Opinion ID: 2334960
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: We remand the validity of the scope of employment certification for review by the superior court in the first instance.

Text: The superior court has done no fact-finding in this case; the proceedings were stayed pending resolution of the legal issues before this court. In light of our conclusion that the Attorney General's certification is judicially reviewable, we remand to the superior court the question of whether the correctional officers were acting within the statutorily defined scope of their employment at the time of the incident. Looking to the methodology adopted by the federal courts, [39] we establish these principles: (1) the standard of review for the certification decision should be de novo; (2) the burden of proof lies upon the plaintiff challenging certification to prove that the defendants were not acting within the scope of their employment; (3) the court should apply the factors in AS 09.50.253(h)(1) [40] for the scope-of-employment determination; (4) the outcome should be decided by the court, not a jury; and (5) the determination should be made prior to trial. If there are disputed issues of fact, we direct the court to hold an evidentiary hearing and make factual findings, then decide the certification question prior to trial. If no disputed issues of material fact exist, the court may resolve the issue on summary judgment.