A hold-harmless clause where a subcontractor agrees to indemnify the general contractor even for the GC's OWN active negligence is:
Explanation
Civil Code §2782 voids a construction contract clause purporting to indemnify a party for its own sole negligence or willful misconduct, and §2782.05 further restricts indemnity by subcontractors for the active negligence of the general contractor. (b) inverts the statutes, which reach residential work rather than exempting it. (c) is the pre-statute common-law position, which clear drafting no longer rescues. (d) is a real and important distinction stated as an equivalence — additional insured coverage is subject to policy terms and limits, and does not do the work of an indemnity clause.
Law Reference: Civil Code §2782 / §2782.05This topic, taught in full in the CSLB Law & Business guide. CSLB Law & Business — Complete Study Guide (2026) — PDF + EPUB, $24.99 · 14-day refund →
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