Opinion ID: 1138073
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: defense of immunity from negligence of independent contractor

Text: 26. MHS moved for a directed verdict and urges that its motion should have been allowed. The ground of the motion was that welding is not inherently dangerous and that therefore MHS is not liable for the negligence of Lord, an independent contractor. We need not follow counsel in their attempt to demonstrate that welding is not inherently dangerous, for the case is governed by another principle. Regardless of the question of inherent danger, if Lord is liable, MHS is vicariously liable, because it had entered into a contract to supply six cargo lifts for the plaintiff and it could not avoid its responsibility for injury resulting from the negligent performance of its obligations by engaging a subcontractor to supply the lifts which in turn engaged another subcontractor to install them. The rule is succintly stated in Pacific F. Ins. Co. v. Kenny Boiler & Mfg. Co., 201 Minn 500, 503, 277 NW 226:    Where one person owes another a contractual duty to act, the law imposes upon the person owing that duty the further duty of acting with due care in the performance of his contract so as not to injure the contractee's person or property. This duty is nondelegable. See note, Restatement, Torts, p. 1101. That is, the performance of the contract may be delegated to another, but this delegation does not relieve the contractor of the duty to act, or of his duty to act with due care. See, also, Sciolaro v. Asch, 198 NY 77, 81-82, 91 NE 263, 264; Schutte v. United Electric Co., 68 NJL 435, 437, 53 A 204, 205; Continental Ins. Co. v. I. Bahcall, Inc. (ED Wis) 39 F Supp 315, 318; 27 Am Jur 526, Independent Contractors § 48; Annotation, 29 ALR 736. The contention is without merit. The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.