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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgreement A-19-425 with Little Bear Solar 1 3 4 and 5 LLC Indemnification.pdf1 COUNTY harmless, in order that COUNTY shall bear no fiscal or financial burden whatsoever resulting 2 from any litigation challenging the COUNTY's grant or issuance of land use approvals to OWNERS. 3 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of OWNERS' request for COUNTY to process applications 4 for the Project and other consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby, acknowledged, 5 COUNTY and OWNERS agree as follows: 6 1.EFFECTIVE DATE. 7 This INDEMNI FICAT ION AGREEMENT is effective as of the date that it is signed by the 8 PARTIES. 9 2.INCORPORATION OF RECITALS. 1 O The Recitals set forth above are incorporated herein by this reference and are made a 11 part of this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT as set for in their entirety. 12 3.DEFINITIONS. 13 (a)"OWNERS" means the person(s) or entity(ies) to whom the land use approval will 14 be granted or issued, and his, her, or its heirs, assigns or successors in interest; 15 (b)"BUSINESS DAY' means the business day of the PARTY required to perform an 16 obligation herein, provided however, a business day of PARTY who is an individual shall mean Monday 17 through Friday, inclusive. 18 (c)"LAND USE APPROVAL" shall include any benefit arising from any of the 19 following: the certification of an Environmental Impact Report ("EIR"), the grant of an amendment to the 20 general plan or a rezoning; the issuance of a variance, conditional use permit, Director's Review and 21 Approval, or other discretionary land use permit; the approval of a parcel, tentative or final subdivision 22 map; and any other document prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA') 23 or other law that is approved in conjunction with the LAND USE APPROVAL. "LAND USE APPROVAL" 24 does not include a ministerial permit; 25 (d)"PROJECT" means the use of the land authorized by the following LAND USE 26 APPROVALS: Unclassified Conditional Use Permit Nos. 3550, 3551, 3552, 3553, and 3577. 27 28 4845-8206-9149.3 2 1 2 California; 3 (e)"COUNTY' shall mean the County of Fresno, a political subdivision of the State of (f)"COUNTY BUSINESS DAY' means Monday through Friday, inclusive, but 4 excluding any day which is recognized as a legal holiday by COUNTY. 5 (g)"DAY" means a calendar day unless specified to the contrary in the 6 INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT, as applicable. 7 (h)"DIRECTOR" means the Director of COUNTYs Department of Public Works and 8 Planning. 9 (i)"FINAL DISPOSITION" means a dismissal with prejudice of a Legal Action or a 10 final judgment in a Legal Action. 11 U)"LEGAL ACTION" means a lawsuit, petition, claim, action, cause of action, or 12 other legal proceeding initiated in a court, including an appeal(s) and/or writ(s) to a court of higher 13 jurisdiction, which seeks to act, set aside, void, remand to a lower jurisdiction, or annual any LAND USE 14 APPROVAL or PROJECT. 15 4.INDEMNIFICATION. 16 (a)The OWNERS hereby agree to save, indemnify, hold harmless and, at COUNTYs 17 request, defend COUNTY, its officers, agents, and employees, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, 18 each member of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, the Fresno County Planning Commission, and 19 each member of the Fresno County Planning Commission (the "INDEMNIFIED PARTIES"), from and 20 against any and all losses, expenses, demands, liabilities, claims, costs (including but not limited to 21 attorney's fees and cost, and fees and costs of experts or consultants engaged by such attorney), 22 judgments, injuries, fines, penalties, or damages of any nature whatsoever asserted against, occurring, 23 or resulting to and of the INDEMNIFIED PARTIES, including, but not limited to, an award of attorney's 24 fees and costs ( and fees and costs of any experts or consultants engaged by such attorney) to the person, 25 organization or entity bringing the cause of action, or their officers, agents, and employees, arising from, 26 resulting from, or in connection with any COUNTY action in granting, issuing or approving any LAND 27 USE APPROVAL for the PROJECT. 28 4845-8206-9149.3 3 1 (b)When defending INDEMNIFIED PARTIES, OWNERS shall pay all attorneys' fees 2 and costs and fees (and costs of any experts or consultants engaged by such attorney) related to the 3 defense in any action brought against the INDEMNIFIED PARTIES and the OWNERS, except for any 4 fees and costs incurred by the COUNTY in defense of any action, as provided in section 4 of this 5 INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT. OWNERS shall defend the INDEMNIFIED PARTIES through 6 counsel selected by OWNERS (including but not limited to in-house counsel) and shall keep the COUNTY 7 fully informed as to the progress of such defense. 