American Home Assurance Co. v. Chevron, USA, Inc.

DENNIS, Circuit Judge:

The issue is whether an oil company may call upon the courts to enforce an indemnity clause requiring its oilfield service contractor to indemnify the oil company against its own negligence without affording the contractor an opportunity to show that the indemnity clause is invalid under the Louisiana Oilfield Anti-Indemnity Act (LOAIA). The LOAIA prohibits the enforcement of such provisions in cases in which the oil company’s negligence or fault (strict liability) has contributed to the third party’s injury or death.

In this case, the district court rendered summary…