A.
Upon compliance by the employee with the provisions of this chapter,
the Town 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 or in good faith purporting
to act within the scope of his or her 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 Sections 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 Town.
B.
Subject to the conditions set forth in this chapter, the employee
shall be represented by the Town Attorney or an attorney employed
or retained by the Town for the defense of the employee. The Town
Board shall employ or retain an attorney for the defense of the employee
whenever:
(1)
The Town does not have a Town Attorney;
(2)
The Town Board determines based upon its investigation and review
of the facts and circumstances of the case that representation by
the Town Attorney would be inappropriate; or
(3)
A court of competent jurisdiction determines that a conflict of interest
exists and that the employee cannot be represented by the Town Attorney.
Reasonable attorneys' fees and litigation expenses shall be paid
by the Town to such attorney employed or retained, from time to time,
during the pendency of the civil action or proceeding subject to certification
by the Town Supervisor 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 Town. Any dispute with respect to representation
of multiple employees by the Town 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.
C.
Where the employee delivers process and request for a defense to the Town Attorney or the Town Supervisor as required by this chapter, the Town Attorney or the Town Supervisor, 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 Town to provide a defense.
A.
The Town 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 settlement by the Town Board.
B.
The duty to indemnify and save harmless prescribed by this subdivision
shall not arise where:
(1)
The injury or damage resulted from intentional wrongdoing or recklessness
on the part of the employee; or
(2)
With respect to punitive or exemplary damages, fines or penalties,
or money recovered from an employee pursuant to § 51 of
the General Municipal Law of the State of New York; provided, however,
the Town 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.
A.
The duties to defend provided in this chapter shall be contingent
upon:
(1)
Delivery to the Town Attorney or, if none, to the Town Supervisor
of the original or a copy of any summons, complaint, process, notice,
demand or pleading within five days after the employee is served with
such document; and
(2)
The full cooperation of the employee in the defense of such action
or proceeding and defense of any action or proceeding against the
Town based upon the same act or omission, and in the prosecution of
any appeal.
B.
Such delivery shall be deemed a request by the employee that the
Town provides for the employee's defense pursuant to this chapter,
unless the employee shall state in writing that a defense is not requested.
C.
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 Town Supervisor;
and if the employee has complied with the provisions of this section
as well as the other provisions of this chapter and § 18
of the Public Officers Law of the State of New York, the amount of
such judgment or settlement shall be paid by the Town.
A.
The benefits of this chapter will inure only to employees as defined
herein and shall not enlarge or diminish the rights of any other party,
nor shall any provision of this chapter be construed to affect, alter
or repeal any provisions of the Workers' Compensation Law of
the State of New York.
B.
The benefits of this chapter shall be extended to an employee of
a negotiating unit for which an agreement has been negotiated pursuant
to Article 14 of the Civil Service Law of the State of New York only
if such agreement expressly so provides.
The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to impair,
alter, limit or modify the rights and obligations of any insurer under
any policy of insurance.
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 to liability available
to or conferred upon any unit, entity, officer or employee of the
Town or any right to defense provided for any governmental officer
or employee in accordance with or by reason of any provision of state
or federal statutory or common law.
