NOTE 14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Regulatory Matters

        Laws and regulations governing Federal Medicare and State Medicaid programs are complex and subject to interpretation. Compliance with such laws and regulations can be subject to future governmental review and interpretation as well as significant regulatory action including fines, penalties, and exclusion from certain governmental programs. The Company believes that it is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations.

        A significant portion of the Company's revenue is derived from Medicaid and Medicare, for which reimbursement rates are subject to regulatory changes and government funding restrictions. Any significant future change to reimbursement rates could have a material effect on the Company's operations.

Operating Leases

        The Company leases certain office space and 11 skilled nursing facilities under non-cancelable operating leases, most of which have initial lease terms of ten to twelve years with rent escalation clauses and provisions for payments by the Company of real estate taxes, insurance and maintenance costs. Eight of the facilities were initiated in the third quarter of 2010, and two additional in the fourth quarter of 2010. One lease agreement was initiated in the fourth quarter of 2011. For the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, facility rent expense totaled $7.7 million and $7.2 million, respectively.

        Eight of the Company's facilities are operated under a single master lease arrangement. The lease has a term of ten years into 2020. Under the master lease, a breach at a single facility could subject one or more of the other facilities covered by the same master lease to the same default risk. Failure to comply with regulations or governmental authorities, such as Medicare and Medicaid provider requirements, is a default under the Company's master lease agreement. In addition, other potential defaults related to an individual facility may cause a default of the entire master lease agreement. With an indivisible lease, it is difficult to restructure the composition of the portfolio or economic terms of the lease without the consent of the landlord. The Company is not aware of any defaults as of December 31, 2012.

        Two of the Company's facilities are operated under a separate lease agreement. The lease is a single indivisible lease; therefore, a breach at a single facility could subject the second facility to the same default risk. The lease has a term of 12 years into 2022 and includes covenants and restrictions. A commitment is included that requires minimum capital expenditures of $375 per licensed bed per lease year at each facility which amounts to $0.1 million per year for both facilities. In recent periods, including as of December 31, 2012, the Company has not been in compliance with certain financial and administrative covenants of this lease agreement. The Company has obtained a waiver for each instance of such non-compliance.

        Future minimum lease payments for each of the next five years ending December 31 are as follows:

        The Company has also entered into lease agreements for various equipment used in the facilities. These leases are included in future minimum lease payments above.

Legal Matters

        The skilled nursing business involves a significant risk of liability due to the age and health of the Company's patients and residents and the services the Company provides. The Company and others in the industry are subject to an increasing number of claims and lawsuits, including professional liability claims, which may allege that services have resulted in personal injury, elder abuse, wrongful death or other related claims. The defense of these lawsuits may result in significant legal costs, regardless of the outcome, and can result in large settlement amounts or damage awards.

        In addition to the potential lawsuits and claims described above, the Company is also subject to potential lawsuits under the Federal False Claims Act and comparable state laws alleging submission of fraudulent claims for services to any healthcare program (such as Medicare) or payer. A violation may provide the basis for exclusion from federally funded healthcare programs. As of December 31, 2012, the Company does not have any material loss contingencies recorded or requiring disclosure based upon the evaluation of the probability of loss from known claims, except as disclosed below.

        In 2012, the Company was named as a defendant in two related lawsuits asserting breach of contract claims arising out of consulting agreements executed in 2010 in connection with the Company's becoming the operator of certain leased facilities that were previously operated by a third-party. The same transaction was already the subject of litigation commenced by the Company in 2011 against several entities which had previously operated the leased facilities. After becoming the operator of the leased facilities, the Company incurred certain losses for pre-closing activities for which the Company was entitled to indemnification. The Company sought to enforce its rights to indemnity by filing a lawsuit against the former operators of the leased facilities for breach of contract and related tort claims, and the Company proceeded to set off its losses against payment due under the consulting agreements referenced above. The defendants filed counterclaims against the Company. In the third quarter of 2012, a settlement was reached with respect to the three lawsuits that permitted the Company to eliminate a previously accrued liability in light of the lower than expected settlement amount of $1.0 million resulting in a non-cash settlement gain of $0.4 million recognized in the third quarter of 2012. During the third quarter of 2012, $0.3 million of the settlement was paid and the majority of the remaining balance will be paid within one year.

Commitments

Special Termination Benefits

        The Company incurred certain salary retirement and continuation costs of $1.5 million related to separation agreements with certain of the Company's former officers. The benefits include wage continuation and fringe benefits which are to be paid out to these former employees over various future periods ranging from a 6-month period to a 24-month period. The remaining unpaid balance accrued as of December 31, 2012 is $0.3 million.

Commitment to Future Lease Payments

        A leased skilled nursing facility has signed a security agreement associated with the lessor, Covington Realty, LLC, in conjunction with the lessor's refinancing of the project through HUD. The commitment gives the lender the right to pursue the facility for unpaid lease payments to the lessor.