13.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Leases—The Company leases various land, buildings, and equipment under operating lease obligations having noncancelable terms ranging from one to 13 years. Rent expense was $1,775, $1,918, and $2,191, for the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Minimum lease commitments as of June 30, 2014 are as follows:


Fiscal year ending June 30:
2015	$	1,549
2016		847
2017		700
2018		281
2019		29
2020 and thereafter		11

	$	3,417

Physician Guarantees—At June 30, 2014, SunLink had a guarantee agreement with one physician. A physician with whom a guarantee agreement is made generally agrees to maintain his or her practice within a hospital geographic area for a specific period (normally three years) or be liable to repay all or a portion of the guarantee received. The physician’s liability for any guarantee repayment due to non-compliance with the provisions of a guarantee agreement generally is collateralized by the physician’s patient accounts receivable and/or a promissory note from the physician. All potential payments payable under this one guarantee have been paid as of June 30, 2014. SunLink expensed $110, $137, and $340, for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. There were no remaining non-cancelable commitments under guarantee agreements with physicians as of June 30, 2014.

Litigation—In 2007, Southern Health Corporation of Ellijay, Inc. (“SHC-Ellijay”) filed a Complaint against James P. Garrett and Roberta Mundy, both individually and as Fiduciary of the Estate of Randy Mundy (collectively, “Defendants”), seeking specific performance of an Option Agreement (the “Option Agreement”) dated April 17, 2007, between SHC-Ellijay, Mr. Garrett, and Ms. Mundy as Executrix of the Estate of Randy Mundy for the sale of approximately 24.74 acres of real property located in Gilmer County, Georgia, and recovery of SHC-Ellijay’s damages suffered as a result of Defendants’ failure to close the transaction in accordance with the Option Agreement. SHC-Ellijay also stated alternative claims for breach of the Option Agreement and fraud, along with claims to recover attorney’s fees and punitive damages and the defendants filed counterclaims against SHC-Ellijay.

On April 11, 2012, the Court granted SHC-Ellijay’s motion for partial summary judgment and denied Defendants’ motions for summary judgment. In April 2012, Defendants filed a notice of appeal to the Georgia Court of Appeals. In March 2013, the Georgia Court of Appeals issued an opinion affirming in part and reversing in part the summary judgment entered for the Company. The appellate court rejected all of the Sellers’ various contract-law defenses. The appellate court also held that the Sellers intentionally breached the Option Agreement by failing to close the transaction and satisfy their other obligations. The appellate court reversed, however, on the question of whether Sellers’ breach was also willful, reasoning that willfulness carries with it an aspect of bad faith. The case has been remanded to the Superior Court for trial on the willfulness/bad faith issue and damages. A settlement has been pursuant to which James Garrett, as sole owner of the real property, would issue in satisfaction of the Company’s claims a five year promissory note in the principal amount of $600 to Castlemark Properties, LLC, one of the Company’s subsidiaries, such note to be secured by a mortgage on the real property. Such settlement is conditioned on Mr. Garrett obtaining a corrective deed from the Georgia Department of Transportation for a portion of the property. If the settlement closes, the lawsuit will be discussed and, if not, the litigation may resume. While the ultimate outcome and materiality of the litigation cannot be determined, in management’s opinion the litigation should not have a material adverse effect on SunLink’s financial condition or results of operations.

SunLink and its subsidiaries are a party to various medical malpractice and other claims and litigation incidental to its business, for which it is not currently possible to determine the ultimate liability, if any. Based on an evaluation of information currently available and consultation with legal counsel, management believes that resolution of such claims and litigation is not likely to but could have a material adverse effect on the financial position, cash flows, or results of operations of the Company. The Company expenses legal costs as they are incurred.

Office of Inspector General Investigation—In March 2013, SunLink received a document subpoena from the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) in connection with an investigation of possible improper claims submitted to Medicare and Medicaid. The subpoena was directed to SunLink’s indirect subsidiary Southern Health Corporation of Dahlonega, Inc. (“SHCD”), which owns and operates Chestatee Regional Hospital in Dahlonega, Georgia, and requested documents concerning possible false or fraudulent claims made for intensive outpatient psychiatric services provided by and billed for a third-party outpatient psychiatric service provider. The subpoena also sought information about SHCD’s relationship with the outpatient psychiatric service provider, including financial arrangements. SHCD is continuing to cooperate with the government with respect to an ongoing document production, as well as conducting a joint medical necessity review of a sampling of medical records. We cannot at this time estimate what, if any, impact these matters and any results from these matters could have on our business, financial position, operating results or cash flows.