COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	NOTE 11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Self-Insurance: The Company is self-insured for health care claims for eligible active employees. Benefit plan administrators assist the Company in determining its liability for self-insured claims, and such claims are not discounted. Monarch Black Hawk’s health plan has stop-loss insurance whereby the Company retains the first $250,000 of liability for individual health care claims. The Company’s liability on the Atlantis health plan is limited to the first $250,000 of claims plus 10% of claims above $250,000. The Company is also self-insured for Atlantis workers’ compensation. The maximum liability for workers’ compensation under the Atlantis stop-loss agreement is $500,000 per claim. The Company is fully-insured for Monarch Black Hawk workers compensation claims with a $10,000 per claim deductible and additional reinsurance above $500,000 to $1 million. Legal dispute: On August 30, 2019, PCL Construction Services, Inc. (“PCL”) filed a complaint in District Court, City and County of Denver, Colorado, against the Company and its Colorado subsidiaries, in connection with the Company’s now completed expansion of the Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk. The case is captioned PCL Construction Services, Inc. v. Monarch Growth Inc., et al., Case No. 2019CV33368 (the “First Denver Lawsuit”). The complaint alleges, among other things, that the defendants breached the construction contract with PCL and certain implied warranties. On December 5, 2019, the Company filed its answer and counterclaim, which alleges, among other items, that PCL breached the construction contract, duties of good faith and fair dealing, and implied and express warranties, made fraudulent or negligent misrepresentations on which the Company and its Colorado subsidiaries relied, and included claims for monetary damages as well as equitable and declaratory relief. On September 1, 2022, the judge previously assigned to the Denver Action recused herself, resulting in a continuance of the trial then set for September 6, 2022, and reassignment to another courtroom. Following reassignment, the court set a new trial date of September 5, 2023. In connection with the expansion of the Monarch Black Hawk, as described above, PCL and certain subcontractors have also provided purported notice of liens filed against the real property on which the Monarch Black Hawk is situated (the “Monarch Black Hawk Property”), for sums allegedly owed for construction of the expansion. Some of the subcontractors have recorded such liens in the property records of Gilpin County, Colorado. On March 26, 2021, PCL filed a mechanics’ lien foreclosure action in the District Court, County of Gilpin, Colorado, against the Company and its Colorado subsidiaries, in connection with the Company’s now completed expansion of the Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk. The case is captioned PCL Construction Services, Inc., v. Monarch Growth Inc., et al., Case No. 2021CV30006 (the “Gilpin Lawsuit”). The complaint essentially mirrors the claims and allegations made by PCL in the First Denver Lawsuit, as described above. The Gilpin Lawsuit includes an additional claim, however, for foreclosure of PCL’s purported mechanics’ lien against the property on which the Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk is situated (the “Property”). PCL also joined additional parties who may claim a purported lien against the Property, as defendants. Effective May 10, 2021, PCL filed its second amended complaint, joining more such parties as defendants. Many of the Company’s co-defendants have filed cross claims against Monarch for foreclosure of mechanics’ liens and related claims, including unjust enrichment. Monarch filed its answer and counterclaims to PCL’s second amended complaint in the Gilpin Lawsuit on July 15, 2021, but a trial of the matter has not been set. Monarch has also filed answers to all cross claims due to date, denying the claimants’ rights to relief. Monarch anticipates filing further answers to additional cross claims, also denying the claimants’ rights to relief. The case remains stayed, however, pending the outcome of the First Denver Lawsuit, Case No. 2019CV33368. We are currently unable to determine the probability of the outcome or reasonably estimate the loss or gain, if any. On February 9, 2023, Monarch Growth, Inc., Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. and Monarch Black Hawk, Inc. filed a complaint in District Court, City and County of Denver, Colorado, against PCL, in connection with the Company’s now completed expansion of the Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk. The case is captioned Monarch Growth Inc., et al., v. PCL Construction Services, Inc., Case No. 2023CV30458 (the “Second Denver Lawsuit”). The complaint alleges, among other things, that PCL breached the construction contract, duties of good faith and fair dealing, and implied and express warranties based on defective and/or nonconforming construction work at the project, and includes claims for monetary damages as well as equitable and declaratory relief. On April 18, 2023, at the parties’ joint request, the Court ordered the Second Denver Lawsuit stayed for ninety days from the date of the stay order until July 17, 2023. Following the expiration of the stay and the filing of a motion to dismiss by PCL, Monarch amended its complaint in the Second Denver Lawsuit. On January 22, 2025, the Court granted Monarch’s motion to file a second amended complaint and set the trial of the matter for a 7-day trial beginning on August 18, 2025. On September 5, 2023, trial commenced in the First Denver Lawsuit in the District Court for the City and County of Denver, Colorado. The bench trial concluded on November 22, 2023, after 28 total court days. PCL and the Company each submitted proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order for the Court’s consideration on February 7, 2024. On February 14, 2025, the Court, issued its decision in the litigation between the Company and PCL. The Court awarded damages in favor of PCL of $74,772,551 for its claims of breach of contract, breach of implied warranty, and breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing and $144,894 to the Company for its negligence and gross negligence counterclaims against PCL. The Court entered a single judgment in the amount of the net difference between the cross-judgment and awarded PCL a principal judgment amount of $74,627,657 (the “Judgment”). On February 28, 2025, PCL filed with the court a motion to supplement the Judgment with prejudgment interest. Monarch plans to dispute the computation and amount of interest sought by PCL and is expected to file with the court its objection. Based upon its initial review of the Court’s Judgment, the Company anticipates filing an appeal to the Colorado Court of Appeals. In anticipation of any appeal, the Company has obtained a supersedeas bond in the amount of $25,000,000 and, on February 26, 2025, filed a motion with the court to tender the bond and stay any execution of PCL’s judgment pending the resolution of any appeal. The Company recognized $0.8 million, $6.9 million and $7.3 million in construction litigation expense relating to this lawsuit for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which are included in Other operating items, net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had a liability related to the litigation between Monarch and PCL of $47.0 million on its balance sheet, which was adjusted as of December 31, 2024, by an additional amount of $27.6 million, to reflect the Judgment amount of $74.6 million. The company also recognized $27.6 million loss relating to the Court’s Judgment, which is included in Other operating items, net, in the Company’s income statement for the year ended December 31, 2024. From time to time, we may be subject to other legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business. Management believes that the amount of any reasonably possible or probable loss for such other known matters would not have a material adverse impact on our financial conditions, cash flows or results of operations; however, the outcome of these actions is inherently difficult to predict.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2024

