Town of Saugerties, NY Chapter 13 Defense and Indemnification

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Saugerties 10-3-1985 by L.L. No. 3-1985 (Ch. 4 of the 1975 Municipal Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 13-1 Title.

This chapter shall be entitled "A Local Law Providing for the Defense and Indemnification of Officers and Employees of the Town of Saugerties."

§ 13-2 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless the context requires otherwise:

EMPLOYEES

Any person holding a position by election, appointment or employment in the service of the Town, but shall not include a volunteer, any person not compensated for his services or an independent contractor. The term "employee" shall include a former employee, his estate or his judicially appointed personal representative.

TOWN

The Town of Saugerties.

§ 13-3 Providing for the defense.

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 public employment or duties, or which is brought to enforce a provision of Section 1981 or 1983 of Title 42 of the United States Code. Such defense shall not be provided where such civil action is brought by or on behalf of the Town pursuant to authorization of the Town Board.

B. Subject to the conditions set forth in the 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. Reasonable attorney's fees and litigation expenses shall be paid by the Town to such attorney employed or retained, from time to time, during 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 a request for a defense to the Town Attorney or, if none, to the Town Supervisor as required by § 13-4 of this chapter, the Town Attorney or the 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.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

§ 13-4 Conditions on providing for the defense.

The duties to defend and indemnify and save harmless provided in this chapter shall be contingent upon:

A. 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. Such delivery shall be deemed a request by the employee that the Town provide for his defense pursuant to this chapter, unless the employee shall state in writing that a defense is not requested; and

B. 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.

§ 13-5 Indemnification in the amount of judgment.

A. The Town shall indemnify and save harmless any employee whose defense was provided pursuant to this chapter in the amount of any judgment obtained against such employee or in the amount of any settlement or compromise approved by the Town Board. The Town shall not indemnify and save harmless the employee:

(1) Where injury or damage resulted from intentional wrongdoing or recklessness on the part of the employee;

(2) For any punitive or exemplary damages, fines or penalties; or

(3) For money recovered from the employee pursuant to § 51 of the General Municipal Law.

B. The claim or compromise settlement which may be subject to indemnification by the Town shall not be paid unless it is presented to and approved by the Town Board.

C. Upon entry of final judgment against the employee, or upon settlement or compromise of a claim as approved by the Town Board, the employee shall cause to be served upon the Town Supervisor a copy of such judgment or settlement, personally or by certified or registered mail, within 10 days of the date of entry or settlement. Such judgment or settlement shall be processed and paid in the same manner as other judgments or settlements of claims are paid by the Town.

§ 13-6 Restriction of applicability.

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.

§ 13-7 Obligations of insurers.

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.

§ 13-8 Preexisting immunity, right to defense and indemnification.

The provisions of this chapter 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 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.

§ 13-9 Applicability determined by date of commencement of action.

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all actions and proceedings specified herein which have been commenced, instituted or brought on or after the effective date of this chapter.