Arkema Inc. v. Bulk Resources, Inc.

Filing 32

ORDER ATTACHED denying 30 Arkema, Inc.'s Motion to Dismiss Indemnification-Related Counterclaims. Arkema shall file its answer and defenses to counts I and III of the counterclaim within fourteen (14) days. Signed by Judge Richard A. Lazzara on 6/1/2017. (CCB)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
TAMPA DIVISION

ARKEMA, INC.,
Plaintiff/Counter-defendant,
v.

CASE NO. 8:17-cv-57-T-26AEP

BULK RESOURCES, INC.,
Defendant/Counter-claimant.
/

ORDER
UPON DUE AND CAREFUL CONSIDERATION of the parties’ submissions, it is
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Arkema’s Motion to Dismiss Bulk Resources’
Indemnification-Related Counterclaims (Dkt. 30) is denied. After review of the relevant cases
cited by the parties, including the ones issued by this Court in this and other cases, together with
the allegations of counts I and III of Bulk Resources’ counterclaim, the Court agrees with Bulk
Resources’ contention that within the context of a contractual claim for indemnification there is a
universe of difference between whether a claim for such indemnification is ripe for a decision
and whether the filing of a such a claim for indemnification is premature. The Court agrees in
that regard with Judge Moody’s decision in BP Prods. N. Am., Inc. v. Giant Oil, Inc., 545 F.
Supp. 2d 1257, 1260 (M.D. Fla. 2008) that “contractual indemnity actions can be filed prior to
judgment in the underlying action.” (Citations omitted.) Arkema shall file its answer and

defenses to counts I and III of Bulk Resources’ counterclaim within fourteen (14) days of this
order.

DONE AND ORDERED at Tampa, Florida, on June 1, 2017.

s/Richard A. Lazzara
RICHARD A. LAZZARA
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

COPIES FURNISHED TO:

Counsel of Record

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