8 (c)OWNERS understand and acknowledge that there shall be no limit on the amount 9 of attorneys' fees and costs (including but not limited to court costs, and fees and costs of any experts or 10 consultants engaged by such attorney) they may be required to pay to satisfy their obligations in 11 accordance with this INDEMNIFICAT ION AGREEMENT; provided, however, that nothing her ein shall be 12 construed to prevent OWNERS from reasonably seeking to limit fees, costs, and other losses in defense 13 of any claims challenging any LAND USE APPROVAL, which may include seeking settlement and 14 dismissal of such claims, or modification of such LAND USE APPROVAL in accordance with COUNTY's 15 adopted ordinances and procedures and subject to COUNTY'S approval. 16 (d)OWNERS' obligations under this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT shall apply 17 whether or not there is concurrent, active, or passive negligence, or other liability, on the part of the 18 INDEMNIFIED PARTIES, or any of them. OWNERS' obligations under this INDEMNIFICA TION 19 AGREEMENT shall be effective regardless of whether any or all LAND USE APPROVAL issued by 20 COUNTY regarding the PROJECT remain valid or are invalidated, or are modified, in whole or in part by 21 any court. 22 5.NOTIFICATIONS AND COOPERATION BY COUNTY. 23 COUNTY shall notify OWNERS within seven (7) COUNTY business days of its receipt of 24 any demand, claim, action, proceeding, or litigation in which COUNTY is to be indemnified and held 25 harmless by OWNERS. If COUNTY requests that OWNERS defend COUNTY, it shall notify OWNERS 26 in writing within ten (10) COUNTY BUSINESS DAYS of its receipt of any such demand, claim, action, 27 proceeding, or litigation. COUNTY shall reasonably and fully cooperate in such defense. 28 4845-8206-9149.3 4 1 2 6.COUNT Y PART ICIPATION IN DEFENSE. Nothing contained herein shall prohibit COUNTY, in its sole discretion, from participating 3 in the defense of any demand, claim, action, proceeding, or litigation over and above representation by 4 outside counsel, or from participating in the defense of any demand, claim, action, pr oceeding, or 5 litigation. If COUNTY elects to also defend, it shall do so in good faith and COUNTY shall bear its 6 attorney's fees and costs (and fees and costs of any experts or consultants engaged by COUNTY). 7 Except as otherwise provided in this section, in no event shall COUNTYs participation in the defense of 8 any demand, claim, action, proceeding, or litigation affect the obligations imposed upon OWNERS in 9 section 4 of this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT. 10 7.REIMBURSEMENT OF COUNTY'S COSTS RE:.ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD. 11 COUNT Y acknowledges that it will make all reasonable efforts to look to the petitioner 12 bringing action for payment of costs associated with preparation of any administrative record as provided 13 by law. However, only if the petitioner refuses to pay within 90 days of COUNTYs written demand, 14 OWNERS agree to reimburse COUNTY for its actual cost incurred, including, but not limited to, COUNTY 15 staff and attorney time expended, for certifying and/or preparing the administrative record in connection 16 with any litigation/ proceedings related to the subject matter of this INDEMNIFICAT ION AGREEMENT. 17 To the extent administrative record reimbursement and related costs are recovered by the COUNTY in 18 any litigation, OWNERS shall be reimbursed to the extent of any such recovery. 19 8.RELEASES AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE. 20 (a)In consideration for the agreements contained herein, upon issuance of a final 21 Certificate of Occupancy for the Project, OWNERS for themselves, and their successors, assigns, heirs, 22 executors, administrators and representatives, and any other person or entity claiming (now or in the 23 future) to be acting through or on behalf of OWNERS (each a "RELEASOR," and collectively, the 24 "RELEASORS"), hereby fully and finally release and forever discharge the RELEASEES (hereinafter 25 defined) from any and all demands, liabilities, causes of action, claims, losses, expenses, costs (including 26 but not limited to court costs, attorney's fees and costs, and fees and costs of any experts or consultants 27 engaged by such