Court Opinion

ID: 2830121
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-08-24 21:00:05.166228+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:33:24.379372
License: Public Domain

ARMED SERVICES BOARD OF CONTRACT APPEALS

    Appeals of --                                 )
                                                  )
    Kellogg Brown & Root Services, Inc.           )      ASBCA Nos. 59357, 59358
                                                  )
    Under Contract No. DACA63-03-D-0005           )

    APPEARANCES FOR THE APPELLANT:                       Kurt J. Hamrock, Esq.
                                                         Herbert L. Fenster, Esq.
                                                         Raymond B. Biagini, Esq.
                                                          Covington & Burling LLP
                                                          Washington, DC

    APPEARANCES FOR THE GOVERNMENT:                      Thomas H. Gourlay, Jr., Esq.
                                                          Engineer Chief Trial Attorney
                                                         Michaele J. Mandulak, Esq.
                                                          Engineer Trial Attorney

                                                         Raymond M. Saunders, Esq.
                                                          Army Chief Trial Attorney
                                                         Kyle E. Chadwick, Esq.
                                                          Trial Attorney

           OPINION BY ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE DELMAN ON APPELLANT'S
                   MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT

           Kellogg Brown & Root Services, Inc. (KBRSI or appellant) 1 has filed a motion
    for partial summary judgment under ASBCA Nos. 59357 and 59358, contending that
    under its contract with the government it is entitled to be indemnified against certain
    third-party claims and for the legal costs it has incurred in defending these claims. The
    government opposes partial summary judgment, contending that the government has
    no such contractual obligation under the circumstances. We have jurisdiction under
    the Contract Disputes Act, 41 U.S.C. §§ 7101-7109.

             STATEMENT OF FACTS (SOF) FOR PURPOSES OF THE MOTION

           1. In the run-up to "Operation Iraqi Freedom" and the invasion of Iraq in 2003,
    the Secretary of Defense designated the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

j   1
        The contract and the related task order were issued to "Brown & Root Services, A
             Division of Kellogg Brown & Root," which later became KBRSI. For ease of

I            reference, we refer to KBRSI as the contractor/appellant in this opinion.

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("government") as the executive agent for Iraqi restoration. Insofar as pertinent here,
the government established a "Task Force Restore Iraqi Oil" as the planning and
executive organization for management and operations to restore Iraq's oil production
as a result of the war and its aftermath. (R4, vol. 1, tab Cl at 101)

       2. In response to the government's requirements under its Logistics Civil
Augmentation Program (LOGCAP) contract, appellant developed a contingency
support plan (CSP), dated 31 January 2003, to assess damage, repair, maintenance, and
the resumption and/or continuity of operations of the oil infrastructure oflraq during a
possible military occupation of Iraq (R4, vol. 4, tab D at 2). Following its receipt of
the CSP, the government approached appellant with respect to the performance of a
contract to execute the CSP and to perform oil field-related and support services.

        3. On 3 March 2003, appellant sent a request to the government seeking
indemnification coverage under "Public Law 85-804" for unusually hazardous risks
associated with the performance of any such contract (R4, vol. 1, tab Cl at 065).
Public Law No. 85-804, 72 Stat. 972, signed into law on 28 August 1958, empowered
the President to authorize executive agencies to enter into, amend or modify
government contracts without regard to other provisions of law when necessary to
facilitate the national defense. Acting under this authority, President Eisenhower on
14 November 1958 issued Executive Order (EO) 10789, "Authorizing Agencies of the
Government To Exercise Certain Contracting Authority in Connection With
National-Defense Functions and Prescribing Regulations Governing the Exercise of
Such Authority." In summary, Paragraph 1 of this EO authorized the Department of
Defense and the service branches, "within the limits of the amounts appropriated and
the contract authorization provided therefor," to enter into, amend, modify or make
advance payments on government contracts when necessary to facilitate the national
defense. 23 Fed. Reg. 8897; see EO 10789 following 50 U.S.C. § 1431. (App. supp.
br. at 2)

      4. On 22 July 197I, President Nixon issued EO 11610, which amended and
expanded EO 10789 by adding Paragraph IA. Insofar as pertinent, Paragraph IA
provided as follows:

                     IA. (a) The limitation in paragraph 1 to amounts
             appropriated and the contract authorization provided
             therefor shall not apply to contractual provisions which
             provide that the United States will hold harmless and
             indemnify the contractor against any of the claims or
             losses set forth in subparagraph (b ), whether resulting
             from the negligence or wrongful act or omission of the
             contractor or otherwise (except as provided in
             subparagraph (b)(2)). This exception from the

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                  limitations of paragraph 1 shall apply only to claims or
                  losses arising out of or resulting from risks that the
                  contract defines as unusually hazardous or nuclear in
                  nature ....

