In the Matter of Aries Marine Corporation

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA

IN THE MATTER OF ARIES CIVIL ACTION

MARINE CORPORATION, ET AL.

NO. 19-10850 c/w NO. 19-13138

SECTION “O”

ORDER AND REASONS

Before the Court in this limitation-of-liability action arising from the listing

and capsizing of the liftboat RAM XVIII are competing motions1 for summary

judgment filed by Fieldwood Energy LLC, on the one hand, and Aries Marine

Corporation and U.S. Specialty Insurance Company, on the other. The motions

present the principal question whether Fieldwood (charterer of the liftboat) must

defend and indemnify Aries (owner of the liftboat) and U.S. Specialty (Aries’s insurer)

under a master time charter agreement from the personal-injury claims brought by

employees of Fluid Crane & Construction, Inc. and United Fire and Safety, LLC

(Fieldwood’s subcontractors) who were aboard the RAM XVIII when it capsized.

Fieldwood says the answer is “no.” To that end, Fieldwood moves for partial

summary judgment enforcing waivers of subrogation in the master time charter

agreement and the relevant U.S. Specialty insurance policy. Fieldwood reasons that

Aries and U.S. Specialty are not owed defense and indemnity because they waived

their rights of subrogation in favor of Fieldwood. Fieldwood accordingly asks the

Court to dismiss with prejudice all of Aries’s and U.S. Specialty’s claims against it.

1 ECF No. 415; ECF No. 419.

But Aries and U.S. Specialty see things differently. They submit that

Fieldwood owes them defense and indemnity, and so they move for partial summary

judgment enforcing indemnity obligations in the master time charter agreement

against Fieldwood. They make no argument disputing that their indemnity claims

fail as a matter of law if the subrogation waivers in Fieldwood’s favor hold. They

instead rejoin that the subrogation waivers are unenforceable for assorted reasons.

On this record and briefing, the Court finds that Fieldwood has the better

argument. The waivers of subrogation in Fieldwood’s favor are enforceable, and Aries

and U.S. Specialty have not adequately presented any argument that would allow the

Court to hold that their claims for defense and indemnity can survive despite the

enforceability of those waivers of subrogation. Accordingly, for these reasons and

those that follow, Fieldwood’s motion2 for partial summary judgment is GRANTED,

and Aries and U.S. Specialty’s motion3 for partial summary judgment is DENIED.

I. BACKGROUND

The background of this five-year-old case has been recounted in detail in prior

summary-judgment rulings.4 The Court recounts here only those facts strictly

necessary to resolve the pending motions raising questions of contractual indemnity.

This limitation-of-liability action arises from the listing and capsizing of the

liftboat RAM XVIII in the Gulf of Mexico.5 Aries chartered the RAM XVIII to

2 ECF No. 415.

3 ECF No. 419.

4 See, e.g., ECF Nos. 239, 241, 243, 257, 312, 461.

5 See generally ECF No. 1.

Fieldwood under a master time charter agreement (the “Time Charter”)6 in relation

to work being performed on one of Fieldwood’s offshore platforms.7 Fieldwood in turn

entered into “separate but substantially identical”8 master services contracts (the

“Master Services Contracts”) with Fluid Crane and United Fire.9 Under those Master

Services Contracts, Fluid Crane and United Fire sent employees to work on

Fieldwood’s platform;10 those employees were aboard the RAM XVIII when it

capsized.11 U.S. Specialty, for its part, underwrote an insurance policy (the “Policy”)

that provided Aries with certain coverages in effect when the RAM XVIII capsized.12

After the RAM XVIII capsized, Aries petitioned the Court for limitation of or

exoneration from liability.13 Six employees of Fluid Crane and one employee of United

Fire—all of whom were aboard the RAM XVIII when it capsized—brought personal-

injury claims against Aries in this limitation action.14 The motions before the Court

present the principal question whether Fieldwood must defend and indemnify Aries

and U.S. Specialty from those personal-injury claims. But answering that question

requires a review of the Time Charter, the Policy, and the Master Services Contracts.

6 See generally ECF No. 415-3.

7 Id. at 21–22.

8 In re Aries Marine Corp., 674 F. Supp. 3d 337, 341 (E.D. La. 2023), on reconsideration in part,

No. 19-CV-10850, 2023 WL 4890013 (E.D. La. Aug. 1, 2023), aff’d, No. 23-30564, 2024 WL 1461945

(5th Cir. Apr. 4, 2024) (per curiam).

9 ECF No. 153-3 (Fieldwood–Fluid Crane master services contract); ECF No. 153-4

(Fieldwood–United Fire master services contract).

10 ECF No. 241 at 6.

11 ECF No. 419-2 at ¶¶ 19 & 21; ECF No. 431-1 at ¶¶ 19 & 21.

12 See generally ECF No. 415-4 (Cover Note CUL11037.078); see also ECF No. 419-2 at ¶ 1;

ECF No. 431-1 at ¶ 1.

13 See generally ECF No. 1.

14 ECF No. 419-2 at ¶ 21; ECF No. 431-1 at ¶ 21.

The Time Charter. Four provisions of the Time Charter bear on the

indemnity issue before the Court. The first relevant provision is Section 10, covering

Aries’s insurance obligations.15 Section 10 required Aries to, among other things,

procure protection-and-indemnity insurance, excess-liability insurance, and other

coverages.16 Section 10 features a waiver-of-subrogation provision mandating that

“[u]nderwriters of all policies of insurance required [by Section 10] shall waive their

rights of subrogation against the Charterer Group,”17 which includes Fieldwood.18

Section 10 further provides that “[a]ll deductibles and self-insured retentions under

[Aries’s] insurance policies specified above shall be for the account of [Aries].”19

Finally, Section 10 specifies that “[t]he additional insured, waiver of subrogation and

primary insurance requirements as set forth herein shall apply and have full force

and effect to any self-insurance, self-insured retentions and deductibles carried by

[Aries] as part of the insurance requirements set forth herein.”20

The second relevant provision is Section 12(f)(i), covering cross-indemnification

between Aries and Fieldwood’s third-party contractors.21 Section 12(f)(i) requires

Aries to defend and indemnify Fieldwood’s third-party contractors—for example,

United Fire and Fluid Crane—from certain personal-injury claims “[t]o the extent”

15 ECF No. 415-3 at 6–8 § 10.

16 Id.

17 Id. at 8 NOTE to § 10.

18 Id. at 9 § 12(a)(ii). “Charterer Group” means Fieldwood “and its parent, affiliates and

subsidiary companies, co-lessees, co-owners, partners, joint venturers, together with its and all of their

respective officers, directors, employees, in-house legal counsel, agents, representatives, insurers and

invitees and the respective successors, spouses, relatives, dependents, heirs and estate of any of the

foregoing.” Id.