attorney), or damages of any nature or kind whatsoever whether known or unknown 28 4845-8206-9149.3 5 1 related in any way to the LAND USE APPROVAL and covenants not to sue the RELEASEES. Each 2 INDEMNIFIED PARTY is a "RELEASEE" and the INDEMNIFIED PARTIES are collectively the 3 "RELEASEES" under this INDEMNIFIC ATION AGREEMENT. OWNERS acknowledge and affirm that 4 they are familiar with Section 1542 of the California Civil Code, which provides that: 5 6 7 8 9 10 A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIM S WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT EXISTS IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXE CUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFE CTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENTWTH THE DEBTOR. (b)OWNERS hereby knowingly and voluntarily waive the provisions of Section 1542 of the California Civil Code with respect to any cause of action or claim alleged or which could have been alleged in a LEGAL ACTION, and acknowledge and agree that this waiver is an essential and material term which led to this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT. (c)/ls. of the issuance of a final Certificate of Occupancy for the Project, RELEASORS hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably, covenant and agree with and in favor of the RELEASEES that RELEASORS will not bring, file, charge, claim, sue or cause, assist, or permit to be 11 12 13 14 15 16 brought, filed, charged or claimed any action, cause of action, or proceeding (at law, in equity, in any 17 regulatory proceeding or otherwise) against the RELEASEES on the basis of any matter released, 18 surrendered, or discharged by the RELEASORS pursuant to this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT. If 19 any RELEASORS violates the foregoing covenant, such RELEASORS, jointly and severally agree to 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 pay, in addition to such other damages as any RELEASEE may sustain as a result of such violation, all reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred by any RELEASEE as a result of such violation. (d )OWNERS acknowledge and agree that this release applies to all causes of action and claims that OWNERS may have against COUNTY arising out of a LAND USE APPROVAL for injuries, damages, or losses to OWNERS' person and property, real or personal, whether those injuries, damages, or losses are known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen, or patent or latent. OWNERS acknowledge and warrant to COUNTY that OWNERS' execution of this release is free and voluntary, 4845-8206-9149.3 6 1 and that this release was separately bargained for and a key element of this INDEMNIFICA TION 2 AGREEMENT of which such release is a part. 3 (e)This release pertains to a disputed claim and does not constitute an admission of 4 liability by COUNTY for the LAND USE APPROVAL. 5 (f)The provisions of this Section 8 shall survive the termination of this 6 INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT. 7 9.DEFAULT 8 For the purposes of this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT, the occurrence of any one or 9 more of the following events shall constitute an "EVENT OF DEFAULT" by OWNERS under this 10 INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT: 11 (a)If a court makes one or more orders that COUNTY must pay attorney's fees and 12 costs (including but not limited to any court costs, and/or fees and and/or costs of any experts or 13 consultants engaged by such attorney) of any parties challenging the PROJECT, and/or any other 14 amounts of such parties, and OWNERS fail to reimburse COUNTY within seven (7) COUNTY BUSINESS 15 DAYS for such attorney's fees and/or costs, and/or amounts upon COUNTYs written request for payment 16 thereof; 17 (b)OWNERS fail to promptly defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the INDEMNIFIED 18 PARTIES, as required under this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT; 19 (c)OWNERS fail to timely pay any amount due or owed by OWNERS to COUNTY 20 under this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT, 21 (d)The breach or default in the performance of any other obligations in this 22 INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT, or falsity of any representation or warranties, of OWNERS in this 23 INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT for a period of thirty (30) days after COUNTY provides written notice 24 to OWNERS, stating the obligation OWNERS have failed to perform, or the apparently false 25 representation or warranty of OWNERS, provided however, if the nature of the breach