We granted plaintiffs application for leave to appeal. Loweke v Ann Arbor Ceiling Partition Co, Inc, 488 Mich 876 (2010). We take this opportunity to clarify Fultz's "`separate and distinct' mode of analysis," 470 Mich at 467, and hold that a contracting party's assumption of contractual obligations does not extinguish or limit separately existing common-law or statutory tort duties owed to noncontracting third parties in the performance of the contract. Davis v Venture One Constr, Inc, 568 F3d 570, 575, 577 (CA 6, 2009).