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Commitments and Contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure | Commitments and Contingencies Employment Agreements and Arrangements As of December 31, 2014, the Company has employment agreements with two executive officers which expire on December 31, 2015. Under the employment agreements, if the Company terminates the executive without cause the executive will be entitled to a multiple of his covered compensation, which is defined as base salary plus annual cash bonus. For one of the executives, the multiple is two times (three if the termination is in connection with a sale of the Company) and for the other executive the multiple is one time (two if the termination is in connection with a sale of the Company). The employment agreements generally provide that it would be considered a termination without cause if the executive's title or role is reduced except as permitted by the agreement. The agreements provide, as do the standard restricted stock and option agreements used by the Company for its compensation programs, that upon a termination without cause the executive's restricted stock and options will vest. The standard restricted stock and option agreements used by the Company in its compensation program provide that upon an employee's termination without cause or the employee's Retirement (as defined in the agreement), all outstanding stock options and restricted shares of stock held by the employee will vest, and the employee will have up to 12 months to exercise any options then held. Under the agreements, Retirement generally means a termination of employment and other business relationships, other than for cause, after attainment of age 50, provided that (i) the employee has worked for the Company for at least 10 years, (ii) the employee's age at Retirement plus years of employment with the Company equals at least 70, (iii) the employee provides at least six months written notice of his intent to retire, and (iv) the employee enters into a one year non-compete and employee non-solicitation agreement. The Company also has an Officer Severance Program (the "Program"), which applies only in connection with a sale of the Company for the benefit of those officers of the Company who do not have employment agreements. Under the Program, in the event an officer who is not otherwise covered by a severance arrangement is terminated (other than for cause), or the officer chooses to terminate his or her employment for good reason (as defined), in either case within 18 months following a sale event (as defined) of the Company, such officer will generally receive a cash lump sum payment equal to a multiple of the officer's covered compensation (base salary plus annual cash bonus). The multiple is one times for vice presidents and senior vice presidents, and two times for executive vice presidents. The officer's restricted stock and options would also vest. Costs related to the Company's employment agreements and the Program are deferred and recognized over the requisite service period when considered by management to be probable and estimable. Legal Contingencies The Company accounts for recoveries from legal matters as a reduction in the legal and related costs incurred associated with the matter, with recoveries in excess of these costs reported as a gain or, where appropriate, a reduction in the basis of a community to which the suit related. During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2012, the Company received $1,933,000 and $775,000, respectively, in legal recoveries. There were no material receipts during the year ended December 31, 2013. See Note 14, "Subsequent Events," for a discussion of the Edgewater fire that occurred in January 2015 and related lawsuits and contingencies. In addition, the Company is subject to various other legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. These matters are frequently covered by insurance. If it has been determined that a loss is probable to occur and can be reasonably estimated, the estimated amount of the loss is recorded in the financial statements. While the resolution of these other matters cannot be predicted with certainty, management currently believes the final outcome of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on the financial position or results of operations of the Company. In instances where the Company has a gain contingency associated with legal proceedings, the Company records a gain in the financial statements, to the extent of a loss recovery, when it is deemed probable to occur, can be reasonably estimated and is considered to be collectible. Lease Obligations The Company owns 12 apartment communities, two communities under development and two commercial properties, which are located on land subject to land leases expiring between October 2026 and March 2142, of which 14 are accounted for as operating leases recognizing rental expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. These leases have varying escalation terms, and four of these leases have purchase options exercisable through 2095. The Company incurred costs of $21,664,000, $17,996,000 and $17,604,000 in the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, related to operating leases. One Development Community and one apartment community that completed construction during 2014 are located on land subject to a land lease, which are accounted for as capital leases, with a lease obligation of $34,268,000 reported as a component of accrued expenses and other liabilities. Each of these leases have options for the Company to purchase the land at some point during the lease terms which expire in 2046 and 2086. The following table details the future minimum lease payments under the Company's current leases (dollars in thousands):
| Payments due by period
| 2015 |  | 2016 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2019 |  | Thereafter
Operating Lease Obligations | $ | 20,337 |  |  | $ | 20,933 |  |  | $ | 20,531 |  |  | $ | 22,339 |  |  | $ | 20,717 |  |  | $ | 1,227,854 |
Capital Lease Obligations (1) (2) | 1,885 |  |  | 19,083 |  |  | 848 |  |  | 848 |  |  | 848 |  |  | 39,087 |
| $ | 22,222 |  |  | $ | 40,016 |  |  | $ | 21,379 |  |  | $ | 23,187 |  |  | $ | 21,565 |  |  | $ | 1,266,941 |
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(1) | Aggregate capital lease payments include $28,318 in interest costs.
(2) | At December 31, 2014, capital lease assets of $31,784 are included as a component of land and improvements on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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