or de fault or false 26 representation or warrant is such that OWNERS cannot reasonably cure the breach or default, or correct 27 the false representation or warranty within thirty (30) calendar days, OWNERS shall have additional 28 4845�206-9149.3 7 1 reasonable time to cure or correct, as applicable, subject to OWNERS commencing to cure or correct 2 as applicable, within the thirty (30) day period and diligently pursuing the cure or correction, as applicable, 3 to completion and completing the cure or correction, as applicable, not later than sixty (60) days from 4 COUNTYs notice of such failure to perform or apparently false representation or warranty; or 5 (e)Bankruptcy, liquidation, arrangement, insolvency, receivership, or conservatorship 6 proceedings, or other proceedings for relief under any bankruptcy or similar law or laws for the relief of 7 debtors, are instituted by or against OWNERS, and are not dismissed within ninety (90) days of institution, 8 or there is an assignment by OWNERS for the benefit of creditors, or any similar action taken by or 9 against OWNERS, or OWNERS are insolvent. 10 The occurrence of an EVENT OF DEFAULT shall entitle COUNTY to all any and all 11 remedies available under this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT and under the law, including but not 12 limited to, specific performance and damages. Moreover, and without limiting COUNTY's remedies 13 hereinabove, OWNERS' failure to promptly defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the INDEMNIFIED 14 PARTIES , as required under this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT, shall constitute grounds upon 15 which the COUNTY decision-making body may rescind the issuance of the LAND USE APPROVAL for 16 the Project in accordance with COUNTYs adopted ordinances and procedures, and a waiver by 17 OWNERS of any right to proceed with the PROJECT or any portion thereof. 18 10.TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT. 19 (a)This INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT may be terminated only upon the 20 following conditions: 21 (i)The PARTIES , by their express, mutual, written consent agree to terminate 22 this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; or 23 (ii)Provided that OWNERS are not in breach of or default under this 24 INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT, the OWNERS petition the Fresno County Board of Supervisors to 25 terminate this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT by providing to the Board of Supervisors, a written 26 opinion of OWNERS' legal counsel, as required under subsection 10(b) of this INDEMNIFICA TION 27 AGREEMENT, and the Board of Supervisors, in its sole discretion, determines that termination of this 28 484�206-9149.3 8 1 INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT is in the best interest of the public and the COUNTY. It is understood 2 and agreed that the Board of Supervisors, in making such determination of whether to terminate this 3 INDEMNIFICAT ION AGREEMENT, may reasonably rely upon said opinion of OWNERS' legal counsel. 4 (b)The opinion of OWNERS' legal counsel shall include, without qualification, the 5 following applicable representations and opinion: 6 (i)if a demand, claim, action, proceeding, or litigation is brought by anyone 7 upon or after the date of such opinion that could give rise to OWNERS' obligations herein to defend, 8 indemnify, and/or hold harmless the COUNTY, such demand, claim, action, proceeding, and/or litigation 9 is completely and forever barred by the statute of limitations; 10 (ii)If one or more LEGAL ACTIONS is initiated which challenges COUNTY'S 11 issuance of the LAND USE APPROVALS, then following the FINAL DISPOSITION of all LEGAL 12 ACTIONS, on or after the passage of two hundred (200) days from the FINAL DISPOSITION of the last 13 LEGAL ACTION to reach FINAL DISPOSITION, including any available appeals and/or writs to a court(s) 14 of higher or supervisory jurisdiction; or 15 (iii)OWNERS' legal counsel is not aware of any demand, claim, action, 16 proceeding, or litigation which is pending or threatened by anyone that could give rise to OWNERS' 17 obligations herein to defend, indemnify, and/or hold harmless the COUNTY. 18 (c)If this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT is terminated, as provided, above, the 19 COUNTY shall execute a written release of OWNERS' obligations under this INDEl\.i1NIFICA T 10 N 20 AGREEMENT within ten (1 O) days of the date of termination. It shall be OWNERS' responsibility to 21 record such document with the office of the Recorder of the County of Fresno. 