19 Id. at 8 NOTE to § 10.

20 Id.

21 Id. at 11 § 12(f)(i).

those third-party contractors “execute cross indemnifications and waivers

substantially similar to those contained in Section 12(f)” of the Time Charter.22

The third relevant provision is Section 12(g), covering the consequences of

Fieldwood’s failure to “execute” an agreement with its third-party contractors that

contains “substantially similar” cross-indemnification and waiver provisions.23 It

provides in relevant part that, if Fieldwood “fails to execute an agreement” with a

third-party contractor containing “cross indemnification and waivers substantially

similar to those contained in” Section 12(f), then Aries’s cross-indemnification

obligation under Section 12(f) “shall not apply” to that third-party contractor.24

The fourth and final relevant provision is Section 12(d), which confirms the

independence of Aries’s and Fieldwood’s respective indemnity and insurance

obligations.25 In relevant part, Section 12(d) provides that Aries and Fieldwood “agree

that their respective indemnity obligations hereunder are independent of any

insurance which [Aries and Fieldwood] may be required to carry hereunder.”26

The Policy. The Policy provides coverage to Aries for protection and

indemnity, including coverage for personal-injury liability.27 The Policy includes a

waiver-of-subrogation provision that applies to the protection-and-indemnity

coverage; that provision provides that “where required by written contract, it is

understood and agreed that: . . . [a]ssent is given for all waivers of rights of recovery

22 Id. (capitalization and boldface removed).

23 Id. at 11–12 § 12(g).

24 Id.

25 Id. at 10 § 12(d).

26 Id.

27 ECF No. 415-4 at 80.

made before or after the inception of this Cover Note, but prior to a loss.”28 A separate

section of the Policy—governing hull-insurance coverage—contains a waiver-of-

subrogation provision and a provision naming Fieldwood as an additional insured.29

By way of an incorporating clause, those two provisions are “deemed incorporated”

into the portion of the Policy providing protection-and-indemnity insurance.30

The Master Services Contracts. Consistent with Section 12(f)(i) of the Time

Charter, Fieldwood executed the Master Services Contracts with Fluid Crane and

United Fire, respectively.31 Those Master Services Contracts contained cross-

indemnification provisions requiring Fluid Crane and United Fire to defend and

indemnify members of the “third party contractor group” so long as those third party

contractors “execute[d] [substantially similar] cross indemnification and waivers.”32

The upshot of these indemnification provisions is that Fluid Crane and United Fire

agreed to indemnify the other involved entities from claims asserted by their own

employees, as well as to be responsible for defense costs for such claims.33 In a prior

28 Id. at 23.

29 See id. at 42 (“[I]t is understood and agreed that the following company(s) shall be considered

an additional insured hereunder and underwriters’ rights of subrogation shall be considered waived

against said company(s) but only during such time as the vessel(s) insured hereunder is/are actually

working for said company(s).”); id. at 44 (identifying Fieldwood as an additional assured). The RAM

XVIII was “actually working” for Fieldwood at the time it capsized. See In re Aries Marine Corp., 674

F. Supp. 3d at 341 (observing that “Aries chartered the liftboat RAM XVIII to Fieldwood in relation to

work being performed on Fieldwood’s WD 68 U platform in the Gulf of Mexico”).

30 See ECF No. 415-4 at 92 (“It is understood and agreed that the named assureds, loss payees,

additional assureds, waivers of subrogation, prior notice of cancellations provisions appearing in the

Hull Section of this Cover Note shall be deemed incorporated herein but only insofar as those vessels

named herein are concerned.”). The RAM XVIII is named in the “schedule of vessels” for the hull-

insurance coverage portion of the Policy. Id. at 35 (capitalization removed).

31 ECF No. 431-4 (Fieldwood–Fluid Crane Master Services Contract); ECF No. 431-5

(Fieldwood–United Fire Master Services Contract).

32 ECF No. 431-4 at 8 § 13(f); ECF No. 431-5 at 8 § 13(f).

33 See ECF No. 241 at 4.

summary-judgment ruling, Judge Africk correctly characterized those

indemnification provisions as “substantially similar” to the indemnification

provisions in the Time Charter.34 In the same ruling, however, Judge Africk held that

the Louisiana Oilfield Anti-Indemnity Act (“LOAIA”) barred enforcement of the

indemnification provisions in the Master Services Contracts.35 As a result of that

holding, Fluid Crane and United Fire were not required to defend and indemnify

Aries and Fieldwood from the personal-injury claims asserted by Claimants here.36

Invoking the Time Charter and the Policy, Aries and U.S. Specialty asked

Fieldwood to defend and indemnify them from Claimants’ personal-injury claims.37

Fieldwood declined.38 Aries responded by bringing a crossclaim against Fieldwood for

breaching the Time Charter.39 For its crossclaim, Aries alleges that Fieldwood

breached Section 12(f)(i) of the Time Charter by failing to execute “substantially

similar” cross-indemnifications, waivers, and insuring obligations with Fluid Crane

and United Fire.40 Aries acknowledges that the Master Services Contracts contained

cross-indemnifications; however, Aries theorizes that those cross-indemnification

provisions “are the functional equivalent of no indemnity agreement[ ]” because

Judge Africk ultimately concluded that LOAIA barred enforcement of them.41 Aries

34 Id. at 3–4. The relevant passage of the summary-judgment ruling describes the Time Charter

as an “MSC dated November 1, 2013.” Id. at 4 (citing ECF No. 158-5 at 11–12). But there is no doubt

that Judge Africk was referring to the Time Charter, rather than to some other master services

contract, because he cited ECF No. 158-5—the Time Charter—in support of his characterization.

35 Id. at 22.

36 See id.

37 ECF No. 419-2 at ¶ 26; ECF No. 431-1 at ¶ 26.

38 ECF No. 419-2 at ¶¶ 27–28; ECF No. 431-1 at ¶¶ 27–28.

39 ECF No. 365.

40 Id. at ¶ 22.

41 Id. at ¶¶ 20–25.

also seeks declaratory relief finding that Fieldwood must defend and indemnify Aries

from Claimants’ personal-injury claims; that Fieldwood must provide Aries insurance

coverage for those claims; and that Fieldwood’s alleged breach of the Time Charter

renders unenforceable any cross-indemnifications, waivers, and insurance

obligations owed by Aries for the personal-injury claims asserted by Claimants.42

Claiming to be Aries’s partial subrogee under the Policy, U.S. Specialty filed a

complaint-in-intervention against Fieldwood.43 U.S. Specialty asserts a breach-of-

contract claim against Fieldwood that is essentially identical to the breach-of-

contract claim that Aries asserts against Fieldwood: According to U.S. Specialty,

Fieldwood breached Section 12(f)(i) of the Time Charter by failing to execute

“substantially similar” cross-indemnifications and waivers with Fluid Crane and

United Fire.44 Beyond the declaratory relief requested in Aries’s crossclaim, U.S.

