Union Pacific Resources Co. v. Dolenc

**Union Pacific Resources Co. v. Dolenc: Wyoming Supreme Court Ruling** This case involved a dispute over who should pay for damages related to work at a water treatment plant used in oil production. Dolenc, likely a contractor or worker, was sued by Union Pacific Resources Company, which wanted Dolenc to cover costs under an indemnification agreement (a contract requiring one party to pay for the other's losses). Dolenc argued that Wyoming's anti-indemnity law protected him from having to pay these costs. This law prevents oil and gas companies from forcing contractors and workers to cover the company's damages and liabilities in certain situations. The Wyoming Supreme Court ruled in favor of Dolenc, but on narrow grounds. The court found that the anti-indemnity law didn't apply in this specific case because the work involved a water plant used for oil recovery, not work directly connected to an oil or gas well itself. **What this means for workers:** While Dolenc won this particular case, the ruling actually limits the protection of Wyoming's anti-indemnity law. The court interpreted the law narrowly, meaning workers and contractors may have less protection from indemnification agreements when their work involves oil industry facilities that aren't directly connected to wells.