22 11.SEVERABILITY. 23 If anything in this INDEMNIFI CAT ION AGREEMENT is found by a court of competent 24 jurisdiction to be unlawful or otherwise unenforceable, the balance of this INDEl\.i1NIFICAT ION 25 AGREEMENT remains in effect, and the PARTIES shall make best efforts to replace the unlawful or 26 unenforceable part of this INDEMNIFICAT ION AGREEMENT with lawful and enforceable terms intended 27 to accomplish the PARTIES' original intent. 28 4845-8206-9149.3 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 12.NOTICES. The persons and their addresses having authority to give and receive notices under this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT include the following: COUNTY: County of Fresno Director of Public Works and Planning Attn: Principal Planner 2220 Tulare Street, Sixth Floor Fresno, CA 93721 Fax: (559) 600-4200] Copies of notices to COUNTY shall also be given to: OWN ERS: Office of the Fresno County Counsel Attn: Senior Deputy County Counsel 2220 Tulare Street, Suite 500 Fresno, CA 93721 Email: CountyCounsel@fresnocountyca.gov Fax: (559) 600-3480 Little Bear Solar 1, 3, 4, and/or 5 LLC c/o First Solar Inc. Attn: Robert Holbrook -l'v1anager, Project Development 135 l'v1ain Street, 6th Floor San Francisco, CA 94105 Email: rholbrook@firstsolar.com Copies of notices to OWNERS shall also be given to: First Solar Development, LLC Attn: General Counsel 350 West Washington Street, Suite 600 Tempe, AZ 85281 Email: generalcounsel@firstsolar.com My and all notice, consents, approvals, requests, correspondences, documents, 25 reports, demands and other communications (collectively, "N OTIC E") between COUNTY and 26 OWNERS provided for or permitted under this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT or by law shall be in 27 writing and delivered either by personal service, by first-class United States mail, by an overnight 28 4845-8206-9149.3 10 1 commercial courier service, by telephonic facsimile transmission, or by Portable Document Format 2 ("PDF") document attached to an email. A NOTICE delivered by personal service is effective upon 3 service to the recipient. A NOTICE delivered by first-class United States mail is effective three 4 COUNTY BUSINESS DAYS after deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to 5 the recipient. A NOTICE delivered by first-class United States mail is effective three COUNTY 6 BUSINESS DAYS after deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to recipient. A 7 NOTICE delivered by an overnight commercial courier is effective one COUNTY business day after 8 deposit with the overnight commercial courier service, delivery fees prepaid, with delivery instructions 9 for next-day delivery, addressed to the recipient. A NOTICE delivered by telephonic facsimile or by PDF 10 document attached to an email is effective when transmission is completed (but, if such transmission is 11 completed outside of COUNTY business hours, then such delivery shall be deemed to be effective at 12 the next beginning of a COUNTY business day), provided that the sender maintains a machine record 13 of the completed transmission. 14 For all claims arising out of or related to this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEl\,ENT, nothing 15 in this section establishes, waives, or modifies any claims presentation requirements or procedures 16 provided by law, including the Government Claims Act (Division 3.6 of Title 1 of the Government Code, 17 beginning with section 810). 18 13.GOVERNING LAW AND VEN UE. 19 This INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT is made and entered into in the State of California 20 and shall be deemed to have been executed and delivered within the State of California, and the rights 21 and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be governed by, and construed, and enforced in 22 accordance with the laws of the State of California. Any suits brought pursuant to this INDEMNIFICAT 10 N 23 AGREEMENT shall be filed and heard in courts having jurisdiction and located in the Fresno County, 24 State of California. 25 14.ENTIRE AGREEMENT; CONSTRUCTION OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT. 26 This INDEMNIFI CATION AGREEMENT constitutes the entire agreement between 27 OWNERS and COUNTY with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all previous 28 4845-8206-9149.3 11 1 INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT negotiations, proposals, commitments, writings, advertisements, 2 publications, and understanding of any nature whatsoever concerning such payment obligation unless 3 expressly included in this INDEMNIFIC ATION AGREEMENT. 