Opinion ID: 354297
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Third Party Complaint in Sunshine Mining Company Action.

Text: 61 Third party defendants were also named by PVO and Polytron as third party defendants in the action brought by Sunshine Mining Company against them for damages to the mine. The district court also granted summary judgment in favor of the third party defendants in this action. We agree that a third party complaint seeking contribution and indemnity must fail when the third party defendant stands in the same position as the original plaintiff. In this situation the third party defendant's liability is not the secondary or derivative liability required for impleader. See Wright and Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1446. Instead a motion under Rule 19 to add the alleged third party defendant as a necessary plaintiff would result in the proper alignment of parties. On the record before us, third party defendants, by virtue of the operating agreements, share with Sunshine Mining Company the interest in the mine. Thus, the third party complaint against them was improper and the grant of summary judgment on this action is affirmed. 62 Affirmed in part, Reversed in part, Remanded in part.