Mobil Oil Corp. v. Schlumberger

• Decision Date: 27 March 1992
• Citation: 598 So.2d 1341
• Parties: MOBIL OIL CORPORATION, et al. v. Anadrill SCHLUMBERGER. 1901359.
• Court: Alabama Supreme Court

Page 1341

598 So.2d 1341

MOBIL OIL CORPORATION, et al. v. Anadrill SCHLUMBERGER.

1901359.

Supreme Court of Alabama.

March 27, 1992.

Rehearing Denied May 22, 1992.

W. Dewitt Reams of Reams, Philips, Killion, Brooks, Schell, Gaston and Hudson, P.C., Mobile, and Lucian Gillis, Jr. of Drew, Eckl & Farnham, Atlanta, Ga., for appellants.

J.P. Courtney III of Lyons, Pipes & Cook, Mobile, for appellee.

KENNEDY, Justice.

The plaintiffs appeal from a summary judgment in favor of the defendant, Anadrill, Inc. (previously known as Anadrill Schlumberger).

The issues in this case concern indemnity provisions in two separate agreements between Anadrill and Mobil Oil Corporation ("MOC"), Mobil Oil Exploration and Producing Southeast, Inc. ("MOEPSI"), and Mobil Exploration and Producing Services United States, Inc. ("MEPSUS"). The three Mobil entities will collectively be referred to as "Mobil." Mobil's claim for indemnity arose from a personal injury that occurred at Mobil's dock in Theodore, Alabama.

Mobil ordered from Anadrill a drilling jar, to be used in offshore oil drilling. Acme Trucking Company was to deliver the drilling jar to the Mobil dock. The facts are in dispute as to whether Anadrill or Mobil contacted Acme to have it deliver the drilling jar. On January 16, 1989, Joseph Leboeuf, was delivering the drilling jar to the Mobil dock for Acme. Michael Patton, an employee of Riedel Environmental Services, Inc. ("Riedel"), was unloading the drilling jar from the Acme delivery truck when the drilling jar fell on Leboeuf. Leboeuf lost both of his legs and one of his arms as a result of the accident.

Leboeuf sued Mobil, Riedel, and Patton, alleging that negligence on their part had caused his injuries. Mobil cross-claimed against Riedel, based on an indemnity provision contained in a master service agreement between Reidel's predecessor in interest, Peterson Maritime Services, Inc., and MOEPSI.

Mobil filed a third-party complaint against Anadrill Schlumberger, later known as Anadrill, Inc. Mobil's third-party complaint was based on indemnity provisions in two separate agreements with Anadrill. In the complaint, Mobil requested indemnity for any sum paid to Leboeuf, plus interest, attorney fees, court costs, and other costs and expenses incurred by Mobil.

The first agreement was a master service agreement between Anadrill's predecessor, The Analysts, Inc., and MOC dated September 23, 1971 (hereinafter referred to as the "1971 agreement"). The 1971 agreement was adopted and ratified in April 1988 by a letter agreement between Anadrill and MEPSUS, as agent for MOEPSI. The second agreement was a master pricing agreement, subject to the terms and conditions of the "Anadrill Drilling Equipment Rentals Price Schedule," between Anadrill and MOEPSI dated August 19, 1987 (hereinafter referred to as the "1987 agreement"). The 1987 agreement included the prices for renting equipment, and that agreement was updated December 20, 1988.

The trial court severed Mobil's contractual indemnity claims against Riedel and Anadrill from Leboeuf's tort claims. Leboeuf entered into a pro tanto settlement with Mobil and was paid $2,500,000 pursuant to that settlement.

Following the settlement with Leboeuf, Mobil's indemnity claim against Riedel proceeded to trial. At trial, Mobil was awarded $2,752,045.15, based on the indemnity provisions in the master service agreement with Riedel. The award included the principal amount paid to Leboeuf, attorney fees, court costs, and other expenses.