4 The final form of this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT is the result of the PARTIES' 5 combined efforts. The PARTIES hereby acknowledge that they and their respective counsel have 6 cooperated in the drafting and preparation of this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT, for which reason 7 this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT shall not be construed against any PARTY as the drafter thereof. 8 15.MODIFICATION. 9 This INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT may not be altered, amended, or modified in 10 any respect, except by a writing duly executed by the PARTIES. 11 16.BINDING EFFECT. 12 Neither PARTY shall assign, transfer or sub-contract this INDEMNIFICA TION 13 AGR EEMENT nor their rights or obligations under this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT without the 14 prior written consent of the other PARTY. This INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT shall be binding upon, 15 and inure to the benefit of, the respective successors and assigns of the PARTIES who are permissible 16 successors and assigns under this Section 16. 17 17.NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. 18 Notwithstanding anything else to contrary herein, the PARTIES acknowledge and agree 19 that no other person, firm, corporation, or entity shall be deemed as an intended third-party beneficiary 20 of this INDEMNIFIC ATION AGREEMENT. 21 18.JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY. 22 Little Bear Solar 1, LLC; Little Bear Solar 3, LLC; Little Bear Solar 4, LLC; and Little Bear 23 Solar 5, LLC shall be jointly and severally liable for the OWNERS' obligations to COUNTY under this 24 INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT. 25 26 19.COUNTERPARTS. This INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT may be signed in counterparts, each of which is 27 an original, and all of which together constitute this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT. 28 4845-8206-9149.3 12 1 20.LEGAL AUTHORITY. 2 Each PARTY hereby covenants, warrants, and represents to the other PARTY: (1) that 3 individual executing or attesting this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT on behalf of such PARTY is 4 duly authorized to execute and deliver this INDEMNIFIC ATION AGREEMENT on behalf of such 5 PARTY in accordance with the following: for OWNERS, their articles of organization and operating 6 agreements; and for COUNTY, its governing legal authority; (2) that this INDEMNIFICATION 7 AGREEMENT is binding upon such PARTY; and (3) that such PARTY is duly organized and legally 8 existing in good standing in the State of California. 9 21.AUTHORITY OF DIRECTOR. 10 The Director is hereby authorized by COUNTY to give any Notices on behalf of 11 COUNTY, make any determinations or declarations on behalf of COUNTY including with respect to any 12 Event of Default or material breach of this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT, or to take any action, or 13 enforce any right on behalf of COUNTY under this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT on behalf of 14 COUNTY. 15 16 22.HEADINGS; CONSTRUCTION; STATUTORY REFERENCES; TIME IS OF ESSE NCE. The headings of the sections and paragraphs of this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT 17 are for convenience only and shall not be used to interpret this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT. 18 This INDEMNIFIC ATION AGREEMENT is the product of negotiation between the Parties, 19 as assisted by their respective attorneys. The language of this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT shall 20 be construed as a whole according to its fair meaning and not strictly for or against any PARTY. Any rule 21 of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting PARTY shall not apply 22 in interpreting this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT. All references in this INDEMNIFICA TION 23 AGREEMENT to particular statutes, regulations, ordinances or resolutions of the United States, the State 24 of California, or County of Fresno shall be deemed to include the same statute, regulation, ordinance or 25 resolution as hereafter amended or renumbered, or if repealed, to such other provisions as may thereafter 26 govern the same subject. 27 28 4845-820�9149.3 13 1 It is understood that time is of the essence in OWNERS' performance of all of his 2 obligations under this INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT. 3 The remainder of this page left intentionally blank 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 24 26 27 28 14