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Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

18.

Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation

We are defendants in lawsuits associated with the normal conduct of our businesses and operations. It is not possible to predict the outcome of the pending actions, and, as with any litigation, it is possible that these actions could be decided unfavorably to the Company.  The Company believes that there are meritorious defenses to these actions and that these actions will not have a material adverse effect upon our results of operations, cash flows or financial condition, and where appropriate, these actions are being vigorously contested. Accordingly, the Company believes the likelihood of material loss is remote.

Environmental

Compliance with federal, state and local laws regulating the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, did not have a material effect on capital expenditures, earnings or the competitive position of Fortune Brands during the nine and three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018. We are involved in remediation activities to clean up hazardous wastes as required by federal and state laws. Liabilities for remediation costs of each site are based on our best estimate of undiscounted future costs. We believe compliance with current environmental protection laws (before taking into account estimated recoveries from third parties) will not have a material adverse effect upon our results of operations, cash flows or financial condition. Uncertainties about the status of laws, regulations, technology and information related to individual sites make it difficult to develop estimates of environmental remediation exposures.

Lease Commitments

Future minimum rental payments under non-cancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2018 were as follows:

 

(In millions)

 

2019

$

37.8

 

2020

 

29.6

 

2021

 

23.4

 

2022

 

18.9

 

2023

 

13.8

 

Remainder

 

58.8

 

Total minimum rental payments

$

182.3

 

 

These minimum rental payments were determined in accordance with the previous leasing guidance (ASC 840).  Accordingly, the minimum payments exclude optional lease payments that we can avoid.  The minimum lease payments as of September 30, 2019, disclosed in Note 6, are determined in accordance with the new leasing guidance (ASC 842), which include optional lease payments if we are reasonably certain to incur them.