Specialty also asks the Court to declare that it is a partial subrogee of Aries under

the Policy, and that Fieldwood must reimburse it for the payments it issued to Aries

in connection with Aries’s defense of Claimants’ personal-injury claims.45

Fieldwood answered the crossclaim and intervenor complaint.46 Pointing to

Section 10 of the Time Charter, Fieldwood contended that the crossclaim and

42 Id. at ¶ 26.

43 See generally ECF No. 366.

44 Id. at ¶¶ 15–29.

45 Id. at ¶ 27.

46 ECF No. 363 (answer to Aries’s crossclaim); ECF No. 364 (answer to U.S. Specialty’s

intervenor complaint).

intervenor complaint failed as a matter of law because, among other reasons, Aries

and U.S. Specialty waived their rights of subrogation in favor of Fieldwood.47

Competing motions for summary judgment followed.48 For its part, Fieldwood

moves the Court to enter partial summary judgment enforcing the waivers of

subrogation in the Time Charter and the Policy and dismissing Aries’s crossclaim and

U.S. Specialty’s intervenor complaint.49 Aries and U.S. Specialty oppose.50 Aries and

U.S. Specialty, for their part, move the Court to enter partial summary judgment

enforcing the indemnity obligations in the Time Charter.51 Fieldwood opposes.52

II. LEGAL STANDARD

The Court “shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is

no genuine dispute of material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a

matter of law.” FED. R. CIV. P. 56(a). “A dispute is genuine if ‘the evidence is such

that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.’” Perry v. VHS

San Antonio Partners, L.L.C., 990 F.3d 918, 926 (5th Cir. 2021) (quoting Anderson v.

Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986)). “A fact is material if it ‘might affect the

outcome of the suit.’” Id. (quoting Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248).

The movant has the initial burden to show that there is no genuine dispute of

material fact. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). If the nonmovant

has the burden of proof at trial, the movant meets its initial burden by “merely

47 ECF No. 363 at 8–9; ECF No. 364 at 8.

48 ECF No. 415; ECF No. 419.

49 ECF No. 419 at 1–2.

50 ECF No. 432.

51 ECF No. 419.

52 ECF No. 431.

point[ing] to an absence of evidence” supporting the nonmovant’s claim. Little v.

Liquid Air Corp., 37 F.3d 1069, 1075 (5th Cir. 1994) (en banc) (per curiam). The

movant “need not negate the elements of the nonmovant’s case.” Id. (first citing

Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323; and then citing Lujan v. Nat’l Wildlife Fed’n, 497 U.S. 871,

885–86 (1990)). Nor must the movant “set forth evidence when the nonmovant bears

the burden of persuasion at trial.” Wease v. Ocwen Loan Serv., L.L.C., 915 F.3d 987,

997 (5th Cir. 2019). If the movant “fails to meet this initial burden, the motion must

be denied, regardless of the nonmovant’s response.” Little, 37 F.3d at 1075.

If the movant meets its initial summary-judgment burden, however, the

burden shifts to the nonmovant to “identify specific evidence in the summary

judgment record demonstrating that there is a dispute of material fact concerning the

essential elements of its case for which it will bear the burden of proof at trial.” In re

Taxotere (Docetaxel) Prod. Liab. Litig., 994 F.3d 704, 708 (5th Cir. 2021) (first citing

FED. R. CIV. P. 56(a) & (e); and then citing Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324). “Speculative

theories cannot defeat a motion for summary judgment.” Guillot ex rel. T.A.G. v.

Russell, 59 F.4th 743, 750 (5th Cir. 2023) (citing Little, 37 F.3d at 1075). Nor may a

nonmovant “defeat summary judgment with ‘conclus[ory] allegations, unsupported

assertions, or presentation of only a scintilla of evidence.’” Flowers v. Wal-Mart Inc.,

79 F.4th 449, 452 (5th Cir. 2023) (quoting McFaul v. Valenzuela, 684 F.3d 564, 571

(5th Cir. 2012)). “Instead, the nonmovant must go beyond the pleadings and designate

specific facts that prove that a genuine [dispute] of material fact exists.” Id. (citing

Little, 37 F.3d at 1075). If the nonmovant “fails to meet this burden, the motion for

summary judgment must be granted.” Little, 37 F.3d at 1076 (emphasis added).

In reviewing the summary-judgment record, the Court draws all reasonable

inferences in favor of the nonmovant. See Vote.Org v. Callanen, 89 F.4th 459, 469 (5th

Cir. 2023) (quoting Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Prods., Inc., 530 U.S. 133, 150

(2000)). And the Court “resolve[s] factual controversies in favor of the nonmoving

party, but only where there is an actual controversy, that is, when both parties have

submitted evidence of contradictory facts.” Little, 37 F.3d at 1075.

This case is set for a bench trial.53 “Ordinarily, ‘[c]redibility determinations,

the weighing of the evidence, and the drawing of legitimate inferences are jury

functions, not those of a judge.’” Fleming v. Bayou Steel BD Holdings II L.L.C., 83

F.4th 278, 293 (5th Cir. 2023) (quoting Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255) (citing Guzman v.

Allstate Assurance Co., 18 F.4th 157 (5th Cir. 2021)). “But in a bench trial, the judge

acts as ‘trier of fact’ in place of the jury.” Id. (quoting In re Placid Oil Co., 932 F.2d

394, 398 (5th Cir. 1991)). “In view of that, ‘the [Court] has somewhat greater

discretion to consider what weight it will accord the evidence’ when considering

summary judgment.” Id. (quoting Placid Oil, 932 F.2d at 397). “Specifically, ‘even at

the summary judgment stage[,] a judge in a bench trial has the limited discretion to

decide that the same evidence, presented to him or her as trier of fact in a plenary

trial, could not possibly lead to a different result.’” Id. at 293–94 (quoting Placid Oil,

932 F.2d at 398). “And ‘the [C]ourt may conclude on the basis of the affidavits,

53 See ECF No. 331 at 6.

depositions, and stipulations before it, that there are no genuine issues of material

fact, even though [the Court’s] decision may depend on inferences to be drawn from

what has been incontrovertibly proved.” Id. (quoting Placid Oil, 932 F.2d at 397).

III. ANALYSIS

The motions before the Court are essentially cross-motions for summary

judgment on the question whether Fieldwood must defend and indemnify Aries and

U.S. Specialty from Claimants’ personal-injury claims under the Time Charter. And

it is uncontested on this briefing that the answer to that question in turn depends on

whether Aries and U.S. Specialty waived their rights of subrogation in Fieldwood’s

favor. Because the motions are essentially cross-motions for summary judgment, the

Court considers each one independently, beginning with Fieldwood’s earlier-filed

motion. See, e.g., Miller v. Reliance Standard Life Ins. Co., 999 F.3d 820, 283 (5th Cir.

2021) (“When parties file cross-motions for summary judgment, we review each

motion independently, viewing the evidence and inferences in the light most

favorable to the nonmoving party.” (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)).

