Agency established in procurement transaction

Chevron sued Aker Maritime and Oceaneering International in connection with bolt failures on an offshore drilling rig.  Chevron USA v. Aker Maritime Inc., No. 11-30369 (July 31, 2012).  Chevron recovered a significant damage award against both defendants, and Aker sought indemnity from Oceaneering.  Id. at 4.  To recover under the indemnity provision, Aker had to establish that it was an agent of Chevron with respect to Oceaneering’s work.  The Court concluded that Aker was an agent with respect to the specific activity of procurement, which it found “extends beyond Aker’s mere ordering and includes the receipt of the bolts.”  Id. at 8.