LEGAL MATTERS	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
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 expansion plans for Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk. The complaint alleges, among other things, 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. The trial date for this matter has been rescheduled for March 21, 2022. Discovery in the action is 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 described above, our general contractor PCL and certain subcontractors have provided Monarch with purported notice of their intent to file a lien against the real property on which the Monarch Black Hawk is situated, 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 expansion plans for 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, as described above. The new lawsuit 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 is typical. On April 16, 2021, PCL filed an amended complaint, joining more such parties. Because PCL’s mechanics’ lien action in the County of Gilpin mirrors the claims and allegations in the action PCL filed in the City and County of Denver, Monarch filed a motion to consolidate both actions into one action in the County of Gilpin. The motion was filed on April 19, 2021, before the Colorado Panel on Consolidated Multidistrict Litigation. The Panel has set the motion for hearing on June 11, 2021. Monarch has not yet filed an answer or otherwise responded to PCL’s amended complaint, nor has a trial of the matter been set. Monarch intends to defend against PCL’s claim and seek to expunge or reduce the liens. The Company recognized $0.6 million and $0.2 million in construction litigation expense relating to this lawsuit for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, which are included in Other operating items, net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. 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, 2021

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 expansion plans for Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk. The complaint alleges, among other things, 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.

The trial date for this matter has been rescheduled for March 21, 2022. Discovery in the action is 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 described above, our general contractor PCL and certain subcontractors have provided Monarch with purported notice of their intent to file a lien against the real property on which the Monarch Black Hawk is situated, 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 expansion plans for 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, as described above. The new lawsuit 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 is typical. On April 16, 2021, PCL filed an amended complaint, joining more such parties.

Because PCL’s mechanics’ lien action in the County of Gilpin mirrors the claims and allegations in the action PCL filed in the City and County of Denver, Monarch filed a motion to consolidate both actions into one action in the County of Gilpin. The motion was filed on April 19, 2021, before the Colorado Panel on Consolidated Multidistrict Litigation. The Panel has set the motion for hearing on June 11, 2021.

Monarch has not yet filed an answer or otherwise responded to PCL’s amended complaint, nor has a trial of the matter been set. Monarch intends to defend against PCL’s claim and seek to expunge or reduce the liens.

The Company recognized $0.6 million and $0.2 million in construction litigation expense relating to this lawsuit for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, which are included in Other operating items, net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

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.