Financial report context:
the future minimum lease commitments under these leases at december 31 , 2010 are as follows ( in thousands ) : years ending december 31: .

Financial table:
2011: 2012; $ 62465: 54236
2011: 2013; $ 62465: 47860
2011: 2014; $ 62465: 37660
2011: 2015; $ 62465: 28622
2011: thereafter; $ 62465: 79800
2011: future minimum lease payments; $ 62465: $ 310643

Additional report context:
rental expense for operating leases was approximately $ 66.9 million , $ 57.2 million and $ 49.0 million during the years ended december 31 , 2010 , 2009 and 2008 , respectively . in connection with the acquisitions of several businesses , we entered into agreements with several sellers of those businesses , some of whom became stockholders as a result of those acquisitions , for the lease of certain properties used in our operations . typical lease terms under these agreements include an initial term of five years , with three to five five-year renewal options and purchase options at various times throughout the lease periods . we also maintain the right of first refusal concerning the sale of the leased property . lease payments to an employee who became an officer of the company after the acquisition of his business were approximately $ 1.0 million , $ 0.9 million and $ 0.9 million during each of the years ended december 31 , 2010 , 2009 and 2008 , respectively . we guarantee the residual values of the majority of our truck and equipment operating leases . the residual values decline over the lease terms to a defined percentage of original cost . in the event the lessor does not realize the residual value when a piece of equipment is sold , we would be responsible for a portion of the shortfall . similarly , if the lessor realizes more than the residual value when a piece of equipment is sold , we would be paid the amount realized over the residual value . had we terminated all of our operating leases subject to these guarantees at december 31 , 2010 , the guaranteed residual value would have totaled approximately $ 31.4 million . we have not recorded a liability for the guaranteed residual value of equipment under operating leases as the recovery on disposition of the equipment under the leases is expected to approximate the guaranteed residual value . litigation and related contingencies in december 2005 and may 2008 , ford global technologies , llc filed complaints with the international trade commission against us and others alleging that certain aftermarket parts imported into the u.s . infringed on ford design patents . the parties settled these matters in april 2009 pursuant to a settlement arrangement that expires in september 2011 . pursuant to the settlement , we ( and our designees ) became the sole distributor in the u.s . of aftermarket automotive parts that correspond to ford collision parts that are covered by a u.s . design patent . we have paid ford an upfront fee for these rights and will pay a royalty for each such part we sell . the amortization of the upfront fee and the royalty expenses are reflected in cost of goods sold on the accompanying consolidated statements of income . we also have certain other contingencies resulting from litigation , claims and other commitments and are subject to a variety of environmental and pollution control laws and regulations incident to the ordinary course of business . we currently expect that the resolution of such contingencies will not materially affect our financial position , results of operations or cash flows. .

Question: what was the percentage change in rental expense for operating leases from 2009 to 2010?
Answer: 17%