California Rules of Court 2024

Rule 10.203. Contractual indemnification

(a) Intent

The intent of this rule is to facilitate the use of contractual indemnities that allocate legal risk and liability to parties that contract with a superior court or Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, or the Judicial Council (a "judicial branch entity" as defined in Gov. Code, ยง 900.3).

(Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2016.)

(b) Defense and indemnification provisions

Notwithstanding rule 10.14, 10.201, or 10.202, a judicial branch entity may enter into a contract that requires the contractor or the contractor's insurer to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the entity and its officers, agents, and employees against claims, demands, liability, damages, attorney fees, costs, expenses, or losses arising from the performance of the contract. Upon receipt of notice of a claim or lawsuit that may be subject to contractual indemnities, the judicial branch entity must notify Legal Services, which will manage the claim or lawsuit to obtain the benefits of the contractual indemnities to the extent consistent with the interests of the public and the judicial branch.

(Subd (b) amended effective January 1, 2016; previously amended effective January 1, 2007.)

Rule 10.203 amended effective January 1, 2016; adopted as rule 6.203 effective October 15, 2003; previously amended and renumbered as rule 10.203 effective January 1, 2007.

Title 10, Judicial Administration Rules(Division 2, Administration of the Judicial Branch(Chapter 5, Management of Human Resources; renumbered effective January 1, 2013; adopted as Chapter 6.