A. Fieldwood’s Motion

Fieldwood moves the Court to grant partial summary judgment enforcing

waivers of subrogation in the Time Charter and Policy and dismissing Aries’s

crossclaim and U.S. Specialty’s complaint-in-intervention.54 Viewing the facts and

drawing all reasonable inferences in Aries’s and U.S. Specialty’s favor, see Reeves,

530 U.S. at 150, the Court holds that Fieldwood is entitled to partial summary

54 ECF No. 415 at 1–2.

judgment because a review of the Time Charter and the Policy confirms that both

Aries and U.S. Specialty have waived their rights of subrogation against Fieldwood.

1. Interpretation of the Time Charter

It is undisputed55 that the Time Charter is a maritime contract, and that

federal-maritime law governs its interpretation. See Bourg v. Chevron USA, Inc., 91

F.3d 141, 1996 WL 400351, at *2 (5th Cir. June 21, 1996) (per curiam) (“A charter

agreement for a vessel is a maritime contract, to be construed according to maritime

law.” (citing Fontenot v. Mesa Petroleum Co., 791 F.2d 1207, 1214 (5th Cir. 1986)).

Under federal-maritime law, “[a] maritime contract ‘should be read as a whole

and its words given their plain meaning unless the provision is ambiguous.’” Brown

v. Sea Mar Mgmt., 288 F. App’x 922, 924 (5th Cir. 2008) (per curiam) (quoting

Weathersby v. Conoco Oil Co., 752 F.2d 953, 955 (5th Cir. 1984)). “Disagreement as

to the meaning of a contract does not make it ambiguous, nor does uncertainty or lack

of clarity in the language chosen by the parties.” Breaux v. Halliburton Energy Servs.,

562 F.3d 358, 364 (5th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).

“Where ‘the written instrument is so worded that it can be given a certain definite

legal meaning or interpretation, then it is not ambiguous, and this Court will construe

the contract as a matter of law.’” Id. (quoting Weir v. Fed. Asset Disposition Ass’n, 123

F.3d 281, 286 (5th Cir. 1997)). Courts “should not construe an indemnity clause to

impose liability for a loss neither expressly within its terms nor of such a character

55 Compare ECF No. 419-1 at 3 (Aries and U.S. Specialty asserting that federal maritime law

governs the interpretation of maritime contracts, like the Master Time Charter) with ECF No. 415-1

at 19 (Fieldwood asserting that the Time Charter “is undisputedly a maritime contract governed by

federal maritime law”).

that the parties probably intended to exclude the loss”; courts instead “construe the

indemnity clause to cover all losses ‘which reasonably appear to have been within

[the parties’] contemplation.’” Kemp v. Gulf Oil Corp., 745 F.2d 921, 924 (5th Cir.

1984) (quoting Corbitt v. Diamond M. Drilling Co., 654 F.2d 329, 333 (5th Cir. 1981)).

2. Interpretation of the Policy

The Policy is a marine insurance policy.56 And “a marine insurance policy is a

maritime contract within federal admiralty jurisdiction.” Albany Ins. Co. v. Anh Thi

Kieu, 927 F.2d 882, n.2 (5th Cir. 1991) (first citing Morrison Grain Co. v. Utica Mut.

Ins. Co., 632 F.2d 424, 428 n.4 (5th Cir. 1980); and then citing Irwin v. Eagle Star

Ins. Co., 455 F.2d 827, 829 (5th Cir.), cert denied, 409 U.S. 852 (1972)).

The Fifth Circuit has “held that ‘the interpretation of a contract of marine

insurance is—in the absence of a specific and controlling federal rule—to be

determined by reference to appropriate state law.’” Int’l Marine, L.L.C. v. Integrity

Fisheries, Inc., 860 F.3d 754, 761 n.7 (5th Cir. 2017) (quoting Ingersoll–Rand Fin.

Corp. v. Emp’rs Ins. of Wausau, 771 F.2d 910, 912 (5th Cir. 1985)).

Here, it is undisputed57 that there is no “specific and controlling federal rule”

on the enforceability of the waiver of subrogation in the Policy. Id. (internal quotation

marks and citation omitted).58 So, the Court applies “appropriate state law” to

56 See ECF No. 415-4.

57 Compare ECF No. 415-1 at 11–12 (Fieldwood asserting that Louisiana law governs

interpretation of the Policy) with ECF No. 432 at 1–6 (Aries and U.S. Specialty not contesting

Fieldwood’s assertion that Louisiana law governs interpretation of the Policy).

58 It is similarly undisputed that the Policy does not contain a choice-of-law provision governing

the relevant provisions. Compare ECF No. 415-1 at 12 (Fieldwood asserting that there is no choice-of-

law provision governing “the relevant sections” of the policy) with ECF No. 432 at 1–6 (Aries and U.S.

Specialty not contesting Fieldwood’s assertion on that point).

interpret the Policy. Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). To decide

the “appropriate state law,” id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted), the

Court applies federal maritime choice-of-law rules, see Albany Ins. Co., 927 F.2d at

890. Those choice-of-law rules in turn direct the Court to apply “the law of the state

with the ‘most significant relationship’ to the substantive issue in question.” Id. at

891 (quoting RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF CONFLICT OF LAWS § 6 (1980)). It is

undisputed here that Louisiana is the state with the “most significant relationship”

to the interpretation of the Policy because Louisiana is “the state with the most

substantial interest in the application of its state’s laws to the interpretation” of the

Policy. Certain Underwriters at Lloyds, London v. Cox Operating, 83 F.4th 998, 1002

n.2 (5th Cir. 2023) (per curiam) (citing Naquin v. Elevating Boats, L.L.C., 817 F.3d

235, 238 (5th Cir. 2016)). Louisiana has “the most substantial interest” in applying

its law to interpret the Policy because it is undisputed that the Policy was formed,59

issued,60 and delivered61 in Louisiana. Id. (citing Naquin, 817 F.3d at 238).

“Under Louisiana law, ‘an insurance policy is a contract between the parties

and should be construed using the general rules of contract interpretation set forth

in the Louisiana Civil Code.’” Naquin, 817 F.3d at 238 (quoting First Am. Bank v.

First Am. Transp. Title Ins. Co., 585 F.3d 833, 837 (5th Cir. 2009)); see generally LA.

CIV. CODE ANN., bk. III, tit. IV, ch. 13; id. arts. 2045–2057; see also, e.g., In re Katrina

Canal Breaches Litig., 495 F.3d 191, 206–08 (5th Cir. 2007) (discussing Louisiana-

59 Id. at 11; see also ECF No. 415-2 at 6 ¶ 32.

60 ECF No. 415-4 at 11; see also ECF No. 415-2 at 6 ¶ 33.

61 ECF No. 415-6 at 6; see also ECF No. 415-2 at ¶ 34.

law principles for interpreting insurance contracts). “The role of the judiciary in

interpreting insurance contracts is to ascertain the common intent of the insured and

insurer as reflected by the words in the policy.” Peterson v. Schimek, 98-1712, p. 4

(La. 3/2/99); 729 So. 2d 1024, 1028; see also LA. CIV. CODE ANN. art. 2045 (contractual

interpretation is “the determination of the common intent of the parties”).

