16. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Leases  The Company conducts a significant part of its theatre operations in leased properties under noncancelable leases with terms generally ranging from 10 to 25 years. In addition to the minimum annual lease payments, some of the leases provide for contingent rentals based on operating results of the theatre and some require the payment of taxes, insurance and other costs applicable to the property. The Company can renew, at its option, a substantial portion of the leases at defined or then market rental rates for various periods. Some leases also provide for escalating rent payments throughout the lease term. A liability for deferred lease expenses of $40,929 and $39,235 at December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively, has been provided to account for lease expenses on a straight-line basis, where lease payments are not made on such a basis. Theatre rent expense was as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2016 2017 2018 Fixed rent expense $ 242,927 $ 247,908 $ 248,543 Contingent rent and other facility lease expenses 78,367 80,289 74,773 Total facility lease expense $ 321,294 $ 328,197 $ 323,316 Future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating and capital leases at December 31, 2018 are as follows (1) : Operating Capital Leases Leases 2019 $ 253,323 $ 42,434 2020 242,336 41,502 2021 230,396 34,589 2022 204,628 32,462 2023 176,802 28,534 Thereafter 677,091 166,375 Total $ 1,784,576 345,896 Amounts representing interest payments (86,364 ) Present value of future minimum payments 259,532 Current portion of capital lease obligations (27,065 ) Capital lease obligations, less current portion $ 232,467 (1) Represents amounts before the adoption of ASC Topic 842  Leases . See Note 2 for discussion of the expected impact of adoption. Employment Agreements  As of December 31, 2018, the Company had employment agreements with Lee Roy Mitchell, Mark Zoradi, Sean Gamble, Valmir Fernandes and Michael Cavalier. The employment agreements are subject to automatic extensions for a one year period, unless the employment agreements are terminated. The base salaries stipulated in the employment agreements are subject to review at least annually during the term of the agreements for increase (but not decrease) by the Companys Compensation Committee. Management personnel subject to these employment agreements are eligible to receive annual cash incentive bonuses upon the Company meeting certain performance targets established by the Compensation Committee within the first 90 days of the fiscal year. Effective February 20, 2018, the Company and Mr. Zoradi amended his employment agreement extending the term to December 31, 2019. Effective January 2, 2018, Robert Carmony, Executive Vice President  Innovation, retired from the Company and his employment agreement was terminated. Retirement Savings Plan  The Company has a 401(k) retirement savings plan (401(k) Plan) for the benefit of all eligible employees and makes matching contributions as determined annually in accordance with the 401(k) Plan. Employer matching contribution payments of $6,380 and $5,076 were made during 2017 and 2018, respectively. A liability of approximately $1,374 was recorded at December 31, 2018 for employer contribution payments to be made in 2019 for the remaining amounts owed for plan year 2018. Silken Brown v. Cinemark USA, Inc., Case No. 3:13cv05669, In the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division. The case presents putative class action claims for penalties and attorney's fees arising from alleged violations of the California wage statement law. The claim is also asserted as a representative action under the California Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) for penalties. The Court granted class certification. The company denies the claims, denies that class certification is appropriate, denies that the plaintiff has standing to assert the claims alleged and is vigorously defending against the claims. The company denies the claims, denies that class certification is appropriate, denies that the plaintiff has standing to assert the claims alleged and is vigorously defending against the claims. The Company denies any violation of law; however, to avoid the cost and uncertainty associated with litigation the Company and the plaintiff entered into a Joint Stipulation of Class Action Settlement and Release of Claims (the Settlement Agreement) to fully and finally dismiss all claims that would be brought in the case. The Settlement Agreement must be approved by the Court. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded a litigation reserve based on the proposed Settlement Agreement in loss on disposal of assets and other on the consolidated income statement. Flagship Theatres of Palm Desert, LLC d/b/a Cinemas Palme DOr v. Century Theatres, Inc., and Cinemark USA, Inc.; Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles . Plaintiff in this case alleges that the Company violated California antitrust and unfair competition laws by engaging in circuit dealing with various motion picture distributors and tortuously interfered with Plaintiffs business relationships. Plaintiff seeks compensatory damages, trebling of those damages under California law, punitive damages, injunctive relief, attorneys fees, costs and interest. Plaintiff also alleges that the Companys conduct ultimately resulted in closure of its theatre in June 2016. The Company denied the allegations. In 2008, the Company moved for summary judgment on Plaintiffs claims, arguing primarily that clearances between the theatres at issue were lawful and that Plaintiff lacked proof sufficient to support certain technical elements of its antitrust claims. The trial court granted that motion and dismissed Plaintiffs claims. Plaintiff appealed and, in 2011, the Court of Appeal reversed, holding, among other things, that Plaintiffs claims were not about the illegality of clearances but were focused, instead, on circuit dealing. Having re-framed the claims in that manner, the Court of Appeal held that the trial courts decision to limit discovery to the market where the theatres at issue operated was an error, as circuit dealing necessarily involves activities in different markets. Upon return to the trial court, the parties engaged in additional, broadened discovery related to Plaintiffs circuit dealing claim. Thereafter, the Company moved again for summary judgment on all of Plaintiffs claims. That new motion for summary judgment was pending when, on or about April 11, 2014, the trial court granted the Companys motion for terminating sanctions and entered a judgment dismissing the case with prejudice. Plaintiff then appealed that second dismissal, seeking to have the judgment reversed and the case remanded to the trial court. The Court of Appeal issued a ruling on May 24, 2016, reversing the granting of terminating sanctions and instead imposed a lesser evidentiary and damages preclusion sanction. The case returned to the trial court on October 6, 2016. On May 10, 2018, after a five-week jury trial, the jury found no liability on one circuit dealing claim and awarded Plaintiff damages on the other claim, which are tripled for antitrust damage awards. Plaintiff would also be entitled to certain court costs and to seek at least some portion of its attorneys fees. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded a litigation reserve based on an estimate of the jury award, which is reflected in loss on disposal of assets and other on the consolidated income statement. The trial court denied a motion for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict and a motion for a new trial. The Company intends to appeal the judgment. Although the Company denies that it engaged in any form of circuit dealing, it cannot predict the outcome of its pending motions or future appeals. The Company received a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) from the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice. The CID relates to an investigation under Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act. The Company also received CIDs from the Antitrust Section of the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Ohio and later from other states regarding similar inquiries under state antitrust laws. The CIDs request the Company to answer interrogatories, and produce documents, or both, related to the investigation of matters including film clearances, potential coordination and/or communication with other major theatre circuits and related joint ventures. The Company intends to fully cooperate with all federal and state government agencies. Although the Company does not believe that it has violated any federal or state antitrust or competition laws, it cannot predict the ultimate scope, duration or outcome of these investigations. From time to time, the Company is involved in other various legal proceedings arising from the ordinary course of its business operations, such as personal injury claims, employment matters, landlord-tenant disputes, patent claims and contractual disputes, some of which are covered by insurance or by indemnification from vendors. The Company believes its potential liability with respect to these types of proceedings currently pending is not material, individually or in the aggregate, to the Companys financial position, results of operations and cash flows.