an amended complaint on January 29, 2020. The Nicholsons filed a demand for arbitration on January 28, 2020, which they subsequently amended, seeking (i) a declaration that the Operating Partnership, as the “owner and manager” of Westwinds, was “required by the Ground Leases, and State and local law to deliver the Property free of any encumbrances or third-party claims at the expiration of the lease terms,” (ii) that the Operating Partnership anticipatorily breached the ground leases by publicly repudiating any such obligation and (iii) that the Operating Partnership was required to indemnify the Nicholsons with respect to the claims brought by the interested parties in the Superior Court proceeding.
On February 3, 2020, the Nicholsons filed a motion in California Superior Court to compel arbitration and to stay the Superior Court litigation, which motion was heard on June 25, 2020. On July 29, 2020, the Superior Court issued a final order denying the Nicholsons' motion to compel arbitration. The Nicholsons filed a notice of appeal on August 7, 2020, which appeal was heard on February 1, 2022. On February 4, 2022, the California Court of Appeal affirmed the Superior Court’s order denying the Nicholsons' motion to compel arbitration. On February 22, 2022, the Nicholsons filed a petition for rehearing, which the Court of Appeal denied on March 2, 2022. On March 16, 2022, the Nicholsons filed a petition for review with the California Supreme Court, which the California Supreme Court denied on April 20, 2022. On May 18, 2022, the Nicholsons filed a cross complaint alleging that the Operating Partnership was obligated to deliver Westwinds free and clear of encumbrances and in good condition and repair. The cross complaint asserted that it was no longer feasible for the Operating Partnership to cure its alleged breaches given that the ground leases terminated as of August 31, 2022. The Nicholsons filed a demurrer to our complaint which was denied by the Superior Court.
On July 19, 2022, the Nicholsons sent two notices of default to the Operating Partnership, one related to Westwinds and the other related to Nicholson Plaza, the adjacent shopping center. The notices generally assert that the Operating Partnership failed to maintain or repair certain infrastructure and improvements at Westwinds and Nicholson Plaza. The Operating Partnership disputes the contention that it did not maintain Westwinds and Nicholson Plaza in compliance with the terms of the applicable ground leases.
The arbitration that was previously stayed pursuant to an agreement between the Operating Partnership and the Nicholsons was set for a hearing on October 31, 2022 with respect to the Nicholsons’ claim that the Operating Partnership was required to indemnify the Nicholsons with respect to the claims brought by the interested parties in the Superior Court proceeding and a claim by the Operating Partnership for recovery of fees incurred in connection with the Nicholsons’ failed motion to compel arbitration.
On October 6, 2022, the parties to the Superior Court proceeding as well as the arbitration entered into a binding agreement which was subsequently documented and implemented, pursuant to which, among other things, all claims pending in the Superior Court and in the arbitration were dismissed with prejudice; however, the Nicholsons reserved their rights to pursue their claim that the Operating Partnership failed to maintain or repair certain infrastructure and improvements at Westwinds and Nicholson Plaza. To the extent the Nicholsons pursue such claim, we intend to vigorously defend our interests. The settlement agreement did not have a material impact to our Consolidated Financial Statements.