                         (b)(l) Subparagraph (a) shall apply to claims
                  (including reasonable expenses of litigation and
                  settlement) or losses, not compensated by insurance or
                  otherwise, of the following types:

                         (A) Claims by third persons, including employees
                  of the contractor, for death, personal injury, or loss of,
                  damage to, or loss of use of property;

                          (2) Indemnification and hold harmless
                  agreements entered into pursuant to this subsection,
                  whether between the United States and a contractor, or
                  between a contractor and a subcontractor, or between two
                  subcontractors, shall not cover claims or losses caused by
                  the willful misconduct or lack of good faith on the part
                  of any of the contractor's or subcontractor's directors
                  or officers or principal officials which are (i) claims by
                  the United States (other than those arising through
                  subrogation) against the contractor or subcontractor,
                  or (ii) losses affecting the property of such contractor
                  or subcontractor. Regulations to be prescribed or
                  approved by the Secretaries of Defense, the Army, the
                  Navy or the Air Force shall define the scope of the term
                  '"principal officials." [Emphasis added]

     36 Fed. Reg. 13755; see EO 10789 following 50 U.S.C. § 1431.

            5. The government issued a determinations and findings (DAF) in support of
     appellant's indemnification request, entitled: '"DETERMINATIONS AND
     FINDINGS OF THE CONTRACTING OFFICER CONCERNING THE REQUEST
     FOR INDEMNIFICATION SUBMITTED BY [APPELLANT] RELATING TO THE
     CONTRACT TO EXECUTE A CONTINGENCY SUPPORT PLAN FOR THE
     RESTORATION AND OPERATION OF THE IRAQI OIL INFRASTRUCTURE."
     Insofar as pertinent, this DAF provided as follows:

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             2. Definition of unusually hazardous risks and
             statement that parties to the contract have agreed
             concerning those risks.

                    a. Definition of unusually hazardous risks.

                      This is an unprecedented contract for an
             unprecedented situation. The risks associated with this
             contract are extraordinarily high. The extent of damage
             that may be done to Iraq's oil infrastructure and other
             related infrastructure remains unknown. Technical risks
             are extraordinarily high. The Contractor must quickly
             assess the condition of the facilities. Then he must quickly
             make repairs to the Iraqi energy infrastructure and all
             related systems and facilities, including but not limited
             to ... water, pipeline distribution systems, and supporting
             electrical grids in an austere environment without
             sufficient time to evaluate the situation thoroughly. As a
             result, there is significant risk that actions taken by the
             contractor, particularly in the first few weeks after the
             conflict begins will be less than optimum .

                     .. .Although the contract contemplates that
             CENTCOM will provide a "benign" environment, there
             will be many unusual and extraordinary hazards in the
             area. These may include, but are not limited to, indirect
             fire; booby traps; biological and chemical agents, which
             may be persistent; suicide bombers; hazards caused or
             increased by the deteriorated condition of the Iraqi
             infrastructure and lack of instrumentation on the facilities;
             and environmental hazards ....

                     Finally, even successful operations on a scale of the
             one envisioned here are likely to result in contamination of
             fresh water zones both on and beneath the surface and may
             result in other environmental pollution.

(Appellant's Statement of Undisputed Material Facts (ASUMF), attach. 3 at 9, 12-13)
This DAF was signed by the contracting officer (CO) and other government officials
between 5 March and 6 March 2003 (id. at 18).

