Contract Dispute for Local Farmer

Contract Dispute: David Melton and Jeremy Ehrlich obtained summary judgment for a local farmer against an equipment rental company which sought indemnification. An employee of a local apricot farmer was injured by a forklift and brought suit against the forklift’s manufacturer and rental company. The rental company cross-complained against the farmer for indemnity. Summary judgment was granted in favor of the farmer based on the exclusive jurisdiction of Workers’ Compensation which was not overcome by an improperly executed written rental agreement between the farmer and the rental company.