Under Louisiana law, “[w]ords and phrases used in an insurance policy are to

be construed using their plain, ordinary and generally prevailing meaning, unless the

words have acquired a technical meaning.” Cadwallader v. Allstate Ins. Co., 2002-

1637, p. 3 (La. 6/27/03); 848 So. 2d 577, 580 (citing LA. CIV. CODE ANN. art. 2047).

“Insurance policies should be construed holistically, meaning that ‘one policy

provision is not to be construed separately at the expense of disregarding other policy

provisions.’” Lloyd’s Syndicate 457 v. FloaTEC, L.L.C., 921 F.3d 508, 517 (5th Cir.

2019) (quoting La. Ins. Guar. Ass’n v. Interstate Fire & Cas. Co., 93-0911 (La. 1/14/94);

630 So. 2d 759, 763) (citing LA. CIV. CODE ANN. art. 2050). A court may not use

“inventive powers to create an ambiguity where none exists”; nor may a court “mak[e]

. . . a new contract when the terms express with sufficient clearness the parties’

intent.” Cadwallader, 848 So. 2d at 580; see LA. CIV. CODE ANN. art. 2046 (when words

are “clear and explicit and lead to no absurd consequences, no further interpretation

may be made in search of the parties intent”). “If after applying the other general

rules of construction an ambiguity remains, the ambiguous contractual provision is

to be construed against the drafter, or, as originating in the insurance context, in

favor of the insured.” La. Ins. Guar. Ass’n, 630 So. 2d at 764; see also In re Katrina

Canal Breaches Litig., 495 F.3d at 207 (same). “Under this ‘rule of strict construction,’

ambiguous clauses are ‘construed against the insurer and in favor of coverage’ and

‘equivocal provisions seeking to narrow an insurer’s obligation are strictly construed

against the insurer.’” Lloyd’s Syndicate 457, 921 F.3d at 518 (quoting Bonin v.

Westport Ins. Corp., 2005-0886, p. 5 (La. 5/17/06); 930 So. 2d 906, 911)).

3. U.S. Specialty Waived Its Rights of Subrogation

Reading the Policy using the Louisiana-law interpretive principles outlined in

Section III(A)(2) of this order and reasons, and reading the Time Charter using the

federal-law interpretive principles outlined in Section III(A)(1), the Court concludes

that U.S. Specialty waived its right of subrogation in Fieldwood’s favor.

The Policy unambiguously waives U.S. Specialty’s right of subrogation in favor

of Fieldwood. As noted in Section I of this order and reasons, the Policy features a

waiver-of-subrogation provision that states in relevant part that “where required by

written contract, it is understood and agreed that: . . . [a]ssent is given for all waivers

of rights of recovery made before or after the inception of this Cover Note, but prior

to a loss.”62 The Time Charter qualifies as a “written contract”63 that “require[s]”64

U.S. Specialty to waive its rights of subrogation against Fieldwood because the Time

Charter features a waiver-of-subrogation provision mandating that “[u]nderwriters

of all policies of insurance required [by Section 10 of the Time Charter] shall waive

62 ECF No. 415-4 at 23. Aries and U.S. Specialty do not dispute that waiver-of-subrogation

provisions are generally enforceable under Louisiana law. See Boudreaux v. Scott’s Boat Rentals, LLC,

184 F. Supp. 3d 343, 346–47 (E.D. La. 2016) (Barbier, J.) (enforcing waiver-of-subrogation clause);

Aries Marine Corp., 674 F. Supp. 3d at 343–44 (same).

63 Id.

64 Id.

their rights of subrogation against the Charterer Group,”65 which is defined to include

Fieldwood.66 Moreover, for good measure, Judge Africk has already concluded that

similar contract language validly waived rights of subrogation in favor of Fieldwood.

See In re Aries Marine Corp., 674 F. Supp. 3d at 341, 343–44. In light of all this, the

Court holds that U.S. Specialty unambiguously waived its rights of subrogation

against Fieldwood. Cf. Marathon Oil Co. v. Mid Continent Underwriters, 786 F.2d

1301, 1304 (5th Cir. 1986) (enforcing waiver-of-subrogation clause in a protection-

and-indemnity policy to preclude a vessel owner’s insurer from recovering from the

vessel’s charterer the amounts the insurer paid to settle a personal-injury claim).

Accordingly, because a review of the Time Charter and the Policy confirms that

U.S. Specialty unambiguously waived its rights of subrogation against Fieldwood,

and because the claims asserted in U.S. Specialty’s complaint-in-intervention rest on

a subrogation theory, the Court grants Fieldwood’s motion for summary judgment

and dismisses with prejudice U.S. Specialty’s complaint-in-intervention.67 Accord,

e.g., Jackson v. Apache Corp., No. 07-CV-346, 2008 WL 11391134, at *2 (S.D. Tex.

Sept. 17, 2008) (observing that the insurer of a vessel owner could not assert an

indemnity claim against the vessel charterer to recover the costs of a settlement with

65 ECF No. 415-3 at 8 NOTE to § 10.

66 Id. at 9 § 12(a)(ii). It is undisputed that the Policy qualifies as a “polic[y] of insurance

required” by Section 10 of the Time Charter. Id.

67 Because the Court holds that the Policy and the Time Charter unambiguously waive U.S.

Specialty’s subrogation rights against Fieldwood, the Court does not reach Fieldwood’s alternative

arguments that Aries breached the Time Charter or that U.S. Specialty cannot assert a subrogation

claim against Fieldwood given Fieldwood’s status as an additional insured. ECF No. 415-1 at 18–19.

an injured employee of the vessel charterer’s subcontractor because the vessel owner’s

insurer had waived its rights of subrogation against the vessel charterer).68

4. Aries Waived Its Rights of Subrogation

Reading the Time Charter in accordance with the federal-law interpretive

principles outlined in Section III(A)(1) of this order and reasons, the Court concludes

that Aries also unambiguously waived its right of subrogation in favor of Fieldwood.

Two provisions of the Time Charter—both found in Section 10—confirm that

conclusion. The first pertinent provision of the Time Charter states that “[a]ll

deductibles and self-insured retentions under [Aries’s] insurance policies specified

above shall be for the account of [Aries].”69 The second pertinent provision specifies

that “[t]he additional insured, waiver of subrogation and primary insurance

requirements as set forth herein shall apply and have full force and effect to any self-

insurance, self-insured retentions and deductibles carried by [Aries] as part of the

insurance requirements set forth herein.”70 Read together, these provisions of the

Time Charter confirm that Aries waived subrogation in favor of Fieldwood to the

extent of Aries’s deductible under the Policy’s protection-and-indemnity coverage.