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            6. On 8 March 2003, the government awarded to appellant Contract
    No. DACA63-03-D-0005. This cost-reimbursement, indefinite delivery, indefinite
    quantity contract had a base period of two years and three one-year options, not to
    exceed a total of five years. The government's minimum guarantee for the contract
    was $500,000 and the estimated maximum amount was $7 billion. (R4, vol. 1, tab B
    at 1-3)

            7. By Memorandum of Decision dated 19 March 2003 (''White Memo"), the
    Secretary of the Army authorized the inclusion of the Indemnification clause into the
    contract, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.250-1, Alternate I. In brief, this
    clause provided for indemnification of appellant for certain losses arising out of or
    resulting from a risk defined in the contract as "unusually hazardous." Enclosure A to
    the White Memo defined "unusually hazardous risks" as follows:

                                      ENCLOSURE A

                 DEFINITION OF UNUSUALLY HAZARDOUS RISKS

                 The definition of the unusually hazardous risks to which
                 the contract indemnification clause will apply is as
                 follows:

                 "The risk of

                        -fire, explosion, combustion or detonation of
                 hydrocarbons or other combustible substances, or of
                 munitions, explosives, pyrotechnics and ordnance of all
                 types, whether military or nonmilitary;

                         -exposure to lethal chemical agents, biological
                 agents, radioactivity or nuclear materials. The term "lethal
                 chemical agents" for the purposes of this clause, means:
                 (i) the agents GB, VX or mustard, (ii) any other military
                 chemical agent encountered at the work site, or (iii) any
                 other highly toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic or
                 psychotropic chemical resulting from a reaction with the
                 items listed in (i) or (ii) above;

                        -sudden or nonsudden release of hydrocarbons or
                 other toxic or hazardous substances or contaminants
                 into the environment, including subsurface release;

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                          -failure of equipment or failure to control a wild
                well.. .. " [Emphasis added]

(ASUMF, attach. 3 at 2-4)

       8. The Indemnification clause, the White Memo and Enclosure A were
incorporated into the contract under Modification No. P00002, effective 20 March
2003 (R4, vol. 1, tab B at 126-29). The Indemnification clause is appended as an
appendix to this opinion.

          9. Pursuant to the contract, the government issued Task Order No. 0003 to
appellant on 20 March 2003 (R4, vol. 1, tab B at 139-52). Task Order No. 0003, as
modified by Amendment No. 03 dated 30 April 2003, tasked the contractor to
"provide the necessary equipment, tools, materials and personnel to perform and
complete repairs on oil wells ... pipelines, pump stations ... and other associated
infrastructure which are necessary to ... restore the facilities to operating condition" (id.
at 138). The Task Order also provided: "'[C]ontractor personnel shall be notified by
ACO that benign conditions exist [Zl and directed by the ACO to deploy from staging
areas ... to specific facilities" (id. at 140).

        10. One facility to which appellant was directed under Task Order No. 0003
was the Qarmat Water Treatment Plant (the "plant") near Al Basrah, Iraq. Simply
stated, this plant provided chemically-treated water that was distributed to pumping
stations which was then injected under pressure into nearby Iraqi oil fields to allow for
the oil and gas to rise, thereby facilitating extraction. (R4, vol. 2, tab Cl at 1283) The
operations at this plant had become degraded and needed to be restored as a link to the
restoration of Iraqi oil production (compl. ~ 19, answer~ 19).

       11. Because of the ongoing dangerous conditions in Iraq, and as required by
the contract, the government provided uniformed U.S. military personnel as force
protection to KBRSI personnel while traveling throughout the war theater and while
performing work at Iraqi oil infrastructure facilities, including the subject plant
(compl. ~ 18, answer~ 18).

       12. It is undisputed that in the spring of 2003 and beyond, there were persons at
the plant who were exposed by touch or inhalation to a chemical agent in powder form
known as "Sodium Dichromate," which was found in the soil and in other areas of the

2   The parties dispute the nature and extent of the government's responsibility to
         provide "benign conditions" to Iraqi sites under Task Order No. 0003.
         However, this dispute is unrelated to the interpretation of the Indemnification
         clause, and hence is not a relevant, material dispute that would preclude
         consideration of appellant's motion.

