Source: http://ecode360.com/8099379
Timestamp: 2017-09-23 16:21:30
Document Index: 644424143

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 26', '§ 26', '§ 26', '§ 26', '§ 26', '§ 26', '§ 26', '§ 1981', '§ 1981', '§ 26', '§ 51']

Village of Woodridge, NY Defense and Indemnification
§ 26-2 Defense and indemnification of employees.
§ 26-3 Conditions for providing defense.
§ 26-4 Application of benefits.
§ 26-5 Effect on insurance rights and obligations.
§ 26-6 Construal of provisions.
§ 26-7 Applicability.
Chapter 26: Defense and Indemnification
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Woodridge 1-8-1996 by L.L. No. 1-1996 (Ch. 4 of the 1992 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
Ethics — See Ch. 41.
Notification of defects — See Ch. 268.
Chapter 26 : Defense and Indemnification
Any Village Commissioner, member of a Village Board or commission, Village officer, Village employee, Village volunteer expressly authorized by the Village to participate in a public-sponsored volunteer program or any other person holding a Village position by election, appointment or employment in the service of the Village, whether or not compensated, but shall not include an independent contractor. The term "employee" shall include a former employee of the Village his estate or judicially appointed personal representative.
Upon compliance by the employee with the provisions of § 26-3 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 in good faith purporting to act within the scope of his public employment or duties including, without limitation, any civil action or proceeding arising out of any alleged act or omission in which it is alleged that the officer or employee has violated the civil rights of the claimant, petitioner or plaintiff under §§ 1981 and 1983 of the United States Civil Rights Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1983). Such defense shall not be provided where such action or proceeding is brought by or on behalf of the Village.
Subject to the condition set forth in this chapter, the employee shall be represented by the Village Attorney or an attorney employed or retained by the Village for the defense of the employee. The Board of the Village shall employ or retain an attorney for the defense of the employee whenever the Village does not have a Village Attorney; the Board of the Village determines based upon its investigation in review of the facts and circumstances of the case that representation by the Village Attorney would be inappropriate; or a court of competent jurisdiction determines that a conflict of interest exists and that the employee cannot be represented by the Village Attorney. Reasonable attorneys' fees and litigation expenses shall be paid by the Village to such attorney employed or retained, from time to time, during the pendency of the civil action or proceeding, subject to certification by the Mayor that the employee is entitled to representation under the terms and conditions of this chapter. Payment of such fees and expenses shall be made in the same manner as payment of other claims and expenses of the Village. Any dispute with respect to representation of multiple employees by the Village Attorney or by an attorney employed or retained for such purposes or with respect to the amount of the fees or expenses shall be resolved by the court.
Where the employee delivers process and a request for a defense to the Village Attorney or the Mayor as required by § 26-3 of this chapter, the Village Attorney or the Mayor, as the case may be, shall take the necessary steps, including the retention of an attorney under the terms and conditions provided in Subsection B of this section, on behalf of the employee to avoid entry of a default judgment, pending resolution of any question relating to the obligation of the Village to provide a defense.
Subject to the conditions set forth in this chapter, the Village shall indemnify and save harmless its employees in the amount of any judgment obtained against such employees in a 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 claim arose occurred while the employee was acting within the scope of his public employment duties; provided, further, that in the case of a settlement, the duty to indemnify and save harmless shall be conditioned upon the approval of the amount of the settlement by the Board of the Village. The duty to indemnify and save harmless described by this subsection shall not arise where the injury or damage resulted from intentional wrongdoing or recklessness on the part of the employee or with respect to punitive or exemplary damages, fines or penalties or money recovered from an employee pursuant to § 51 of the General Municipal Law; provided, however, that the Village shall indemnify and save harmless its employees in the amount of any cost, 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 willingness 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 duties to defend provided in this chapter shall be contingent upon delivery to the Village Attorney or, if none, to the Mayor of the original or copy of any summons, complaint, process, notice, demand or pleading within five days after he was served with such document; and the full cooperation of the employee in the defense of such action or proceeding and 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, unless the employee shall state, in writing, that a defense is not requested.
The duty to indemnify and save harmless prescribed by this chapter shall be conditioned upon full cooperation of the employee in the defense of such action or proceeding and in defense of any action or proceeding against the Village based upon the same acts or omission, and in the prosecution of any appeal.
Upon entry of a final judgment against the employee, or upon the settlement of the claim, the Employee shall serve 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 Supervisor of the Village; and if not inconsistent with the provisions of this section, the amount of such judgment or settlement shall be paid by the Village.
The benefits of this chapter will inure only to the employees as defined herein and shall not enlarge or diminish the rights of any party, nor shall any provision of this chapter be construed to affect, alter or repeal any provisions of the Worker's Compensation Law.
As otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, the provisions of this chapter shall not be construed in any way to impair, alter, limit, modify, aggregate or restrict any immunity available to or conferred upon any unit, entity, officer or employee of the Village or any right to defense provided for any governmental officer or an employee by, in accordance with or by reason of any other provision of state or federal statutorily common law.