Accordingly, because a review of the Time Charter confirms that Aries

unambiguously waived its rights of subrogation against Fieldwood to the extent of

68 U.S. Specialty does not dispute in its briefing that, if the waivers of subrogation and other

relevant provisions are enforceable, its complaint-in-intervention against Fieldwood fails as a matter

of law. Compare ECF No. 415 at 1 (Fieldwood asserting that U.S. Specialty “can have no cognizable

claim against it, as a matter of law,” given the subrogation waivers) with ECF No. 432 at 1–6 (Aries

and U.S. Specialty arguing that the waivers of subrogation are unenforceable, but not disputing that,

if the waivers are enforceable, then their claims against Fieldwood fail as a matter of law).

69 ECF No. 415-3 at 8 NOTE to § 10.

70 Id.

Aries’s deductible under the Policy’s protection-and-indemnity coverage, the Court

grants Fieldwood’s motion for summary judgment and dismisses with prejudice

Aries’s crossclaim against Fieldwood.71 Accord, e.g., A.M.C. Liftboats, Inc. v. Apache

Corp., No. 06-CV-10543, 2008 WL 217177, at *6 (E.D. La. Jan. 25, 2008) (Engelhardt,

J.) (holding that waiver-of-subrogation provision in protection-and-indemnity policy

barred a vessel owner’s claims against a charterer for defense and indemnity).72

5. Aries and U.S. Specialty’s Counterargument Does Not

Change the Court’s Analysis or the Result.

Aries and U.S. Specialty make one principal counterargument: They contend

that Fieldwood may not enforce the waivers of subrogation, or benefit from

additional-insured status, because Fieldwood breached the Time Charter.73 They

submit that Fieldwood breached Section 12(f) of the Time Charter “by not providing

valid and enforceable reciprocal cross-indemnities, waivers of subrogation, and

insurance support in favor of Aries.”74 Because Judge Africk held that LOAIA barred

enforcement of the indemnity provisions of the Master Services Contracts, Aries and

U.S. Specialty reason, Fieldwood breached the Time Charter and failed “to provide

71 Because the Court holds that Aries Marine unambiguously waived its rights of subrogation

against Fieldwood to the extent of Aries’s deductible under the Policy’s protection-and-indemnity

coverage, the Court does not reach Fieldwood’s alternative arguments. ECF No. 415-1 at 22–23.

72 In its opposition brief, Aries does not dispute that, if the waivers of subrogation and other

relevant provisions are enforceable, its crossclaim against Fieldwood fails as a matter of law. Compare

ECF No. 415 at 1 (Fieldwood asserting that Aries “can have no cognizable claim against it, as a matter

of law,” given the subrogation waivers) with ECF No. 432 at 1–6 (Aries and U.S. Specialty arguing

that the waivers of subrogation are unenforceable, but not disputing that, if the waivers are

enforceable, then their claims against Fieldwood fail as a matter of law).

73 ECF No. 432 at 3–5.

74 Id. at 5 (emphasis added).

required consideration to Aries . . . to protect Aries and [U.S. Specialty] against the

personal injury claims of Fluid [Crane’s] and United Fire’s respective employees.”75

The Court is not persuaded. Viewing the facts and drawing all reasonable

inferences in favor of Aries and U.S. Specialty, see Reeves, 530 U.S. at 150, the Court

holds that a reasonable finder of fact could not find that Fieldwood breached the Time

Charter “by not providing valid and enforceable reciprocal cross-indemnities, waivers

of subrogation and insurance support in favor of Aries.”76 That is for a simple reason:

The cited sections of the Time Charter do not require Fieldwood to “provid[e] valid

and enforceable reciprocal cross-indemnities, waivers, of subrogation and insurance

support” in Aries’s favor.77 Those sections instead require Aries to defend and

indemnify Fieldwood’s third-party contractors—i.e., United Fire and Fluid Crane—

from certain personal-injury claims “[t]o the extent” that those third-party

contractors “execute cross indemnifications and waivers substantially similar to those

contained in Section 12(f)” of the Time Charter.78 Under the Time Charter, if

Fieldwood’s contractors fail to “execute cross indemnifications and waivers

substantially similar to those contained in Section 12(f)” of the Time Charter, then

Aries’s cross-indemnification obligation “shall not apply” to that specific contractor.79

For their part, Aries and U.S. Specialty do not direct the Court to any provision

of the Time Charter obligating Fieldwood to “provid[e] valid and enforceable

75 Id. at 3.

76 ECF No. 432 at 5.

77 ECF No. 432 at 3.

78 ECF No. 415-3 at at 11 § 12(f)(i) (capitalization and boldface removed) (emphasis added).

79 Id. at 11–12 § 12(g) (emphasis added).

reciprocal cross-indemnities” in Aries’s favor.80 On the contrary, under the relevant

portions of Sections 12(f) and 12(g), Fieldwood was merely required to (1) “execute an

agreement” with Fluid Crane and United Fire that (2) contains “cross indemnification

and waivers substantially similar to those contained in” Section 12(f).81

Fieldwood did so. It (1) “execute[d]”82 the Master Services Contracts with Fluid

Crane and United Fire, respectively; and (2) those Master Services Contracts

contained cross-indemnification and waiver provisions “substantially similar”83 to

those contained in Section 12(f) of the Time Charter—as Judge Africk has found.84

The Time Charter does not impose any added requirement that those cross-

indemnification provisions be “valid and enforceable.”85 Had Fieldwood and Aries

wished to condition the waiver-of-subrogation and additional-insured provisions of

the Time Charter on “the legal enforceability of” the indemnity provisions in the

Master Services Contracts, “they very easily could have done so.” LeBlanc v. Global

Marine Drilling Co., 193 F.3d 873, 875 (5th Cir. 1999). They simply did not.

Along similar lines, Aries and U.S. Specialty contend that the waiver-of-

subrogation provisions in Fieldwood’s favor are void for lack of consideration.86 They

reason that Aries received no consideration for the waivers of subrogation Fieldwood

seeks to enforce because Judge Africk ultimately concluded that LOAIA barred

80 ECF No. 432 at 5 (emphasis added).

81 ECF No. 415-3 at 11 § 12(f)(i) & 12 § 12(g).

82 Id.

83 Id.

84 ECF No. 241 at 3–4.

85 ECF No. 432 at 5.

86 Id. at 5.

enforcement of the indemnity provisions in the Master Services Contracts.87 But Fifth

Circuit precedent forecloses this failure-of-consideration argument: The statutory

invalidity of an indemnity obligation in a maritime contract like the Time Charter

does not deprive the contract of consideration where, as here, the record reflects that

the contracting parties have “an ongoing business relationship.”88 Voisin v.