The trial court granted Anadrill's motion for a summary judgment, which had been filed in response to Mobil's third-party complaint against Anadrill. Mobil claims that the gross amount owed by Anadrill is $2,803,953.39 and says that Anadrill will be credited with the gross payment made by Riedel, minus post-judgment interest. Mobil appeals from the summary judgment in favor of Anadrill.

The 1971 agreement between Anadrill and MOC provides in pertinent part as follows:

"This Agreement made the 23rd day of September, 1971, by and between The Analysts, Inc., ... hereinafter called 'Contractor' and Mobil Oil Corporation, hereinafter called 'Company', covers and includes all work or service performed and to be performed by Contractor, under verbal or written orders therefor given by Company to Contractor, at any time from the date of this agreement, except transportation service, the terms and rates of which are fixed by governmental agencies.

"....

"4. Contractor shall protect, indemnify and save Company harmless against any and all such claims, demands and causes of action of every kind and character arising in favor of any person, including both Company's and Contractor's employees, on account of personal injuries or death, or damage to property occurring, growing out of, incident to, or resulting directly or indirectly from, the work to be performed by Contractor hereunder, whether such loss, damage, injury or liability arises from or is contributed to by the negligence of Company or its employees, and whether due to imperfection of any material furnished by Company, or the premises themselves or any equipment thereon, whether latent or patent, or for any other cause whatsoever; and for damages for infringement of any patent growing out of or incident to Contractor's performance of said work or the use of material or equipment furnished by Contractor.

"....

"All the agreements between the parties have been reduced to writing herein. No one other than the representative executing this instrument on behalf of Company, or his superior, shall have any authority to modify, change or waive any part hereof, and then only in writing signed by such representative, his superior, or the person designated by either of them in writing."

The 1987 agreement between Anadrill and MEPSUS provides in pertinent part as follows:

"Mobil Exploration and Producing Services Inc. (hereinafter 'MEPSI') and Contractor in consideration of the terms and conditions contained herein agree that the prices and price-related terms set out herein shall apply to all work, services, and materials provided by Contractor pursuant to the applicable contracts between Contractor and Mobil Affiliates. Terms and conditions ... 2. Each Mobil Affiliate contract shall govern with respect to all matters not specifically addressed in this MPA [master pricing agreement]. In case of conflict this MPA shall govern...."

The 1987 agreement included the prices for renting drilling equipment and included discounts applicable to certain equipment. Also, the Anadrill equipment rental price schedule included the following rental terms and conditions:

"Anadrill, Inc., ... as an independent contractor, offers services requested by Customer under the following General Terms and Conditions.

"1. Acceptance of General Terms and Conditions

"Anadrill's prices reflect the fact that Customer assumes, releases, and indemnifies Anadrill from certain liabilities and responsibilities as provided herein. By requesting Anadrill, whether verbally or in writing, to furnish Johnston and/or other drilling and/or fishing tools ('Equipment') on a rental basis, Customer voluntarily elects to enter into and be bound by these General Terms and Conditions: this provision shall apply even in the event that delivery has been made prior to the signature of a formal agreement.

"2. Delivery

"a) Anadrill will have the Equipment delivered at Customer's expense:

"(i) to the onshore wellsite; or

"(ii) to the port designated by Customer, for offshore locations....

"....

"5. Liabilities and Indemnities

"a) Anadrill agrees to be liable for and shall indemnify and hold Customer and its directors, officers and employees harmless from and against all claims, costs (including attorney's fees) and expenses arising out of the illness or death of or injury to any of Anadrill's personnel or its contractors, subcontractors, invitees or agents.

"This indemnity and assumption of liability shall apply regardless of the cause and even in the event of the sole, gross or concurrent negligence of Customer.

"b) Customer agrees to be liable for and shall indemnify and hold Anadrill and its directors, officers and employees harmless from and against all claims, costs (including attorney's fees) and expenses arising out of the illness or death of or injury to any of Customer's personnel or the personnel of its...