Opinion ID: 1128230
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Hamlin's Theory for Relief

Text: Hamlin, charging vicarious liability, not only seeks recovery against the State for wrongful death in consequence of co-employee Befus' culpable negligence, but also claims to be a beneficiary under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act, § 1-39-104(b) (see n. 3). In this latter respect, even though Hamlin relies upon the same section of the Act as does Befus  namely, § 1-39-104(b)  Hamlin's theory of recovery from the employer State of Wyoming is necessarily different from that of Befus in that Hamlin  as a judgment creditor of Befus  is admittedly not an employee of the State of Wyoming against whom liability is alleged (§ 1-39-104(b) language) in either tort or contract within the contemplation of § 1-39-104(b), as is the case with Befus. Instead, Hamlin claims to be a third-party beneficiary of the statutory indemnity contract (§ 1-39-104(b)) between Befus and the State. The relevant allegations of the Hamlin estate's complaint, in this respect, are these: 16. There did and does exist a written contractual agreement of indemnification by the STATE OF WYOMING for and to the benefit of GERALD A. BEFUS, deceased, pursuant to the terms of which the STATE OF WYOMING is obligated to indemnify and save harmless the said GERALD A. BEFUS, deceased, against the liability asserted herein, by reason of the commission of tortious conduct in the course and within the scope of his duties and employment with the STATE OF WYOMING. 17. The agreement for indemnification of the said GERALD A. BEFUS is and was intended specifically for the benefit of third-party victims of tortious misconduct by employees of the STATE OF WYOMING, including this plaintiff, and plaintiff is entitled to recover judgment against the defendant STATE OF WYOMING on the basis of said express indemnification agreement, set forth at § 1-39-104(b), W.S. (1977, as amended).