Source: http://hr.commerce.gov/Practitioners/EmployeeRelations/DEV01_006383?format_for_print=true
Timestamp: 2018-08-20 06:28:24
Document Index: 622580574

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', 'art 15', '§ 15', '§ 15', '§ 15', '§ 15', '§ 15', '§ 15', '§ 15', '§ 15']

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Office of General Counsel Talking Points
An "All Employee" e-mail on February 1, 2000, announced that the Department will reimburse supervisory and management officials and law enforcement officers electing to purchase professional liability insurance, one-half of the annual premiums for any premium payment made on or after October 1, 1999, up to $150. Since that announcement, we have had several inquiries from employees asking if they should purchase professional liability insurance. The decision to purchase the insurance is one which each employee must make based on their individual circumstances. Although the decision is ultimately a personal one, the "Talking Points" below provided by the Office of General Counsel offer valuable information which should assist employees in making that determination.
Talking Points Regarding Professional Liability Insurance
Current Coverage as a Federal Employee Representation by the Department of Justice (DOJ)
If a Federal employee is sued in his/her individual capacity, he/she can request DOJ representation. “When an individual’s actions were within the scope of employment and such representation is in the interest of the U.S.”
The employee must submit a written request for DOJ representation to the official in the agency who is designated to review the request. Unless the Federal agency concludes that representation is clearly unwarranted, it submits to DOJ a statement containing its findings as to whether the employee was acting in the scope of his/her employment and its recommendations for or against providing representation. 28 C.F.R. § 50.15(a)(1).
DOJ will determine whether the employee's actions reasonably appear to have been performed within the scope of his/her employment and whether providing representation would be in the best interests of the United States. 28 C.F.R. § 50.15(2)(e).
If DOJ denies representation, the employee can seek Federal court review. If the district court determines the employee was acting within the scope of his/her employment, it can so certify. This would permit the removal of the employee as an individual defendant and substitution of the United States.
-- According to a 1998 Office of Personnel Management (OPM) report, over the previous five years DOJ received 7,000 requests for representation from Federal employees. DOJ rejected 150 of those requests. Brian Friel, Managers Rarely Found Liable In Lawsuits, Government Executive, May 29, 1998.
Representation is generally not available in Federal criminal proceedings. 28 C.F.R. § 50.15(a)(4). The rationale for this is that the United States would be both prosecuting and defending the case, which is a conflict of interest.
If a conflict exists between the legal and factual positions of various employees in the same case which make it inappropriate for a single attorney to represent them all, DOJ may separate the employees into as many compatible groups as is necessary to resolve the conflict problem and each group may be provided with separate representation. Circumstances may make it advisable that private representation be provided to all conflicting groups. 28 C.F.R. § 50.15(a)(10). An employee, under such circumstances, may receive reimbursement for private counsel fees. 28 C.F.R. § 50.16(a).
Upon entry of any judgment for money damages rendered against an employee, the Federal employee may apply for such indemnification from his/her employing agency. 28 C.F.R. § 50.15(a)(8)(iii).
-- According to the 1998 OPM report, over the previous 5 years, only 14 Federal employees were found personally liable in lawsuits brought against them in relation to their government duties. In 11 of the 14 cases, agencies indemnified the employees. In one other case, the employee paid nominal damages of $1. In another, the employee's automobile insurance company paid the damages. In only one reported case did an employee pay damages. Brian Friel, Managers Rarely Found Liable In Lawsuits, Government Executive, May 29, 1998.
Indemnification by the Department of Commerce (DOC)
DOC's indemnification regulations are found at 15 C.F.R. Part 15, Subpart D.
DOC may indemnify a present or former Department employee who is personally named as a defendant in any civil suit in state or federal court, or other legal proceeding seeking damages against a present or former Department employee personally, for any verdict, judgment or other monetary award which is rendered against such employee. 15 C.F.R. § 15.31(a).
Indemnification will only be made where it is determined that the employee's conduct giving rise to the verdict, judgment or award was taken with the scope of his/her employment and such indemnification is in the interest of the Department. 15 C.F.R. § 15.31(a).
Upon service of process or pleadings in an action or proceeding, the employee must, within 5 calendar days of receipt, deliver all such process and pleadings with a fully detailed report of the circumstances of the incident giving rise to the court action or proceeding to the General Counsel or his designee. 15 C.F.R. § 15.32(a). The employee must fulfill this requirement in a timely fashion in order to subsequently request indemnification. 15 C.F.R. § 15.32(b)(1).
The employee, after receiving the verdict, judgment, or award, may request indemnification through the employee's supervisory chain to the head of the employee's component. The request will include an explanation of how the employee was working within the scope of his/her employment and whether the employee has insurance or any other source of indemnification 15 C.F.R. § 15.32(b)(2).
The head of the component will forward the employee's request with a recommendation to the General Counsel for review. A detailed analysis of the basis for the recommendation must be made and the head of the component must certify that the component has funds available to pay the indemnification. 15 C.F.R. § 15.31(b)(3).
The General Counsel reviews the circumstances of the incident giving rise to the action or proceeding, and all data bearing on whether the employee was acting within the scope of his/her employment. Where appropriate the views of the Department of Justice or the U.S. Attorney's Office handling the matter will be sought. 15 C.F.R. § 15.31(c).
The General Counsel forwards the request along with the General Counsel's recommendation to the Secretary for decision. 15 C.F.R. § 15.31(d).
In addition to court proceedings, professional liability insurance may cover certain administrative proceedings. These include where the employee:
Is the subject of an Inspector General (IG) investigation;
Is accused of engaging in whistleblower reprisal by Office of Special Counsel (OSC);
Is named as a responsible management official in an equal employment opportunity (EEO) complaint; or
Is the subject of a disciplinary action, such as suspension, demotion, or removal for alleged misconduct.
While the Office of General Counsel will provide representation with regard to OSC or EEO proceedings,(2) it does not provide such representation during an IG investigation or when the employee is the subject of a disciplinary action.
Furthermore, there is no legal authority to reimburse an employee for attorney's fees incurred during an IG investigation, Reimbursement for Banking Charges and Attorney's Fees-Inspector General Investigation, B-212487 (Apr. 17, 1984), or for representation during a disciplinary action which does not result in an appeal to the MSPB. Payment of Attorney Fees Incurred by Employee During the Administrative Settlement of a Personnel Action, B-253507 (Jan. 11, 1994).
Legal representation is also provided during prosecution for an alleged criminal act until an initial finding of guilt.
However, if an allegation concerns a matter outside the scope of the employee's duties, it would not be covered by the insurance.
Professional liability insurance may also provide additional legal help even if DOJ decides to represent a covered employee.
One of the professional liability insurance companies has informed us that under their policy, while a manager may recommend an attorney to represent him or her, the company has the final say on which attorney will be provided for representational purposes.
These talking points are provided to inform Federal employees about representation by DOJ and DOC, as well as indemnification. The decision to carry professional liability insurance is a personal one.
1. Government Executive Magazine has published several articles on professional liability insurance. These articles include: G. Jerry Shaw, Do You Need Liability Insurance?, February 2000; Brian Friel, Liability Insurance Q&A, October 28,1999; and Brian Friel, Managers Rarely Found Liable In Lawsuits, Government Executive, May 29, 1998. They can be accessed at the web site: www.govexec.com.
2. The Office of General Counsel's representation is on behalf of the Department of Commerce, not the individual employee. So long as the interests of the Department and the individual are aligned, OGC will represent the employee. On occasion, where during the processing of a case, the employee's interest and the Department's interest have diverged; OGC has sought to settle the case.