Source: https://www.ecode360.com/9594665
Timestamp: 2020-05-28 16:27:12
Document Index: 338594072

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 19', '§ 19', '§ 19', '§ 18', '§ 19', '§ 51']

Village of East Aurora, NY Defense and Indemnification
§ 19-3 Duty to defend.
§ 19-4 Duty to indemnify.
§ 19-5 Applicability.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of East Aurora 12-5-1983 by L.L. No. 7-1983 (Chapter 33 of the 1972 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to provide legal and financial protection for those individuals serving the Village of East Aurora as to claims which may be brought against them in this individual capacities for actions taken while in the performance of their official duties and responsibilities. The State of New York has enacted similar provisions for the legal and financial security of its officers and employees. Such security is also required for local personnel. By enactment of this chapter, the Village Board does not intend to limit or otherwise abrogate any existing right or responsibility of the Village, its officers and employees with regard to indemnification or legal defense. It is solely the intent of this chapter to provide coverage for local officers and employees pursuant to Public Officers Law § 18 in order to continue to attract qualified individuals to local government service.
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the term "employee" shall mean any person holding a position by election, appointment or employment in the service of the Village of East Aurora, whether or not compensated, or a volunteer expressly authorized to participate in a municipally sponsored volunteer program, but shall not include an independent contractor. The term "employee" shall include a former employee, his estate or judicially appointed personal representative.
Upon compliance by the employee with the provisions of § 19-4D of this chapter, the Village shall provide for the defense of the employee in any civil action or proceeding in any state or federal court arising out of any alleged act or omission which occurred or is alleged in the complaint to have occurred while the employee was acting within the scope of public employment or duties. This duty to provide for a defense shall not arise where such civil action or proceeding is brought by or on behalf of the Village of East Aurora.
Subject to the conditions set forth in Subsection A of this section, the employee shall be entitled to be represented by the Village Attorney, or by an attorney chosen by any insurance carrier insuring the Village; provided, however, that the employee shall be entitled to representation by private counsel of choice in any civil judicial proceeding whenever the Village Attorney determines, based upon investigation and review of the facts and circumstances of the case, that representation by the Village Attorney would be inappropriate, or whenever a court of competent jurisdiction, upon appropriate motion or by a special proceeding, determines that a conflict of interest exists and that the employee is entitled to be represented by private counsel of choice. The Village Attorney shall notify the employee in writing of such determination that the employee is entitled to be represented by private counsel of choice. The Village Attorney may require, as a condition to payment of the fees and expenses of such representation, that appropriate groups of employees be represented by the same counsel. If the employee, or group of employees, is entitled to representation by private counsel under the provisions of this section, the Village Attorney shall so certify to the Village Board. Reasonable attorney's fees and litigation expenses shall be paid by the Village to such private counsel from time to time during the pendency of the civil action or proceeding subject to certification that the employee is entitled to representation under the terms and conditions of this section by the head of the department or office in which such employee is employed and upon the audit of the Village Board. Any dispute with respect to representation of multiple employees by a single counsel or the amount of litigation expenses or the reasonableness of attorney's fees shall be resolved by the court upon motion or by way of a special proceeding.
Where the employee delivers process and a request for a defense to the Village Attorney, as required by this chapter, the Village Attorney shall take the necessary steps on behalf of the employee to avoid entry of a default judgment pending resolution of any question pertaining to the obligation to provide for a defense
The Village shall indemnify and save harmless its employees in the amount of any judgment obtained against such employee in any state or federal court, or in the amount of any settlement of a claim, provided that the act or omission from which such judgment or settlement arose occurred while the employee was acting within the scope of public employment or duties; the duty to indemnify and save harmless prescribed by this subsection shall not arise where the injury or damage resulted from intentional wrongdoing or recklessness or criminal conduct on the part of the employee.
An employee represented by private counsel shall cause to be submitted to the Village Board any proposed settlement which may be subject to indemnification by the Village. The Village Attorney shall review such proposed settlement as to form and amount and shall give his approval if in his judgment the settlement is in the best interest of the Village. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize the Village to indemnify or save harmless an employee with respect to a settlement not reviewed and approved by the Village Attorney.
Upon entry of a final judgment against the employee, or upon the settlement of the claim, the employee shall cause to be served a copy of such judgment or settlement, personally or by certified or registered mail within 30 days of the date of entry or settlement, upon the Mayor; and if not inconsistent with the provisions of this section, such judgment or settlement shall be certified for payment by such Mayor. If the Village Attorney concurs in such certification, the judgment or settlement shall be paid upon the audit of the Village Board.
The duty to defend or indemnify and save harmless provided by this chapter shall be conditioned upon delivery to the Village Attorney, at his office, by the employee of the original or a copy of any summons, complaint, process, notice, demand or pleading within 10 days after he is served with such document; and the full cooperation of the employee in the defense of any such action or proceeding and in the defense of any action or proceeding against the Village based upon the same act or omission and in the prosecution of any appeal. Such delivery shall be deemed a request by the employee that the Village provide for his defense pursuant to this chapter.
Nothing in this section shall authorize a public entity to indemnify or save harmless an employee with respect to punitive or exemplary damages, fines or penalties, or money recovered from an employee pursuant to General Municipal Law § 51; provided, however, that the public entity shall indemnify and save harmless its employees in the amount of any costs, attorneys' fees, damages, fines or penalties which may be imposed by reason of an adjudication that an employee, acting within the scope of his public employment or duties, has, without willfulness or intent on his part, violated a prior order, judgment, consent decree or stipulation of settlement entered in any court of this state or of the United States.
The benefits of this chapter shall inure only to employees as defined herein and shall not enlarge or diminish the rights of any other party, nor shall any provisions of this chapter be construed to affect, alter or repeal any provision of the Workers' Compensation Law.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all actions and proceedings pending upon the effective date thereof or therein instituted.
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, the provisions of this chapter shall not be construed in any way to impair, alter, limit, modify, abrogate or restrict any immunity available to or conferred upon any unit, entity, officer or employee of the Village or any right to defense and/or indemnification provided for any governmental officer or employee by, in accordance with or by reason of any provisions of state or federal statutory or common law.