Narrative Opinion Summary
This case involves a personal injury lawsuit filed by a crane operator against Transworld Drilling Company and Aminoil Development, Inc., under the Jones Act and general maritime law. The plaintiff sustained injuries after slipping in a parking lot leased by Oil Base, Inc., now Hughes Tool Company. The jury found the plaintiff 18% negligent, Transworld 24% negligent, and Aminoil 58% negligent, awarding $494,000 in damages. Aminoil sought indemnity from Transworld and Oil Base, leading to a court order for Transworld to indemnify Aminoil. Following motions, a new trial on damages was proposed unless a remittitur was accepted, resulting in a $150,000 settlement. On appeal, Transworld contested the indemnity judgment, arguing the accident was outside its contractual obligations. The trial court upheld the indemnity agreement, interpreting it broadly under federal and Louisiana law. Aminoil's defense costs claim was acknowledged, necessitating a remand for cost determination. The judgment was affirmed with directions for further proceedings, emphasizing the broad interpretation of indemnity clauses in maritime contracts under applicable law.
Legal Issues Addressed
Defense Costs in Indemnity Casessubscribe to see similar legal issues
Application: The court acknowledged Aminoil's request for a fixed defense cost and remanded the case to determine those costs.
Reasoning: Aminoil's request for a fixed defense cost of $15,000 was acknowledged, but the case was remanded to the trial court for determination of those costs.
Indemnity Agreements under Maritime Lawsubscribe to see similar legal issues
Application: The court affirmed that the indemnity agreement between Aminoil and Transworld covered the incident involving Muirhead, as it was related to work activities, including transportation to and from the drilling site.
Reasoning: The trial judge affirmed the enforceability of an indemnity agreement between Aminoil and Transworld, stating that the term 'work' should be interpreted in its everyday meaning.
Jurisdiction and Choice of Law in Maritime Contractssubscribe to see similar legal issues
Application: The court applied federal and Louisiana state law to interpret the indemnity agreement, rejecting Transworld's reliance on Texas law for a narrow interpretation.
Reasoning: Transworld's argument against liability, based on three Texas cases, was dismissed, as Texas law's narrow interpretation does not apply due to the jurisdiction of the drilling contract, which falls under federal law and Louisiana state law.
Negligence and Apportionment of Faultsubscribe to see similar legal issues
Application: The jury apportioned fault among the parties, finding Muirhead 18% negligent, Transworld 24% negligent, and Aminoil 58% negligent, which affected the damages awarded.
Reasoning: During the trial, the jury found Muirhead 18% negligent, Transworld 24% negligent, and Aminoil 58% negligent, awarding Muirhead $494,000 in damages.
Remittitur and Settlement in Personal Injury Casessubscribe to see similar legal issues
Application: The court ordered a new trial on damages unless Muirhead accepted a remittitur, which ultimately led to a settlement for $150,000.
Reasoning: Following motions by Aminoil and Transworld, a new trial on damages was ordered unless Muirhead accepted a remittitur. Ultimately, the parties settled for $150,000.