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plant. It is also undisputed that in or around the summer of 2003, appellant took action
to encapsulate the Sodium Dichromate at certain plant locations, and that later in the
year plant operations were shut down for a period of time due to personnel exposure
and related testing. (R4, vol. 2, tab C 1 at 1319-22, vol. 11, tab H at 2899, 2907)

       13. According to '"Memorandum for Surgeon General of the Army from
Defense Health Board" dated 10 December 2008, Sodium Dichromate is "a corrosion
suppression agent used in the water treatment process." It is "an inorganic compound
containing hexavalent chromium known to be toxic and carcinogenic to humans and
animals." (App. supp. R4, tab J-15 at 105) Sodium Dichromate is also classified as a
hazardous substance under regulations implementing the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act. 40 C.F.R. § 116.4.

         Sodium Dichromate Legal Actions Against Appellant 3

       14. In 2005, former KBRSI personnel sought through arbitration to recover
from KBRSI for injuries allegedly caused by Sodium Dichromate exposure at the
Qarmat plant. See Langford v. Halliburton, AAA No. 704800064905. The
government reimbursed KBRSI for the legal costs it incurred in successfully defending
the Langford arbitration.

       15. Beginning in December 2008, various groups of U.S. and British military
personnel filed claims against KBRSI in federal court, alleging that these individuals
had provided force protection for KBRSI personnel or perimeter security at the plant
in 2003 and had been exposed to injurious levels of Sodium Dichromate due to
appellant's negligence and wrongdoing.

        16. The first claim brought by military personnel in federal court was
McManaway v. KBR Inc. (Southern District of Indiana), which was filed in late 2008
on behalf of a group of Indiana National Guard personnel. Throughout 2009, KB RSI
was named by military personnel in several additional lawsuits in federal court: Bixby
v. KBR Inc. (District of Oregon); Billiter v. Kellogg, Brown & Root Services, Inc.
(Northern District of West Virginia); Gallaher v. KBR Inc. (Northern District of West
Virginia); and Bootay v. KBR Inc. (Western District of Pennsylvania). KBRSI notified
the government of the lawsuits brought against it and requested assistance and
direction as to the management or disposition of the suits. The government
acknowledged receipt of these litigation notices, but stated in response that it was the
policy of the Army to remain neutral in the litigation.

3
    SOF iii! 14-18 are based upon ASUMF iii! 20-25. The government has accepted the
         factual assertions in the ASUMF, except for ASUMF ii 18 (gov't opp'n at 3).

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        17. KBRSI defended these lawsuits and obtained dismissals in McManaway,
Billiter, Gallaher, and Bootay. After the above dismissal, the McManaway plaintiffs
filed a similar action in 2011 in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, and
as far as this record shows, this action is currently pending.

       18. In October 2012, following a jury trial in Bixby, the jury returned an $85.2
million verdict, including compensatory and punitive damages, against KBRSI and
other defendants. On remittitur, the court reduced the jury's verdict to an $81 million
judgment. KBRSI appealed.

       19. On appeal, the Ninth Circuit vacated the judgment and reversed and
remanded, holding that the defendants were not subject to personal jurisdiction in
Oregon for actions performed in Iraq. Bixby v. KBR, Inc.; Kellogg, Brown & Root
Service, Inc., 603 F. Appx. 605 (9th Cir. 2015).

       KBRSI Requests Indemnification from the Government

       20. Throughout the above period, KBRSI notified the government of the
ongoing legal matters and the concomitant legal costs it was incurring (compl. ~ 87,
answer~ 87). By letter to the CO dated 29 December 2010, KBRSI requested that the
government acknowledge its indemnification obligations under the contract and
participate directly in the pending lawsuits (app. supp. R4, tab J-16 at 117-24).

        21. By letter to KBRSI dated 6 April 2011, the CO denied the indemnification
request (R4, vol. 1, tab Cl at 449-50). KBRSI submitted additional information to the
government, and the parties met in August 2011 to further discuss this matter. By
letter to KBRSI dated 18 November 2011, the CO again denied KBRSI's
indemnification request (R4, vol. 2, tab Cl at 1256-57).

       22. In July and August 2012, KBRSI submitted to the government invoices for
payment of some of the outside legal costs incurred to defend against these third-party
lawsuits (compl. ~ 4 7, answer~ 4 7). The government did not pay these invoices
(compl. ~ 49, answer~ 49).