O.D.E.C.O. Drilling Co., 744 F.2d 1174, 1177–78 n.2 (5th Cir. 1984); see also, e.g.,

LeBlanc, 193 F.3d at 875–76 (rejecting argument that statutory invalidity of

indemnity obligation rendered maritime contract void for lack of consideration).

The only case Aries and U.S. Specialty cite to support their failure-of-

consideration argument is not instructive.89 See Gen. Intermodal Logistics Corp. v.

Mainstream Shipyards & Supply, Inc., 748 F.2d 1071 (5th Cir. 1984). General

Intermodal Logistics Corp. held that a release was invalid for lack of consideration

based on the “well-established principle of federal law that a promise to perform a

preexisting duty is not sufficient consideration and is grounds for setting aside a

release.” Id. at 1075 (citation omitted). No party argues that principle applies here.

* * *

To sum up: The Court holds that Aries and U.S. Specialty unambiguously

waived their rights of subrogation against Fieldwood. Based on the arguments and

briefing presented, on this summary-judgment record, the Court holds that the

waivers of subrogation in Fieldwood’s favor are enforceable, that Fieldwood did not

87 Id.

88 See ECF No. 415-5 at 2:7–10 (Fieldwood’s representative agreeing that “after this incident,

Fieldwood . . . has continued to contract with Aries Marine for use of its liftboats”).

89 ECF No. 432 at 5.

breach Sections 12(f)(i) or 12(g) of the Time Charter, and that the waivers of

subrogation are not void for lack of consideration. Accordingly, because the Court

holds that the waivers of subrogation are enforceable, and because Aries and U.S.

Specialty have not adequately presented any argument that would allow the Court

to hold that their crossclaim and complaint-in-intervention, respectively, can survive

despite the enforceability of those waivers of subrogation, the Court grants

Fieldwood’s motion for partial summary judgment. The Court therefore dismisses

with prejudice Aries’s crossclaim and U.S. Specialty’s complaint-in-intervention.

B. Aries and U.S. Specialty’s Motion

Aries and U.S. Specialty move the Court to grant partial summary judgment

enforcing indemnity obligations against Fieldwood under the Time Charter.90 They

more specifically submit that Sections 12(g) and 12(b)(ii) of the Time Charter require

Fieldwood to defend and indemnify them from the personal-injury claims asserted

against Aries by employees of United Fire and Fluid Crane.91 Viewing the facts and

drawing all reasonable inferences in Fieldwood’s favor, see Reeves, 530 U.S. at 150,

the Court holds that Aries and U.S. Specialty are not entitled to partial summary

judgment based on the arguments they have raised under Sections 12(g) and 12(b)(ii).

1. Section 12(g) of the Time Charter

To start, Aries and U.S. Specialty contend that Fieldwood owes defense and

indemnity under Section 12(g) of the Time Charter because “Fieldwood failed to

90 ECF No. 419.

91 Id. at 1.

execute substantially similar cross indemnifications and waivers” with Fluid Crane

and United Fire.92 This argument fails for at least two independent reasons.

First, the argument rests on a misreading of the Time Charter. Aries and U.S.

Specialty have not directed the Court to any language in Sections 12(f)(i) or 12(g) of

the Time Charter that obligates Fieldwood “to defend and indemnify Aries for the

claims made by the employees of” Fluid Crane and United Fire.93 On the contrary, as

noted in Section III(A)(5) of this order and reasons, Section 12(f)(i) of the Time

Charter requires Aries to defend and indemnify Fieldwood’s contractors—i.e., United

Fire and Fluid Crane—from certain claims “[t]o the extent” that Fieldwood’s

contractors “execute cross indemnifications and waivers substantially similar to

those contained in Section 12(f)” of the Time Charter.94 Section 12(g) of the Time

Charter in turn provides that, if Fieldwood’s contractors fail to “execute cross

indemnifications and waivers substantially similar to those contained in Section

12(f)” of the Time Charter, then Aries’s cross-indemnification obligations under

Section 12(f) “shall not apply” to that specific contractor.95 Accordingly, contra Aries’s

and U.S. Specialty’s contentions, Sections 12(f)(i) and 12(g) of the Time Charter would

not have triggered any indemnity obligation in their favor on the part of Fieldwood,

even if Fieldwood had failed to “execute cross indemnifications and waivers” in the

92 ECF No. 419-1 at 10.

93 Id.

94 ECF No. 415-3 at at 11 § 12(f)(i) (capitalization and boldface removed).

95 Id. at 11–12 § 12(g).

Master Services Contracts that are “substantially similar to those [cross

indemnifications and waivers] contained in Section 12(f)” of the Time Charter.96

Second, even if Aries’s and U.S. Specialty’s reading were correct, and

Fieldwood’s indemnity obligations in favor of Aries and U.S. Specialty could properly

be triggered by a failure to satisfy Section 12(f)(i)’s requirements, Aries and U.S.

Specialty still would not be entitled to defense and indemnity. That is because the

summary-judgment record confirms that the requirements of Section 12(f)(i) were

met. Indeed, as noted in Section III(A)(5) of this order and reasons, Fieldwood

satisfied the requirements of Section 12(f)(i) insofar as it (1) “execute[d]”97 the Master

Services Contracts with Fluid Crane and United Fire, respectively; and (2) those

Master Services Contracts contained cross-indemnification and waiver provisions

“substantially similar”98 to the cross-indemnification and waiver provisions contained

in Section 12(f) of the Time Charter—as Judge Africk has already explained.99

For their part, Aries and U.S. Specialty rejoin that the cross-indemnification

and waiver provisions in the Master Services Contracts cannot be “substantially

similar” to the cross-indemnification and waiver provisions in the Time Charter

because Judge Africk ultimately held the indemnity provisions in the Master Services

Contracts to be unenforceable under LOAIA.100 In support, they invoke Pride

Offshore, Inc. v. Weatherford, U.S., L.P., a thoughtful but nonprecedential 2006

96 Id.

97 Id.

98 Id.

99 ECF No. 241 at 3–4.

100 ECF No. 419-1 at 10–11.

district-court order that has not been cited by a federal court.101 Pride reasoned that

one indemnification agreement was not substantially similar to another because the

latter agreement was “void and unenforceable,” and “a void and unenforceable

indemnity agreement is the functional equivalent of no indemnity agreement.” 2006

WL 1968856, at *3. In its analysis, Pride acknowledged binding Fifth Circuit

precedent holding that the unenforceability of an indemnity provision in a maritime

contract does not necessarily render unenforceable insurance obligations in the same

contract. Id. (first citing LeBlanc, 193 F.3d at 876; and then citing Diamond Offshore

Co. v. A&B Builders, Inc., 302 F.3d 531, 550 (5th Cir. 2002)). But Pride distinguished

LeBlanc and Diamond Offshore on the ground that, unlike the language of the

contracts in those cases, the language of the contract construed in Pride “reflect[ed]

an intent to make the enforceability of additional insured provisions contingent upon

the perfection of a substantially similar indemnity agreement.” Id. Pride explained

that the language of the contracts construed in LeBlanc and Diamond Offshore

differed because the contracts in those cases lacked language reflecting an intent to

condition insurance obligations on the enforceability of indemnity provisions. See id.

