Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12.   COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company leases buildings, vehicles and equipment under operating and capital leases, some of which contain escalation clauses. The capital leases contractually expired at various dates through 2011. The assets and liabilities acquired under capital leases are recorded at the lower of fair market value or the present value of future lease payments, and are depreciated over the actual contract term. Depreciation of assets under capital leases is included in depreciation expense for 2012 and 2011. Following is a summary of property held under capital leases:

(in thousands)
  2012
  2011
 
   

Vehicles

  $   $ 862  

Expirations & Disposals

        (19 )

Accumulated Depreciation

        (843 )
       

Total property held under capital leases

  $   $  
   

The remainder of the leases are accounted for as operating leases expiring at various dates through 2028:

 
  Years ended December 31,  
(in thousands)
  2012
  2011
  2010
 
   

Rental Expense

  $ 48,511   $ 45,958   $ 43,135  
   

Future commitments under operating leases are as summarized:

(in thousands)
  Operating leases
 
   

2013

  $ 31,265  

2014

    21,352  

2015

    13,569  

2016

    8,260  

2017

    5,160  

Thereafter

    5,895  
       

Total minimum obligation

  $ 85,501  
   

In the normal course of business, certain of the Company's subsidiaries are defendants in a number of lawsuits or arbitrations, which allege that plaintiffs have been damaged as a result of the rendering of services by the defendant subsidiary. The subsidiaries are actively contesting these actions. Some lawsuits have been filed (John Maciel v. Orkin, Inc., et al.; Douglas F. Bracho, Jr. v. Orkin, Inc.; Jennifer M. Welsh et al. v. Orkin, LLC, et al.:and Jennifer Thompson and Janet Flood v. Philadelphia Management Company, Parkway Associated, Parkway House Apartments, Barbara Williams, and Western Pest Services) in which the plaintiffs are seeking certification of a class. These cases originate in California (Maciel and Bracho), South Carolina (Welsh), and Pennsylvania (Flood), respectively. The Maciel lawsuit, a wage and hour related matter, was filed in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California. The Bracho lawsuit, a matter related to payroll deductions for use of Company vehicles, was filed in the Superior Court of Orange County, California. In Bracho, the Court in early October approved a final resolution of this matter, and on October 15, 2012, it was dismissed. The Welsh lawsuit, a termite service related matter, was filed in the Court of Common Pleas Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, County of Beaufort, South Carolina. The Flood lawsuit, a bed bug service related matter filed by residents of an apartment complex, was filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. On October 26, 2012, the Court approved a settlement of the Flood case, and it was dismissed with prejudice. None of the remaining matters have been scheduled for a class certification hearing. Additionally, the Company and a subsidiary, The Industrial Fumigant Company, LLC, are named defendants in Severn Peanut Co. and Meherrin Agriculture & Chemical Co. v. Industrial Fumigant Co., et al. The Severn lawsuit, a matter related to a fumigation service, has been filed in the Northern Division of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The plaintiffs are seeking damages for breach of contract and negligence. The Industrial Fumigant Company, LLC is also a named defendant in Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania as Subrogee of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company, Agrinational Insurance Company, Inc. as Subrogee of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company, and Archer-Daniels-Midland Company v. The Industrial Fumigant Co., The Industrial Fumigant Company, LLC, and James Miller. The ADM lawsuit, a matter related to a fumigation service, has been filed in the State Court in Lucas County, Ohio. The plaintiffs are seeking damages for breach of contract and negligence. The Company believes these matters are without merit and intends to vigorously contest certification and defend itself through trial or arbitration, if necessary. The Company does not believe that any pending claim, proceeding or litigation, either alone or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or liquidity; however, it is possible that an unfavorable outcome of some or all of the matters, however unlikely, could result in a charge that might be material to the results of an individual quarter or year.

Orkin, LLC is involved in certain environmental matters primarily arising in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, the Company's liability under any of these matters would not and did not materially affect its financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Environmental remediation is reported on a non-discounted basis.