[Adopted 6-16-1980 by L.L. No. 3-1980]
The purpose of this article is to provide legal
and financial protection for those individuals serving the Town of
Monroe from losses which may be brought against them in their individual
capacity for actions taken while in the performance of their official
duties and responsibilities. In enacting this article, the Town Board
finds that the State of New York has enacted similar provisions for
the legal and financial security of its officers and employees and
further finds that such security is also required for local personnel.
By enactment of this article, the Town Board does not intend to limit
or otherwise abrogate any existing right or responsibility of the
Town or its employees with regard to indemnification or legal defense.
It is solely the intent of this article to provide similar coverage
for local employees as is presently provided for state employees so
as to continue to attract qualified individuals to local government
service.
As used in this article, unless the context
otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Any person holding a position by election, appointment or
employment in the service of the Town of Monroe, whether or not compensated,
or a volunteer expressly authorized to participate in a Town-sponsored
volunteer program, but shall not include an independent contractor.
The term "employee" shall include a former employee, estate or judicially
appointed personal representative and shall also include any member
of the Town of Monroe Joint Recreation Commission of Monroe appointed
thereto by the Town Board.
A.
Upon compliance by the employee with the provisions of § 8-5 of this article, 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 within the scope of his public employment or duties or which is brought to enforce a provision of Title 42 of the United States Code. This duty to provide for a defense shall not arise where such civil action or proceeding is brought by or on behalf of the Town of Monroe.
B.
Subject to the conditions set forth in Subsection A of this section, the employee shall be entitled to be represented by the Town Attorney; provided, however, that the employee shall be entitled to representation by private counsel of his choice in any civil judicial proceeding whenever the Town Attorney determines, based upon his investigation and review of the facts and circumstances of the case, that representation by the Town 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 his choice. The Town Attorney shall notify the employee in writing of such determination that the employee is entitled to be represented by private counsel of his choice. The Town Attorney may require, as a condition to payment of the fees and expenses of such representation, that appropriate groups of such employees be represented by the same counsel. If the employee group or group of employees is entitled to representation by private counsel under the provisions of this section, the Town Attorney shall so certify to the Town Board. Reasonable attorneys' fees and litigation expenses shall be paid by the Town 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, commission, division, office or agency in which such employee is employed and upon the audit and warrant of the Town Treasurer. Any dispute with respect to representation of multiple employees by a single counsel or the amount of litigation expenses or the reasonableness of attorneys' fees shall be resolved by the court upon motion or by way of special proceeding.
C.
Where the employee delivers process and a request for a defense to the Town Attorney as required by § 8-5 of this article, the Attorney shall take the necessary steps, including the retention of private counsel 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 pertaining to the obligation to provide for a defense.
A.
The Town shall indemnify and save harmless its employees
in the amount of any judgment obtained against such employees 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 his
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 on the
part of the employee.
B.
The determination of any issue of whether or not an
employee was acting within the scope of his public employment or duties
at the time of the act or omission that gave rise to the claim shall
be made by the Town Board. Such a determination, if adverse to the
employee, may be reviewed by a court of competent jurisdiction in
the manner prescribed by law.
C.
An employee represented by private counsel shall cause
to be submitted to the Town Board any proposed settlement which may
be subject to indemnification by the Town, and if not inconsistent
with the provisions of this section, the Town Supervisor shall certify
such settlement and submit such settlement and certification to the
Town Attorney. The 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 Town. Nothing in this
subsection shall be construed to authorize the Town to indemnify or
save harmless an employee with respect to a settlement not so reviewed
and approved by the Town Attorney.
D.
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 Supervisor; and if not inconsistent with the provisions of
this section, such judgment or settlement shall be certified for payment
by such Supervisor. If the Attorney concurs in such certification,
the judgment or settlement shall be paid upon the audit and warrant
of the Town Treasurer.
The duty to defend or indemnify and save harmless
provided by this article shall be conditioned upon delivery to the
Town Attorney, at his office, by the employee, of the original or
a copy of any summons, complaint, process, notice, demand or pleading
within five days after he is served such document; and the full cooperation
of the employee in the defense of such action or proceeding and in
defense of any action or proceeding against the state 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 Town provide for
his defense pursuant to this article.
The benefits of this article shall 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 article
be construed to affect, alter or repeal any provision of the Workers'
Compensation Law.
The provisions of this article shall not be
construed to impair, alter, limit or modify the rights and obligations
of any insurer under any policy of insurance.
The provisions of this article shall apply to
all actions and proceedings pending upon the effective date thereof
or thereafter instituted.
Except as otherwise specifically provided in
this article, the provisions of this article 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 Town or any right to defense and/or indemnification
provided for any governmental officer or employee by, in accordance
with or by reason of any other provision of state or federal statutory
or common law.