       23. KB RSI thereafter submitted three certified claims to the government, dated
21December2012, 21 February 2013 and 4 April 2014, seeking payment for the
unpaid invoices and additional legal costs related to the Sodium Dichromate claims,
totaling over $30 million (R4, tabs Cl, C2, C3). The government declined to issue a
CO decision on any of these claims.

       24. Appellant appealed to this Board based upon the deemed denial of its
claims. The deemed denial ofthe certified claim of21December2012, as updated by
the claim of21 February 2013, was docketed as ASBCA No. 59357. The deemed

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l   denial of the claim dated 4 April 2014 was docketed as ASBCA No. 59358. The

l   appeals were consolidated and pleadings were filed.

l         25. On 23 December 2014, appellant filed the subject motion for partial
    summary judgment under ASBCA Nos. 59357 and 59358. 4 Appellant sought
    judgment under Count III of its complaint, which alleged entitlement to
    indemnification pursuant to Public Law No. 85-804 and the Indemnification clause.

            26. On 28 July 2014, appellant filed another certified claim with the CO,
    seeking an additional $488,309.83, plus interest, under the Indemnification clause for
    costs incurred to defend certain Sodium Dichromate matters (ASBCA No. 59873,
    compl., ex. A at 26). By decision dated 10 December 2014, the CO denied this claim
    (id., ex. B). Appellant appealed to this Board, and the appeal was docketed as ASBCA
    No. 59873. Per appellant's request and without objection from the government, the
    three appeals were consolidated and further proceedings under ASBCA No. 59873
    were stayed pending resolution of the dispositive motions in ASBCA Nos. 59357 and
    59358.

                                         DECISION

            Under appellant's motion for partial summary judgment we are asked to
    interpret the parties' contract, specifically, the Indemnification clause, FAR 52.250-1,
    Alternate I, and the related White Memo and its Enclosure A that were made part of
    the contract under Modification No. P00002. "'Contract interpretation begins with the
    plain language of the written agreement." McHugh v. DLT Solutions, Inc., 618 F.3d
    1375, 1380 (Fed. Cir. 2010). We seek an interpretation of FAR clauses/regulations
    consistent with the plain terms provided; it is not our prerogative to insert words or
    phrases to alter an otherwise plain and clear meaning. Tesoro Hawaii Corp. v. United
    States, 405 F.3d 1339, 1346-47 (Fed. Cir. 2005); Northrop Grumman Corp., ASBCA
    No. 57625, 14-1 BCA ~ 35,501, recon. denied, 14-1BCA~35,743. Contract
    interpretation is a question of law and may be resolved by summary judgment if the
    provisions are unambiguous. Skanska US Building, Inc., ASBCA No. 56339, 10-1
    BCA ~ 34,392 at 169,832.

             The Indemnification clause, Paragraph (b ), states in part as follows:

                    Under Public Law 85-804 (50 U.S.C. 1431-1435) and
                    Executive Order 10789, as amended, and regardless of any
                    other provisions of this contract, the Government shall,

    4
        Appellant had earlier filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings under ASBCA
            Nos. 59357 and 59358.

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              subject to the limitations contained in the other paragraphs
              of this clause, indemnify the Contractor ....

We address below whether appellant has met the requirements for indemnification as
prescribed by this clause.

Per Paragraphs (b) and (c) of the Indemnification Clause, the Third-Party Claims and
Related Costs "Arisefsl Out of or Result[s] from" a Risk Defined in the Contract as
Unusually Hazardous and Are "Not Compensated for by Insurance or Otherwise."

       By its very terms, Paragraph (b )( 1) of the Indemnification clause covers the
type of loss, i.e., litigation expense and personal injury claims, for which appellant
seeks indemnification here. Under Paragraph (c) of the Indemnification clause, the
government agreed to indemnify appellant for such loss that "arises out of or results
from a risk defined in this contract as unusually hazardous" and was "not compensated
for by insurance or otherwise."

      "Unusually hazardous" risks are defined in "Enclosure A" of the White Memo,
which was made part of the contract under Modification No. P00002. One such risk
was defined as the "nonsudden release" of a "toxic or hazardous substance."

