Opinion ID: 3011253
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: On January 4, 1995, Helen Kane, a control technician for Quality Foods Company, suffered the injury, which necessitated the amputation of her arm. At the time of the accident, Kane was working near the screw auger while its lid was open. The proximity switch, which prevents the machine from operating with the lid open, had been bypassed and the rotating screw auger was exposed. The machine was manufactured by Airco Industrial Gases, a division of BOC, and was leased to Quality Foods on July 8, 1991, under an Application Equipment Rental Agreement. One of the provisions of the Agreement imposed on Quality Foods the duty to safeguard its workplace for its employees. Kane received benefits for her injuries under the New Jersey Workers' Compensation Act, N.J. Stat. Ann. SS 34:15-1 et seq. (West 1988 & Supp. 1998). She then brought an action against BOC for negligence, product liability, and breach of warranty. BOC in turn filed a thirdparty complaint against Quality Foods, alleging indemnification and breach of contract to provide a safe workplace. Before trial, BOC settled with Kane for two million dollars. Quality Foods then moved for summary judgment and BOC moved for partial judgment. After oral argument, the District Court granted Quality Foods' motion for summary judgment against BOC on January 22, 1998. 3 Kane v. BOC Group, Inc., No. 95-3147 (E.D. Pa. Jan. 22, 1998). The District Court held that the language of the Agreement was insufficient as a matter of law to provide BOC with a right of indemnification from Quality Foods. The District Court did not, however, address BOC's breach of contract claim. Upon appeal by BOC, we affirmed the District Court's decision regarding the express indemnification claim but vacated the grant of summary judgment and remanded the case for further consideration of BOC's breach of contract claim. Kane v. BOC Group, Inc., No. 98-1152, slip op. at 7- 8 (3d Cir. Aug. 17, 1998). We also directed the District Court to examine Port Authority of N.Y. & N.J. v. Honeywell Protective Servs., 535 A.2d 974, 976 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1987), in relation to BOC's breach of contract claim. On remand, the District Court again granted Quality Foods' motion for summary judgment on BOC's third-party complaint by a November 30, 1999, Memorandum and Order. Kane v. BOC Group, Inc., No. 95-3147 (E.D. Pa. Nov. 30, 1999). Relying on New Jersey precedent, most notably Honeywell and Mayer v. Fairlawn Jewish Center, 186 A.2d 274 (N.J. Sup. Ct. 1962), the District Court explained that BOC's breach of contract claim could not withstand summary judgment because BOC can present no set of facts that would establish that BOC could have been liable to Kane for a claim that it could then recover from Quality [Foods]. Id. at 11. BOC now appeals to this court.