Pan American Petroleum v. Maddux Well Service

An employee of Maddux Well Service, Howard Grouns, died in an oil well fire in 1968. Maddux was, at the time of the incident, conducting workover services at a well location owned by Pan American Petroleum Corporation (now AMOCO Production Company). Work was being performed pursuant to a well and lease service contract between Maddux and Pan American. The personal representative of Grouns estate filed a wrongful death action against Pan American, alleging negligence on the part of Pan American. Pan American, in turn, filed a third-party complaint against Maddux, alleging negligence on the part of Maddux. Alternatively, Pan American sought reimbursement on the basis of implied and express rights of indemnification and on the basis of contribution. Subsequent to the filing of the third-party complaint, and after demand that Maddux participate in a proposed settlement, Pan American settled the original action. Thereafter, Maddux moved for summary judgment in its favor on the third-party complaint. The trial court granted the motion in favor of Maddux, finding that Wyomings Workers Compensation provisions barred all third-party actions against a contributing employer. We will reverse the summary judgment in part and remand the case for a trial on the merits.