       Sodium Dichromate contains hexavalent chromium, a toxic and carcinogenic
substance. It is also classified as a hazardous substance under regulations
implementing the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. (SOF ii 13) Indeed, it is
undisputed that appellant took action to encapsulate the Sodium Dichromate powder at
the plant in or around the summer of 2003, and that later in the year the plant was shut
down for a period of time due to personnel exposure and related testing. We believe
that Sodium Dichromate is a "toxic or hazardous substance" in accordance with the
plain meaning of the term and in accordance with Enclosure A of the White Memo in
the contract.

       The parties' motion papers do not dispute the meaning of the term "nonsudden
release" and do not dispute the application of the term to the Sodium Dichromate
exposure in this case. The Army has defined "non-sudden release" of an agent in an
indemnification context under Public Law No. 85-804 as a release of toxic material
"which takes place over time and involves continuous or repeated exposure." Mark J.
Connor, Government Owned-Contractor Operated Munitions Facilities: Are They
Appropriate in the Age ofStrict Environmental Compliance and Liability?, 131
MILITARY LAW REVIEW 39 n.262 (1991). It is undisputed that there were persons at
the plant who were repeatedly exposed to Sodium Dichromate powder in the soil and
in other areas of the plant over a period of time through touch or inhalation. We
believe that this exposure is consistent with the term "nonsudden release" of a toxic or

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    hazardous substance in accordance with Enclosure A of the White Memo in the
    contract.

           Based upon the above, we believe that appellant has shown an "unusually
    hazardous risk" to which indemnification applies under the Indemnification clause.
    We also believe that, per Paragraph ( c) of the clause, the loss for which appellant seeks
    indemnification "arises out of' or "results from" that risk. The parties' motion papers
    also do not dispute that such loss was "not compensated for by insurance or
    otherwise," per Paragraph (c) of the clause, and we so conclude.

          Accordingly, we conclude that appellant has met the requirements of
    Paragraphs (b) and ( c) of the Indemnification clause for purposes of obtaining
    indemnification under the clause.

    Per Paragraph (d) of the Indemnification clause, Willful Misconduct or Lack of Good
    Faith of the Contractor Does Not Bar Indemnification of the Costs Claimed.

            The government contends that it did not intend under the Indemnification
    clause to indemnify appellant for third-party claims and related litigation costs
    attributable to appellant's own misconduct, and spends much of its opposition citing to
    the evidence of record supporting this alleged misconduct (gov't opp'n at 31-37).;
    The government's contention, however, is not supported by the language of the
    Indemnification clause. Paragraph (d) of the clause expressly addresses claims or
    losses "caused by willful misconduct or lack of good faith" of the contractor. Under
    such circumstances, said paragraph bars indemnification of costs incident to
    "Government claims against the Contractor" or for "Loss or damage affecting the
    Contractor's property." It does not bar the indemnification of third-party claims
    against appellant and related legal costs. To the same effect is EO 10789 as amended
    (SOF ~ 4). Hence, assuming, arguendo, that there was some element of misconduct by
    KB RSI here, such misconduct does not bar indemnification of the covered losses
    arising from these third-party actions.

           We have considered all the government's arguments regarding the
    interpretation of the Indemnification clause and otherwise. We conclude that the
    Indemnification clause - and the related White Memo and Enclosure A - are
    unambiguous, and that the plain language of these contract provisions support

    5   For example, the jury in Bixby found appellant liable for compensatory and punitive
             damages and the trial court, in response to post-trial motions, found that
             appellant, inter alia, affirmatively concealed the risks of exposure to Sodium
             Dichromate to the plaintiffs (gov't opp'n at 29-31). The Ninth Circuit vacated
             this judgment on jurisdictional grounds (see SOF ~ 19).

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appellant's entitlement to indemnification as a matter of law under the circumstances
presented.

                                   CONCLUSION

       Appellant's motion for partial summary judgment under Count III of its
complaint, seeking entitlement to indemnification pursuant to Public Law No. 85-804
and the Indemnification clause, is granted consistent with this opinion.

