Tex-Ark Joist Co. v. Derr and Gruenewald Const. Co.
| Decision Date | 01 February 1988 |
| Docket Number | TEX-ARK,No. 86SC176,86SC176 |
| Citation | 749 P.2d 431 |
| Parties | JOIST COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, Petitioner, v. DERR AND GRUENEWALD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, formerly Derr Steel Erection Company or Derr of Colorado, Inc., Respondent. |
| Court | Colorado Supreme Court |
Wood, Ris & Hames, P.C., Eugene S. Hames, Martin F. Egelhoff, Denver, for petitioner.
Glasman, Jaynes & Carpenter, Richard H. Glasman, Denver, for respondent.
Petitioner, Tex-Ark Joist Co. (Tex-Ark), appeals the decision of the court of appeals in Tex-Ark Joist Co. v. Derr & Gruenewald Const. Co., 719 P.2d 384 (Colo.App.1986), affirming the dismissal of its third-party complaint against Derr and Gruenewald Construction Co. (Derr). We affirm.
On April 30, 1981, Galen Meeker was injured while erecting steel joists manufactured by Tex-Ark. At the time, Meeker was an employee of Derr. Meeker received workmen's compensation benefits from Derr pursuant to the Workmen's Compensation Act of Colorado, sections 8-40-101 to 8-54-127, 3B C.R.S. (1986) (the Compensation Act). Meeker then sued Tex-Ark under a theory of strict products liability.
Tex-Ark sought indemnity or contribution from Derr in the third-party complaint. Tex-Ark alleged that Derr was negligent in erecting the joists as well as in properly training, instructing and supervising Meeker and other employees. Derr moved to dismiss the complaint on the ground that the exclusive remedy provision of the Compensation Act, section 8-42-102, 3B C.R.S. (1986), bars all claims of indemnity or contribution against an employer who complies with the terms of the Compensation Act.
The district court agreed with Derr and dismissed the complaint. The court of appeals affirmed, holding that the Colorado Uniform Contribution Among Tortfeasors Act, sections 13-50.5-101 to -106, 6A C.R.S. (1987) (the Contribution Act), did not alter the exclusive remedy provision of the Compensation Act, and denied Tex-Ark's claims of indemnity and contribution.
Tex-Ark claims that the trial court erred in refusing to recognize a right to indemnity as a result of Derr's conduct. We do not agree.
In Colorado, indemnification between tortfeasors is not allowed unless there is a pre-existing legal relationship between them or a duty imposed by law upon one of the tortfeasors to hold the other harmless for the injuries. Public Service Co. v. District Court, 638 P.2d 772, 776 (Colo.1981) (citing Ringsby Truck Lines, Inc. v. Bradfield, 193 Colo. 151, 563 P.2d 939 (1977)). No such relationship exists here. There was no contract to that effect. Nor are any other facts present justifying imposition of the onerous burden of indemnification. We therefore conclude that the court of appeals was correct in denying Tex-Ark's claim of indemnity. 1
Tex-Ark also claims that the trial court erred when it refused to recognize a right to contribution from Derr for its negligence in the injury to Meeker. This issue was decided in Williams v. White Mountain Construction Co., 749 P.2d 423 (Colo. 1988). In White Mountain, an injured employee sued the subcontractor, White Mountain, alleging that his injuries were caused by the subcontractor's negligence. As in this case, White Mountain sought contribution and indemnity...
To continue reading
Request your trial
-
United Cable Television of Jeffco, Inc. v. Montgomery LC, Inc.
...1003, and on the holdings in Williams v. White Mountain Construction Co., 749 P.2d 423 (Colo.1988), and Tex-Ark Joist Co. v. Derr & Gruenewald Construction Co., 749 P.2d 431 (Colo.1988). We do not agree with the trial CRE 1002 and 1003, the so-called "best evidence" rules, provide that to p......
-
Watters v. Pelican Intern., Inc., Civ. A. No. 88-F-1305.
...706 P.2d 776, 780 (Colo.1985); Tex-Ark Joist Co. v. Derr & Grunewald Construction Co., 719 P.2d 384, 385 (Colo.App.1986), aff'd, 749 P.2d 431 (Colo.1988); Greer v. Intercole Automation Co., 553 F.Supp. 275, 276 (D.Colo.1982). In our view and the view of tort reform commentators, the Proport......
-
Gruntmeir v. Mayrath Industries, Inc.
...decided Williams v. White Mountain Construction Co., 749 P.2d 423 (Colo.1988), and a companion case, Tex-Ark Joist Co. v. Derr and Gruenewald Construction Co., 749 P.2d 431 (Colo.1988). In both cases, the court refused to recognize a right to contribution between employers and third parties......
-
Erosion of the Exclusive Remedy in Workers' Compensation
...51. Id. 52. Williams v. White Mtn. Constr. Co., 749 P.2d 423 (Colo. 1988) and Tex-Ark Joist Co. v. Derr and Gruenewald Constr. Co., 749 P.2d 431 (Colo. 1988). 53. See Williams, supra, note 52. 54. See Tex-Ark Joist Co., supra, note 52. 55. Wright v. Dist. Ct. of Jefferson County, 661 P.2d 1......