5 ILCS 350/2 — Illinois Code / Chapter 5 / Act 350 / Section 2
Section 2
Status: in_force

(5 ILCS 350/2) (from Ch. 127, par. 1302) Sec. 2. Representation and indemnification of State employees. (a) In the event that any civil proceeding is commenced against any State employee arising out of any act or omission occurring within the scope of the employee's State employment, the Attorney General shall, upon timely and appropriate notice to him by such employee, appear on behalf of such employee and defend the action. In the event that any civil proceeding is commenced against any physician who is an employee of the Department of Corrections or the Department of Human Services (in a position relating to the Department's mental health and developmental disabilities functions) alleging death or bodily injury or other injury to the person of the complainant resulting from and arising out of any act or omission occurring on or after December 3, 1977 within the scope of the employee's State employment, or against any physician who is an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs alleging death or bodily injury or other injury to the person of the complainant resulting from and arising out of any act or omission occurring on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1988 within the scope of the employee's State employment, or in the event that any civil proceeding is commenced against any attorney who is an employee of the State Appellate Defender alleging legal malpractice or for other damages resulting from and arising out of any legal act or omission occurring on or after December 3, 1977, within the scope of the employee's State employment, or in the event that any civil proceeding is commenced against any individual or organization who contracts with the Department of Labor to provide services as a carnival and amusement ride safety inspector alleging malpractice, death or bodily injury or other injury to the person arising out of any act or omission occurring on or after May 1, 1985, within the scope of that employee's State employment, the Attorney General shall, upon timely and appropriate notice to him by such employee, appear on behalf of such employee and defend the action. Any such notice shall be in writing, shall be mailed within 15 days after the date of receipt by the employee of service of process, and shall authorize the Attorney General to represent and defend the employee in the proceeding. The giving of this notice to the Attorney General shall constitute an agreement by the State employee to cooperate with the Attorney General in his defense of the action and a consent that the Attorney General shall conduct the defense as he deems advisable and in the best interests of the employee, including settlement in the Attorney General's discretion. In any such proceeding, the State shall pay the court costs and litigation expenses of defending such action, to the extent approved by the Attorney General as reasonable, as they are incurred. (b) In the event that the Attorney General determines that so appearing and defending an employee either (1) involves an actual or potential conflict of interest, or (2) that the act or omission which gave rise to the claim was not within the scope of the employee's State employment or was intentional, wilful or wanton misconduct, the Attorney General shall decline in writing to appear or defend or shall promptly take appropriate action to withdraw as attorney for such employee. Upon receipt of such declination or upon such withdrawal by the Attorney General on the basis of an actual or potential conflict of interest, the State employee may employ his own attorney to appear and defend, in which event the State shall pay the employee's court costs, litigation expenses and attorneys' fees to the extent approved by the Attorney General as reasonable, as they are incurred. In the event that the Attorney General declines to appear or withdraws on the grounds that the act or omission was not within the scope of employment, or was intentional, wilful or wanton misconduct, and a court or jury finds that the act or omission of the State employee was within the scope of employment and was not intentional, wilful or wanton misconduct, the State shall indemnify the State employee for any damages awarded and court costs and attorneys' fees assessed as part of any final and unreversed judgment. In such event the State shall also pay the employee's court costs, litigation expenses and attorneys' fees to the extent approved by the Attorney General as reasonable. In the event that the defendant in the proceeding is an elected State official, including members of the General Assembly, the elected State official may retain his or her attorney, provided that said attorney shall be reasonably acceptable to the Attorney General. In such case the State shall pay the elected State official's court costs, litigation expenses, and attorneys' fees, to the extent approved by the Attorney General as reasonable, as they are incurred. (b-5) The Attorney General may file a counterclaim on behalf of a State employee, provided: (1) the Attorney General determines that the State employee is entitled to