      Dated: 13 August 2015

                                               \JAC
                                                A ministrative Judge
                                                 Armed Services Board
                                                of Contract Appeals

I concur                                        I concur

MARK N. STEMPLER                                RICHARD SHACKLEFORD
Administrative Judge                            Administrative Judge
Acting Chairman                                 Vice Chairman
Armed Services Board                            Armed Services Board
of Contract Appeals                             of Contract Appeals

       I certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the Opinion and Decision of the
Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals in ASBCA Nos. 59357, 59358, Appeals of
Kellogg Brown & Root Services, Inc., rendered in conformance with the Board's
Charter.

      Dated:

                                                JEFFREY D. GARDIN
                                                Recorder, Armed Services
                                                Board of Contract Appeals

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                                      APPENDIX

52.250-1 Indemnification Under Public Law 85-804.

      As prescribed in 50.403-3, insert the following clause in contracts whenever the
approving official determines that the contractor shall be indemnified against
unusually hazardous or nuclear risks (also see 50.403-2(c)):

         INDEMNIFICATION UNDER PUBLIC LAW 85-804 (APR 1984)

       (a) "Contractor's principal officials," as used in this clause, means directors,
officers, managers, superintendents, or other representatives supervising or directing-

       (1) All or substantially all of the Contractor's business;

       (2) All or substantially all of the Contractor's operations at any one plant or
separate location in which this contract is being performed; or

      (3) A separate and complete major industrial operation in connection with the
performance of this contract.

       (b) Under Public Law 85-804 (50 U.S.C. 1431-1435) and Executive Order
10789, as amended, and regardless of any other provisions of this contract, the
Government shall, subject to the limitations contained in the other paragraphs of this
clause, indemnify the Contractor against-

      (1) Claims (including reasonable expenses of litigation or settlement) by third
persons (including employees of the Contractor) for death; personal injury; or loss of,
damage to, or loss of use of property;

        (2) Loss of, damage to, or loss of use of Contractor property, excluding loss of
profit; and

       (3) Loss of, damage to, or loss of use of Government property, excluding loss
of profit.

        (c) This indemnification applies only to the extent that the claim, loss, or
damage ( 1) arises out of or results from a risk defined in this contract as unusually
hazardous or nuclear and (2) is not compensated for by insurance or otherwise. Any
such claim, loss, or damage, to the extent that it is within the deductible amounts of the
Contractor's insurance, is not covered under this clause. If insurance coverage or
other financial protection in effect on the date the approving official authorizes use of
this clause is reduced, the Government's liability under this clause shall not increase as
a result.

       (d) When the claim, loss, or damage is caused by willful misconduct or lack of
good faith on the part of any of the Contractor's principal officials, the Contractor
shall not be indemnified for-

      ( 1) Government claims against the Contractor (other than those arising through
subrogation); or

       (2) Loss or damage affecting the Contractor's property.

        (f) The rights and obligations of the parties under this clause shall survive this
contract's termination, expiration, or completion. The Government shall make no
payment under this clause unless the agency head determines that the amount is just
and reasonable. The Government may pay the Contractor or subcontractors, or may
directly pay parties to whom the Contractor or subcontractors may be liable.

       (g) The Contractor shall-

       ( 1) Promptly notify the Contracting Officer of any claim or action against, or
any loss by, the Contractor or any subcontractors that may reasonably be expected to
involve indemnification under this clause;

      (2) Immediately furnish to the Government copies of all pertinent papers the
Contractor receives;

       (3) Furnish evidence or proof of any claim, loss, or damage covered by this
clause in the manner and form the Government requires; and

       (4) Comply with the Government's directions and execute any authorizations
required in connection with settlement or defense of claims or actions.

       (h) The Government may direct, control, or assist in settling or defending any
claim or action that may involve indemnification under this clause.

                                      (End of clause)

      Alternate I (APR 1984). In cost-reimbursement contracts, add the following
paragraph (i) to the basic clause:

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I          (i) The cost of insurance (including self-insurance programs) covering a risk
    defined in this contract as unusually hazardous or nuclear shall not be reimbursed
    except to the extent that the Contracting Officer has required or approved this
    insurance. The Government's obligations under this clause are-

          (1) Excepted from the release required under this contract's clause relating to
    allowable cost; and

              (2) Not affected by this contract's Limitation of Cost or Limitation of Funds
    clause.

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