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LEGAL MATTERS
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
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 now completed expansion of the Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk (the “Project”). The case is captioned PCL Construction Services, Inc. v. Monarch Growth Inc., et al., Case No. 2019CV33368 (the “First Denver Lawsuit”). The complaint alleges, among other things, that 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.

On September 5, 2023, trial commenced in the First Denver Lawsuit in the District Court for the City and County of Denver, Colorado. The bench trial concluded on November 22, 2023, after 28 total court days. PCL and the Company each submitted proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order for the Court’s consideration on February 7, 2024. The Parties are awaiting a decision by the Court, and we remain unable to determine the probability of the outcome or reasonably estimate the loss or gain, if any, or determine when the court will resolve the claims the parties tried.

Prior to the trial of the First Denver Lawsuit, on March 26, 2021, PCL filed a mechanics’ lien foreclosure action in the District Court, County of Gilpin, Colorado, against the Company and its Colorado subsidiaries, also in connection with the Project. The case is captioned PCL Construction Services, Inc., v. Monarch Growth Inc., et al., Case No. 2021CV30006 (the “Gilpin Lawsuit”). The complaint essentially mirrors the claims and allegations made by PCL in the First Denver Lawsuit, as described above. The Gilpin 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 defendants. Effective May 10, 2021, PCL filed its second amended complaint, joining more such parties as defendants. Many of the Company’s co-defendants have filed cross claims against Monarch for foreclosure of their own mechanics’ liens and related claims, including unjust enrichment.

Monarch filed its answer and counterclaims to PCL’s second amended complaint in the Gilpin Lawsuit on July 15, 2021, but a trial of the matter has not been set. Monarch has also filed answers to all cross claims due to date, denying the claimants’ rights to relief. Monarch anticipates filing further answers to additional cross claims, also denying the claimants’ rights to relief. The case remains stayed, however, pending the outcome of the First Denver Lawsuit, Case No. 2019CV33368. We are currently unable to determine the probability of the outcome or reasonably estimate the loss or gain, if any.

On February 9, 2023, Monarch Growth, Inc., Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. and Monarch Black Hawk, Inc. filed a complaint in District Court, City and County of Denver, Colorado, against PCL, in connection with the Project. The case is captioned Monarch Growth Inc., et al., v. PCL Construction Services, Inc., Case No. 2023CV30458 (the “Second Denver Lawsuit”). The complaint alleges, among other things, that PCL breached the construction contract, duties of good faith and fair dealing, and implied and express warranties based on defective and/or nonconforming construction work at the project, and includes claims for monetary damages as well as equitable and declaratory relief. Monarch alleges that the claims asserted in the Second Denver Lawsuit were neither known nor reasonably discoverable in time to be included in the First Denver Lawsuit.

Following the filing of a motion to dismiss the Second Denver Action by PCL, Monarch amended its complaint in the Second Denver Lawsuit. On September 13, 2023, PCL filed a motion to dismiss Monarch’s amended complaint. On February 13, 2024, the Court denied PCL’s motion to dismiss the amended complaint. On March 26, 2024, the Court set the Second Denver Lawsuit for a seven-day bench trial to commence on April 7, 2025. The parties have recently begun discovery, and we are currently unable to determine the probability of the outcome or reasonably estimate the loss or gain, if any.

The Company recognized $0.5 million in construction litigation expense relating to these lawsuits for each of the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, which is included in Other operating items, net on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

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.