Can you use a limitation of libility clause and an indemnification clause in the same contract?

Answer 1

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification both address possible liabilities under an agreement but are distinct in purpose. Limitation of liability addresses the liability between the actual parties to the contract and does not govern liabilities that may arise from third party claims that are not a party to the contract. For instance, a party to a contract may only be allowed to pursue direct damages but since the third party is not a party to the contract, the limitation or disclaimer of indirect damages does not apply to that party and they can submit a claim for whatever damages/remedies may be available under law. That's where an indemnity comes in ....

Indemnification in a contract sets forth the contracting parties obligations to each other in the event a third party sues or is awarded damages or a party incurs cost to defend itself because of the actions or inaction of the other party to the contract. Indemnification clauses can be very nuanced from standards of negligence to obligations to pay costs vs. awards, atty. fees, and who controls the defense, etc.

Depending on how the limitation of liability is drafted, Indemnification and Limitation of Liability may overlap to the extent a liability arising from a 3rd party could be claimed as a damage under the limitation of liability provision (i.e. incidental, consequential, etc.). However, the indemnification clause is used so that there's no ambiguity or selective interpretation as to who's responsible or what type damage it may be.