NOTE 11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Self-Insurance: The Company is self-insured for health care claims for eligible active employees. Benefit plan administrators assist the Company in determining its liability for self-insured claims, and such claims are not discounted. Monarch Black Hawk’s health plan has stop-loss insurance whereby the Company retains the first $250,000 of liability for individual health care claims. The Company’s liability on the Atlantis health plan is limited to the first $250,000 of claims plus 10% of claims above $250,000.

The Company is also self-insured for Atlantis workers’ compensation. The maximum liability for workers’ compensation under the Atlantis stop-loss agreement is $500,000 per claim. The Company is fully-insured for Monarch Black Hawk workers compensation claims with a $10,000 per claim deductible and additional reinsurance above $500,000 to $1 million.

Legal dispute: On August 30, 2019, PCL Construction Services, Inc. (“PCL”) filed a complaint in District Court, City and County of Denver, Colorado, against the Company and its Colorado subsidiaries, in connection with the Company’s now completed expansion of the Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk. The case is captioned PCL Construction Services, Inc. v. Monarch Growth Inc., et al., Case No. 2019CV33368 (the “First Denver Lawsuit”). The complaint alleges, among other things, that the defendants breached the construction contract with PCL and certain implied warranties. On December 5, 2019, the Company filed its answer and counterclaim, which alleges, among other items, that PCL breached the construction contract, duties of good faith and fair dealing, and implied and express warranties, made fraudulent or negligent misrepresentations on which the Company and its Colorado subsidiaries relied, and included claims for monetary damages as well as equitable and declaratory relief.

On September 1, 2022, the judge previously assigned to the Denver Action recused herself, resulting in a continuance of the trial then set for September 6, 2022, and reassignment to another courtroom. Following reassignment, the court set a new trial date of September 5, 2023.

In connection with the expansion of the Monarch Black Hawk, as described above, PCL and certain subcontractors have also provided purported notice of liens filed against the real property on which the Monarch Black Hawk is situated (the “Monarch Black Hawk Property”), for sums allegedly owed for construction of the expansion. Some of the subcontractors have recorded such liens in the property records of Gilpin County, Colorado.

