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Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Text Block [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

Note 13: Commitments and Contingencies

The following commitments and contingencies provide an update of those discussed in “Note 21: Commitments and Contingencies” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and should be read in conjunction with the complete descriptions provided in the aforementioned Form 10-K.

Litigation

MBIA Insurance Corp. v. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, et al.; Index No. 603751/2009 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., N.Y. County)

Expert discovery concluded in March of 2016. The court so-ordered a schedule for summary judgment briefing and argument in April of 2016. Initial briefs were filed on June 2, 2016; opposition briefs were filed on August 4, 2016; and reply briefs are due to be filed on September 22, 2016. Argument is scheduled for November 15, 2016.

MBIA Insurance Corp. v. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (f/k/a Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.); Index No. 64676/2012 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., County of Westchester)

On September 9, 2014, the court granted in part MBIA Corp.’s motion to file an amended complaint. MBIA filed its amended complaint on September 29, 2014. J.P. Morgan filed its answer to the amended complaint on October 10, 2014. The parties each cross-appealed the September 9, 2014 decision and those appeals were fully submitted as of June 8, 2015. On June 6, 2016, the court denied J.P. Morgan’s motion for summary judgment. J.P. Morgan filed a notice of appeal of that ruling on July 6, 2016. The court has scheduled a trial to begin on October 26, 2016.

Lynn Tilton and Patriarch Partners XV, LLC v. MBIA Inc. and MBIA Insurance Corp.; Index No. 68880/2015 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., County of Westchester)

On November 2, 2015, Lynn Tilton and Patriarch Partners XV, LLC filed a complaint in New York State Supreme Court, Westchester County, against MBIA Inc. and MBIA Corp., alleging fraudulent inducement and related claims arising from purported promises made by MBIA in connection with insurance policies issued by MBIA Corp. on certain collateralized loan obligations managed by Ms. Tilton and her affiliated Patriarch entities, and seeking damages. The plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on January 15, 2016, and MBIA Corp. and MBIA Inc. filed their motion to dismiss the complaint on February 19, 2016, which motion was fully briefed on April 11, 2016. On April 25, 2016, the court heard oral arguments on the motion and a decision is pending.

Ambac Bond Insurance Coverage Cases, Coordinated Proceeding Case No. JCCP 4555 (Super. Ct. of Cal., County of San Francisco)

Following an appeal of the dismissal of the plaintiff’s anti-trust claim under California’s Cartwright Act, the California Court of Appeal reinstated those claims against the bond insurer defendants on February 18, 2016. On April 8, 2016, Judge Wiss recused and disqualified herself from further proceedings in the matter. On April 14, 2016, Judge Karnow was assigned to sit as the Coordination Trial Judge. On June 24, 2016, the defendants, including the MBIA parties, filed their answers to the Complaints.

National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation v. Padilla, Civ. No. 16-cv-2101 (D.P.R. June 15, 2016) (Besosa, J.)

On June 15, 2016, National filed a complaint in federal court in Puerto Rico challenging the Puerto Rico Emergency Moratorium and Financial Rehabilitation Act (Law 21-2016 or the “Moratorium Act”) as unconstitutional under the United States Constitution. On June 22, 2016, National filed a motion for partial summary judgment on its claim that the Moratorium Act is preempted by the federal Bankruptcy Code. On July 7, 2016, the Commonwealth defendants filed a motion to stay the case pursuant to the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act. On July 8, 2016, the Court ruled that pending further briefing, he would not apply a stay to the case. The Commonwealth defendants filed their response to National’s motion for summary judgment on July 11, 2016. On July 18, 2016, National responded to the stay motion and also filed its reply brief in further support of its motion for summary judgment. The motion for summary judgment is now fully briefed and a decision is pending. The defendants filed their answer to the Complaint on July 26, 2016.

The Company is defending against the aforementioned actions in which it is a defendant and expects ultimately to prevail on the merits. There is no assurance, however, that the Company will prevail in these actions. Adverse rulings in these actions could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to implement its strategy and on its business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. At this stage of the litigation, there has not been a determination as to the amount, if any, of damages. Accordingly, the Company is not able to estimate any amount of loss or range of loss.

There are no other material lawsuits pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party.

Lease Commitments

The Company has a lease agreement for its headquarters in Purchase, New York. The initial lease term expires in 2030 with the option to terminate the lease in 2025 upon the payment of a termination amount. This lease agreement included an incentive amount to fund certain leasehold improvements, renewal options, escalation clauses and a free rent period. The lease agreement has been classified as an operating lease, and operating rent expense has been recognized on a straight-line basis since the second quarter of 2014.