A client's note about my 'standard' indemnity clause made me rethink everything

About six months ago, a client in Portland sent back my services contract with a single line highlighted: 'This makes you responsible for things you can't control.' They were right. My old clause said I'd cover any third party claim, even if it came from their own mistake with the data I gave them. I rewrote it to only cover claims from my direct work. Anyone else had to fix a clause that was too broad?

3 comments

3 Comments

blake_owens3d ago

Okay but is it really that big of a deal? I mean, a lot of standard contracts have stuff like that. It feels like people get really worried about every single line. In the real world, if a client messed up their own data, they probably wouldn't even try to blame you for it. Maybe it's just me but I feel like we overthink these things sometimes. Fixing it is fine, but I don't know if it means you have to rethink everything.

rose_clark812d ago

Blake's right, kai_foster, but you've seen the worst of it.

kai_foster3d ago

Wait, you think clients don't try to blame you? I've had someone sue because they deleted their own database and claimed our software "let them do it." That clause is their get out of jail free card.