STATUS OF CONTRACTOR 21 CONTRACTOR is, and shall at all times be deemed to be, an independent contractor and shall be 22 wholly responsible for the manner in which it performs the services required of it by the terms of this 23 Agreement. CONTRACTOR is entirely responsible for compensating staff, subcontractors, and 24 consultants employed by CONTRACTOR. This Agreement shall not be construed as creating the 25 relationship of employer and employee, or principal and agent, between COUNTY and CONTRACTOR 26 or any of CONTRACTOR’s employees, agents, consultants, or subcontractors. CONTRACTOR 27 assumes exclusively the responsibility for the acts of its employees, agents, consultants, or 28 subcontractors as they relate to the services to be provided during the course and scope of their 29 employment. CONTRACTOR, its agents, employees, consultants, or subcontractors, shall not be 30 entitled to any rights or privileges of COUNTY’s employees and shall not be considered in any manner 31 to be COUNTY’s employees. 32