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Indemnity and the Association, Part 2

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Last week I wrote about Indemnification. Specifically about hiring contractors and ensuring that contract clauses were properly worded so that the Association was being indemnified and not providing the indemnity. At the end, I concluded by noting that indemnification in the absence of adequate insurance may be illusory. What does that mean? Remember that the whole idea for indemnification is to have another party hold the Association free from liability for any negligent conduct. However, if the indemnitor does not have adequate funds then what good is the indemnification?

For example, Happyland Condominium contracts with Acme Lawn Care for monthly maintenance services. Acme is a small shop with only a 10-year old truck and 2 riding lawn mowers as assets (total value $5,000) and no insurance. One month Acme is driving the truck from the front to the back of the property when the it runs into and kills a jogger. The Association and Acme are sued by the family for wrongful death, and millions of dollars in damages. The Association has put in the contract that Acme shall indemnify the Association from any claims made against the Association as a result of Acme’s conduct. The Association demands that Acme indemnify it against the wrongful death claim.

Despite the language of the contract, Acme does not have the wherewithal to defend the association or hold it harmless from liability. In such a case, the Association would be responsible to defend itself against any claim (ostensibly through its own insurance carriers) with no recourse against Acme for out-of-pocket expenses (such as the insurance deductible). Also, if the Association’s insurance is insufficient, or the claim denied, then the Association could itself be facing significant liability. If Acme had insurance, then the Association could be able to recoup against Acme’s carrier for anything not covered by the Association’s own carrier, and would also give the Association’s carrier the possible right to subrogate against Acme’s carrier.

Clearly, it is important that in addition to language about indemnification that all vendors/service providers also have adequate insurance. This would provide actual protection for the Association, not just the illusion of protection. Such requirements should be put into the contract, and verified at the start of any work as well as at periodic points during the life of the contract.

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