Indiana Code Title 22. Labor and Safety § 22-3-2-14

Sec. 14. (a) As used in this section, “person” does not include:

(b) The state, any political division thereof, any municipal corporation, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or person, contracting for the performance of any work exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) in value by a contractor subject to the compensation provisions of IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6, without exacting from such contractor a certificate from the worker's compensation board showing that such contractor has complied with section 5 of this chapter, IC 22-3-5-1, and IC 22-3-5-2, shall be liable to the same extent as the contractor for compensation, physician's fees, hospital fees, nurse's charges, and burial expenses on account of the injury or death of any employee of such contractor, due to an accident arising out of and in the course of the performance of the work covered by such contract.

(c) Any contractor who shall sublet any contract for the performance of any work, to a subcontractor subject to the compensation provisions of IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6, without obtaining a certificate from the worker's compensation board showing that such subcontractor has complied with section 5 of this chapter, IC 22-3-5-1, and IC 22-3-5-2, shall be liable to the same extent as such subcontractor for the payment of compensation, physician's fees, hospital fees, nurse's charges, and burial expenses on account of the injury or death of any employee of such subcontractor due to an accident arising out of and in the course of the performance of the work covered by such subcontract.

(d) The state, any political division thereof, any municipal corporation, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, person, or contractor paying compensation, physician's fees, hospital fees, nurse's charges, or burial expenses under this section may recover the amount paid or to be paid from any person who, independently of such provisions, would have been liable for the payment thereof and may, in addition, recover the litigation expenses and attorney's fees incurred in the action before the worker's compensation board as well as the litigation expenses and attorney's fees incurred in an action to collect the compensation, medical expenses, and burial expenses.

(e) Every claim filed with the worker's compensation board under this section shall be instituted against all parties liable for payment.  The worker's compensation board, in an award under subsection (b), shall fix the order in which said parties shall be exhausted, beginning with the immediate employer, and, in an award under subsection (c), shall determine whether the subcontractor has the financial ability to pay the compensation and medical expenses when due and, if not, shall order the contractor to pay the compensation and medical expenses.