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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Leases

The Company leases certain offices, facilities and equipment under operating leases expiring at various dates through 2026. At December 31, 2017, the minimum annual lease commitments under the leases having terms in excess of one year were as follows:

Years Ending December 31,	Operating Leases
2018	$	1,447
2019		1,033
2020		891
2021		533
2022		420
Thereafter		1,344
Total lease commitments	$	5,668

Rent and lease expense was approximately $1.4 and $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Rent expense of our switchgear business, included in discontinued operations was approximately $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

Litigation and Claims

The Company is from time to time party to various lawsuits, claims and other proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of our business.

On January 11, 2016, Myers Power Products, Inc., a specialty electrical products manufacturer, filed suit with the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, against us, PCEP and two PCEP’s employees who are former employees of Myers Power Products, Inc., Geo Murickan, the president of PCEP (“Murickan”), and Brett DeChellis (“DeChellis”), alleging, among other things, that Murickan wrongly used and retained confidential business information of Myers Power Products, Inc. for the benefit of us and PCEP, in breach of their confidentiality agreement and/or employment agreement entered into with Myers Power Products, Inc., and that we and PCEP knowingly received and used such confidential business information. Myers Power Products, Inc. is seeking injunctive relief enjoining us, PCEP and our employees from using its confidential business information and compensatory damages of an unspecified unlimited (exceeding $25,000) amount. On March 18, 2016, we filed an answer to the complaint, denying generally each and every allegation and relief sought by Myers Power Products, Inc. and seeking dismissal based on, among other things, failure to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. We intend to contest the matter vigorously. Due to the uncertainties of litigation, however, we can give no assurance that we, PCEP and our employees will prevail on any claims made against us, PCEP and our employees in any such lawsuit. Also, we can give no assurance that any other lawsuits or claims brought in the future will not have an adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity or operating results.

With respect to all such lawsuits, claims and proceedings, the Company records a reserve when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company does not believe that the resolution of any currently pending lawsuits, claims and proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. However, the outcomes of any currently pending lawsuits, claims and proceedings cannot be predicted, and therefore, there can be no assurance that this will be the case.