Pride does not allow Aries and U.S. Specialty to avoid LeBlanc and Diamond

Offshore for the simple reason that the critical distinction present in Pride is not

present here. The language of the Time Charter is more like the language of the

contracts construed in LeBlanc and Diamond Offshore than the language of the

contract construed in Pride. Like the contracts construed in LeBlanc and Diamond

101 No. 05-CV-2424, 2006 WL 1968856 (E.D. La. July 6, 2006) (Fallon, J.).

Offshore, the Time Charter does not condition insurance obligations on the

enforceability of indemnity provisions. On the contrary, the Time Charter expressly

states that the insurance and indemnity requirements operate independently: “The

Parties agree that their respective indemnity obligations hereunder are independent

of any insurance which such Parties may be required to carry hereunder.”102

Accordingly, for this independent reason, Aries and U.S. Specialty are not entitled to

partial summary judgment based on the arguments they raise under Section 12(g).

2. Section 12(b)(ii) of the Time Charter

Aries and U.S. Specialty next contend that Fieldwood owes defense and

indemnity under Section 12(b)(ii).103 Their argument follows a straightforward three-

step syllogism. Step One: Section 12(b)(ii) requires Fieldwood to indemnify Aries for

personal-injury claims of “any member of Charterer Group,” which is defined to

include Fieldwood’s invitees.104 Step Two: The employees of Fluid Crane and United

Fire qualify as “any member of Charterer Group” because Judge Africk has already

found that those employees are invitees of Fieldwood.105 Step Three: Therefore,

Fieldwood owes defense and indemnity under Section 12(b)(ii) of the Time Charter.106

102 ECF No. 415-3 at 10 § 12(d). Section 10 of the Time Charter also supports the independence

of the parties’ respective indemnity and insurance-requirement obligations; it provides in relevant

part that “[i]t is expressly understood and agreed that the insurance coverage required hereunder

represents Owners’ minimum insurance requirements and are not to be construed to fund or limit the

liability or any indemnity obligation undertaken by Owner in this Agreement.” Id. at 8 § 10 NOTE.

103 ECF No. 419-1 at 11–15.

104 Id. at 12; see also ECF No. 415-3 at 10 § 12(b)(ii) & 9 § 12(a)(ii).

105 ECF No. 419-1 at 11; see also ECF No. 312 at 16 (“Accordingly, the Court finds that the

employees of Fluid Crane and United Fire were invitees of Fieldwood.”).

106 ECF No. 419-1 at 11–15.

Even if the Court were to (1) overlook the enforceable waivers of subrogation

that defeat Aries’s and U.S. Specialty’s claims,107 and (2) assume arguendo the

correctness of each of the syllogism’s three steps, Aries and U.S. Specialty would still

not be entitled to summary judgment under Section 12(b)(ii). That is because Section

12(b)(ii) excludes defense and indemnity for claims “caused, in whole or in part,” by

“the gross negligence . . . of any member of the Owner Group,”108 and Aries and U.S.

Specialty have not carried their initial summary-judgment burden to point to an

absence of evidence supporting an inference that the claims asserted against Aries

were “caused, in whole or in part,” by Aries’s gross negligence.109 Accordingly, because

Aries and U.S. Specialty “fail[ ] to meet this initial [summary-judgment] burden, the

motion must be denied, regardless of [Fieldwood’s] response.” Little, 37 F.3d at 1075;

accord, e.g., Arana v. MNM Boats, Inc., No. 04-CV-97, 2005 WL 5330, at *2 (E.D. La.

Jan. 6, 2005) (Fallon, J.) (denying motion for summary judgment on movant’s

contractual-indemnity claim because the contract excluded indemnity for “gross

negligence” and “willful misconduct,” and the movant “provid[ed] virtually no

evidence to exclude the possibility that its alleged fault may have risen to the level of

gross negligence or willful misconduct” (internal quotation marks omitted)).

The Court’s conclusion is confirmed by Judge Africk’s denial of Aries’s motion

for summary judgment seeking to dismiss the punitive-damages claims asserted

107 Neither Aries nor U.S. Specialty has contested that, if the waivers of subrogation and

related provisions in favor of Fieldwood are enforceable, all of their claims fail as a matter of law.

108 ECF No. 415-3 at 10 § 12(b)(ii) (boldface and capitalization omitted).

109 ECF No. 419-1 at 1–20.

against it.110 In declining to dismiss those claims, Judge Africk necessarily found a

genuine dispute as to whether Aries “engaged in behavior that is more than merely

negligent”—i.e., whether Aries acted with “gross negligence, reckless or callous

disregard for the rights of others or actual malice or criminal indifference.”111

* * *

To sum up: The Court holds that Aries and U.S. Specialty have not met their

burden to show that they are entitled to partial summary judgment enforcing

indemnity obligations against Fieldwood under the Time Charter. Aries and U.S.

Specialty have not shown that they are entitled to defense and indemnity under

Section 12(g) of the Time Charter for the independent reasons that (1) Section 12(g)

does not create an indemnity obligation on the part of Fieldwood in favor of Aries and

U.S. Specialty; and (2) even if it did, Fieldwood’s indemnity obligations would not

have been triggered because the requirements of Section 12(f)(i) were in fact met. Nor

have Aries and U.S. Specialty carried their burden to show that they are owed defense

and indemnity under Section 12(b)(ii) of the Time Charter. Setting aside the

enforceable subrogation waivers in Fieldwood’s favor, Aries and U.S. Specialty have

not shown their entitlement to summary judgment under Section 12(b)(ii) because

Section 12(b)(ii) excludes indemnity for claims caused in whole or in part by Aries’s

gross negligence, and Aries and U.S. Specialty have not met their initial summary-

judgment burden by pointing to an absence of evidence supporting an inference that

Claimants’ claims were caused in whole or in part by Aries’s gross negligence.

110 ECF No. 236 at 13.

111 Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).

IV. CONCLUSION

Accordingly,

IT IS ORDERED that Fieldwood’s motion!!2 for partial summary judgment

to enforce waivers of subrogation against U.S. Specialty and Aries is GRANTED.

Aries’s crossclaim against Fieldwood and U.S. Specialty’s complaint-in-intervention

against Fieldwood are DISMISSED with prejudice.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Aries and U.S. Specialty’s motion!!3

for summary judgment to enforce indemnity and other obligations under the Master

Time Charter Agreement against Fieldwood is DENIED.

New Orleans, Louisiana, this 20th day of November, 2024.

Kile S x

BRANDON 8. LONG

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

112 BCE No, 415.

1138 KCF No, 419.

31