On March 26, 2021, PCL filed a mechanics’ lien foreclosure action in the District Court, County of Gilpin, Colorado, against the Company and its Colorado subsidiaries, in connection with the Company’s now completed expansion of the Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk. The case is captioned PCL Construction Services, Inc., v. Monarch Growth Inc., et al., Case No. 2021CV30006 (the “Gilpin Lawsuit”). The complaint essentially mirrors the claims and allegations made by PCL in the First Denver Lawsuit, as described above. The Gilpin Lawsuit includes an additional claim, however, for foreclosure of PCL’s purported mechanics’ lien against the property on which the Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk is situated (the “Property”). PCL also joined additional parties who may claim a purported lien against the Property, as defendants. Effective May 10, 2021, PCL filed its second amended complaint, joining more such parties as defendants. Many of the Company’s co-defendants have filed cross claims against Monarch for foreclosure of mechanics’ liens and related claims, including unjust enrichment.

Monarch filed its answer and counterclaims to PCL’s second amended complaint in the Gilpin Lawsuit on July 15, 2021, but a trial of the matter has not been set. Monarch has also filed answers to all cross claims due to date, denying the claimants’ rights to relief. Monarch anticipates filing further answers to additional cross claims, also denying the claimants’ rights to relief. The case remains stayed, however, pending the outcome of the First Denver Lawsuit, Case No. 2019CV33368. We are currently unable to determine the probability of the outcome or reasonably estimate the loss or gain, if any.

On February 9, 2023, Monarch Growth, Inc., Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. and Monarch Black Hawk, Inc. filed a complaint in District Court, City and County of Denver, Colorado, against PCL, in connection with the Company’s now completed expansion of the Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk. The case is captioned Monarch Growth Inc., et al., v. PCL Construction Services, Inc., Case No. 2023CV30458 (the “Second Denver Lawsuit”). The complaint alleges, among other things, that PCL breached the construction contract, duties of good faith and fair dealing, and implied and express warranties based on defective and/or nonconforming construction work at the project, and includes claims for monetary damages as well as equitable and declaratory relief.

On April 18, 2023, at the parties’ joint request, the Court ordered the Second Denver Lawsuit stayed for ninety days from the date of the stay order until July 17, 2023. Following the expiration of the stay and the filing of a motion to dismiss by PCL, Monarch amended its complaint in the Second Denver Lawsuit. On January 22, 2025, the Court granted Monarch’s motion to file a second amended complaint and set the trial of the matter for a 7-day trial beginning on August 18, 2025.

On September 5, 2023, trial commenced in the First Denver Lawsuit in the District Court for the City and County of Denver, Colorado. The bench trial concluded on November 22, 2023, after 28 total court days. PCL and the Company each submitted proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order for the Court’s consideration on February 7, 2024.

On February 14, 2025, the Court, issued its decision in the litigation between the Company and PCL. The Court awarded damages in favor of PCL of $74,772,551 for its claims of breach of contract, breach of implied warranty, and breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing and $144,894 to the Company for its negligence and gross negligence counterclaims against PCL. The Court entered a single judgment in the amount of the net difference between the cross-judgment and awarded PCL a principal judgment amount of $74,627,657 (the “Judgment”). On February 28, 2025, PCL filed with the court a motion to supplement the Judgment with prejudgment interest. Monarch plans to dispute the computation and amount of interest sought by PCL and is expected to file with the court its objection.

Based upon its initial review of the Court’s Judgment, the Company anticipates filing an appeal to the Colorado Court of Appeals. In anticipation of any appeal, the Company has obtained a supersedeas bond in the amount of $25,000,000 and, on February 26, 2025, filed a motion with the court to tender the bond and stay any execution of PCL’s judgment pending the resolution of any appeal.

The Company recognized $0.8 million, $6.9 million and $7.3 million in construction litigation expense relating to this lawsuit for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which are included in Other operating items, net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

As of September 30, 2024, the Company had a liability related to the litigation between Monarch and PCL of $47.0 million on its balance sheet, which was adjusted as of December 31, 2024, by an additional amount of $27.6 million, to reflect the Judgment amount of $74.6 million. The company also recognized $27.6 million loss relating to the Court’s Judgment, which is included in Other operating items, net, in the Company’s income statement for the year ended December 31, 2024.

From time to time, we may be subject to other legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business. Management believes that the amount of any reasonably possible or probable loss for such other known matters would not have a material adverse impact on our financial conditions, cash flows or results of operations; however, the outcome of these actions is inherently difficult to predict.