Opinion ID: 1934735
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Indemnity Provisions.

Text: The sole issue on this appeal is whether MPA is entitled to be indemnified by Prairie, the general contractor, and Hudson, as a subcontractor, for the amounts MPA had spent in settling Pugh's claim. This turns largely on the interpretation of the construction contracts. The contract between Prairie, as general contractor, and the university, as owner, incorporated by reference the general conditions of the contract for construction, which provides in pertinent part, in paragraph 3.18.1: [T]he Contractor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Owner [University], Architect [MPA], Architect's consultants, and agents and employees ... from and against claims, damages, losses and expenses ... but only to the extent caused in whole or in part by negligent acts or omissions of the Contractor, a Subcontractor, anyone directly or indirectly employed by them or anyone for whose acts they may be liable, regardless of whether or not such claim, damage, loss or expense is caused in part by a party indemnified hereunder. (Emphasis added.) Paragraph 5.3.1 of the general conditions provides: [T]he Contractor shall require each Subcontractor ... to be bound to the Contractor by terms of the Contract Documents, and to assume toward the Contractor all the obligations and responsibilities which the Contractor, by these Documents, assumes toward the Owner and Architect. Each subcontract agreement shall preserve and protect the rights of the Owner and Architect under the Contract Documents with respect to the Work to be performed by the Subcontractor so that subcontracting thereof will not prejudice such rights.... (Emphasis added.) In addition, paragraph XI of the subcontract agreement between Prairie and Hudson states that Hudson agrees: To be bound to the Contractor by the terms of the General Contract, to conform and to comply with the provisions of the General Contract, to furnish such shop drawings or samples as may be required, and to assume toward the Contractor all the obligations and responsibilities that the Contractor assumes in and by the General Contract toward the Owner, insofar as they are applicable to this Subcontract. (Emphasis added.) MPA argues these provisions, when taken together, make Hudson, as a subcontractor, liable to provide indemnification to the same extent as the general contractor. MPA seeks indemnity from both Hudson and the general contractor.