Even With Insurance Wyoming Public Policy Defeats Choice of Law Provision of Contract
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Texas and Wyoming are leading oil-producing states. Like other leading energy states, they both regulate the use of indemnity agreements in their oilfields with Anti-Indemnity Acts. Wyoming, concerned that indemnification disincentivizes safety, forbids oilfield indemnity agreements. Texas, concerned that large oil companies will use their leverage to demand indemnity from independent operators, also disfavors the agreements. But it does not ban them entirely. To address the bargaining-power problem, it allows indemnification in limited situations including when the indemnity is mutual and backed by insurance. In Cannon Oil and Gas Well Services, Incorporated v. KLX Energy Services, L.L.C., No. 21-20115, United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit (December 10, 2021) the Fifth Circuit was asked to enforce indemnity agreement in contract.
Wyoming & Texas Have Different Laws Concerning Oilfield Indemnity Laws
ANALYSIS
The Fifth Circuit, reading the Master Agreement recognized that even under applicable Texas law, indemnity provisions will not always be enforced.
To overcome the parties’ choice of Texas law, Wyoming must have a “more significant relationship” to Cannon and KLX’s indemnity agreement.
The place of performance favors Wyoming. The Supreme Court of Texas has not decided whether the relevant place of performance in indemnity cases is where the drilling or the suing takes place.
Parties generally expect that the law of the place of negotiation, contracting, and performance-none of which were Texas here-will govern. Even if the protection of justified expectations favors applying Texas law, those expectations can be overcome if they are substantially outweighed by the interests of the state with the invalidating rule.
The extent of the interest of a state in having its rule applied should be determined in the light of the purpose sought to be achieved by the rule.
To overcome the parties’ contrary choice of Texas law, KLX must next show that Wyoming’s interest in this indemnity matter is “materially greater” than Texas’s. It easily is. The anti-indemnity policy is a fundamental one.
The Fifth Circuit concluded, therefore, that Wyoming law applies. Its Oilfield Anti-Indemnity Act does not allow Cannon’s claim for indemnification.
ZALMA OPINION
Texas allows indemnity agreements if there is insurance available. Wyoming does not. Texas thinks its people would be protected by insurance. Wyoming stated a public policy in a statute and does not think the availability of insurance will protect its oil field workers. Since one was injured the public policy of Wyoming was applied and the attempt to choose Texas law failed.
© 2021 – Barry Zalma
ZIFL Volume 30, Number 2
THE SOURCE FOR THE INSURANCE FRAUD PROFESSIONAL
Post number 5260
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Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter (ZIFL) continues its 30th year of publication dedicated to those involved in reducing the effect of insurance fraud. ZIFL is published 24 times a year by ClaimSchool and is written by Barry Zalma. It is provided FREE to anyone who visits the site at http://zalma.com/zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-2/ This issue contains the following articles about insurance fraud:
Read the full 19 page issue of ZIFL at https://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ZIFL-01-15-2026.pdf.
The Contents of the January 15, 2026 Issue of ZIFL Includes:
Use of the Examination Under Oath to Defeat Fraud
The insurance Examination Under Oath (“EUO”) is a condition precedent to indemnity under a first party property insurance policy that allows an insurer ...
ERISA Life Policy Requires Active Employment to Order Increase in Benefits
Post 5259
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In Katherine Crow Albert Guidry, Individually And On Behalf Of The Estate Of Jason Paul Guidry v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, et al, Civil Action No. 25-18-SDD-RLB, United States District Court, M.D. Louisiana (January 7, 2026) Guidry brought suit to recover life insurance proceeds she alleges were wrongfully withheld following her husband’s death on January 9, 2024.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Jason Guidry was employed by Waste Management, which provided life insurance coverage through Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”). Plaintiff contends that after Jason’s death, the defendants (MetLife, Waste Management, and Life Insurance Company of North America (“LINA”)) engaged in conduct intended to confuse and ultimately deny her entitlement to...
Failure to Respond to Motion to Dismiss is Agreement to the Motion
Post 5259
Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gP52fU5s, see the video at https://lnkd.in/gR8HMUpp and at https://lnkd.in/gh7dNA99, and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5250 posts.
In Mercury Casualty Company v. Haiyan Xu, et al., No. 2:23-CV-2082 JCM (EJY), United States District Court, D. Nevada (January 6, 2026) Plaintiff Mercury Casualty Company (“plaintiff”) moved to dismiss. Defendant Haiyan Xu and Victoria Harbor Investments, LLC (collectively, “defendants”) did not respond.
This case revolves around an insurance coverage dispute when the parties could not be privately resolved, litigation was initiated in the Eighth Judicial District Court of Nevada. Plaintiff subsequently filed for a declaratory judgment in this court.
On or about April 15, 2025, the state court action was dismissed with prejudice pursuant to a stipulation following mediation. Plaintiff states that the state court dismissal renders its ...
Court Must Follow Judicial Precedent
Post 5252
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sudden-opposite-gradual-barry-zalma-esq-cfe-h7qmc, see the video at and at and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5250 posts.
Insurance Policy Interpretation Requires Application of the Judicial Construction Doctrine
In Montrose Chemical Corporation Of California v. The Superior Court Of Los Angeles County, Canadian Universal Insurance Company, Inc., et al., B335073, Court of Appeal, 337 Cal.Rptr.3d 222 (9/30/2025) the Court of Appeal refused to allow extrinsic evidence to interpret the word “sudden” in qualified pollution exclusions (QPEs) as including gradual but unexpected pollution. The court held that, under controlling California appellate precedent, the term “sudden” in these standard-form exclusions unambiguously includes a temporal element (abruptness) and cannot reasonably be construed to mean ...
Lack of Jurisdiction Defeats Suit for Defamation
Post 5250
Posted on December 29, 2025 by Barry Zalma
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He Who Represents Himself in a Lawsuit has a Fool for a Client
In Pankaj Merchia v. United Healthcare Services, Inc., Civil Action No. 24-2700 (RC), United States District Court, District of Columbia (December 22, 2025)
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Parties & Claims:
The plaintiff, Pankaj Merchia, is a physician, scientist, engineer, and entrepreneur, proceeding pro se. Merchia sued United Healthcare Services, Inc., a Minnesota-based medical insurance company, for defamation and related claims. The core allegation is that United Healthcare falsely accused Merchia of healthcare fraud, which led to his indictment and arrest in Massachusetts, causing reputational and business harm in the District of Columbia and nationwide.
Underlying Events:
The alleged defamation occurred when United ...
Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter
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ZIFL Volume 29, Issue 24
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Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter (ZIFL) continues its 29th year of publication dedicated to those involved in reducing the effect of insurance fraud. ZIFL is published 24 times a year by ClaimSchool and is written by Barry Zalma. It is provided FREE to anyone who visits the site at http://zalma.com/zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-2/
Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter
Merry Christmas & Happy Hannukah
Read the following Articles from the December 15, 2025 issue:
Read the full 19 page issue of ZIFL at ...
