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Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies  
Commitments and Contingencies

11. Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Matters

From time to time, the Company is a party to various lawsuits, claims, and other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business, some of which are covered by insurance. When the Company is aware of a claim or potential claim, it assesses the likelihood of any loss or exposure. If it is probable that a loss will result and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, the Company records a liability for the loss. If the loss is not probable or the amount of the loss cannot be reasonably estimated, the Company discloses the nature of the specific claim if the likelihood of a potential loss is reasonably possible and the amount involved could be material. With respect to the majority of pending litigation matters, the Company’s ultimate legal and financial responsibility, if any, cannot be estimated with certainty and, in most cases, any potential losses related to those matters are not considered probable.

Upon resolution of any pending legal matters, the Company may incur charges in excess of presently established reserves. Management does not believe that any such charges would, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

COVID-19 Considerations

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. This contagious outbreak and the related adverse public health developments, including orders to shelter-in-place, travel restrictions and mandated non-essential business closures, have adversely affected our business, primarily through reduced room and board and other ancillary revenue at our most significant partner, GCU and as a result of certain other partner institutions’ students deferring the start of their program in the Summer semester. The pandemic could result in further reductions in education service revenue, operating income and margins in the fourth quarter of 2020. At this time there remains considerable uncertainty around the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. If some of our university partners are not able to allow their students to return to their campus locations in the Spring of 2021 this will have a further impact on our service revenue, operating income and margins. These factors, or material changes in the fair value of the collateral underlying our Secured Note receivable and accounts receivable, could also materially impact the allowance for expected credit losses on our Secured Note receivable and our accounts receivable. However, the related financial impact and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.

Tax, Income Tax Related

During the first quarter of 2019, the Company reached an agreement with the Arizona Department of Revenue regarding previously filed refund claims related to income tax obligations for calendar year 2008 through calendar year 2013.  As a result of the agreement, the Company received a refund of $7,500, inclusive of both tax and interest.  Net of the federal tax benefit, the refund has a favorable tax impact of $5,925.  The Company recorded the impact of this discrete tax item in its first quarter 2019 financials. 

Tax Reserves, Non-Income Tax Related

From time to time the Company has exposure to various non-income tax related matters that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company reserve is not material for tax matters where its ultimate exposure is considered probable and the potential loss can be reasonably estimated.