Subject to the limitations set forth in the subsequent sections
of this chapter, whenever any civil action has been or shall be brought
against any person (hereinafter referred to as "employee") holding
or formerly holding any office, position or employment with the Township
of Plumsted, for any action or omission arising out of or in the course
of the performance of the duties of such office, position or employment,
the Township shall defray all costs of defending such action, including
reasonable counsel fees and expenses, together with costs of appeal,
if any, and shall save harmless and protect such persons from any
financial loss resulting from the litigation. The Township Attorney,
or another attorney selected by the Mayor with advice and consent
of the Township Committee, shall represent the Township official or
employee.
The Township shall not defray the costs of defending any criminal
action against any municipal employee except as may be authorized
by state statute or other municipal ordinance or resolution of the
Township of Plumsted, and, in those circumstances, the responsibility
for defraying the costs of defending such employee shall be applicable
only when such criminal proceedings shall have been dismissed or result
in a final disposition in favor of the employee. However, should the
Township determine that there is good cause to dismiss the employee
arising out of the incident or related incidents of the criminal prosecution,
the Township will not reimburse the employee or official for legal
defense and costs of defending the suit, even though criminal proceedings
against the employee may be dismissed or the employee found not guilty.
A.Â
The obligation of the Township of Plumsted to defend and indemnify
its employees for acts or omissions arising out of or in the course
of the performance of the duties of that person shall be limited to
those circumstances under which the Township itself would be liable
for the acts of its employees under the doctrine of respondent superior,
except that the Township shall defend any such officer or employee
sued under the Federal Civil Rights Act, provided that the Mayor and
or Committee shall not have concluded that such act or omission was
outside the scope of the responsibilities of said officer or employee.
B.Â
Furthermore, the Township shall not defend and save harmless any
employee committing an intentional or willful act or willful omission
arising out of or in the course of the performance of the duties of
such office, position or employment.
C.Â
Also specifically excluded from the provisions of this chapter are
any municipal employee or official providing any form of professional
medical services, such as doctors and nurses, insofar as said civil
action arises out of or concerns those professional medical services.
D.Â
The Township shall not be responsible for the defense or indemnification
of any official or employee of the Township, when the Township Committee
has determined that:
(1)Â
The act or omission was not within the scope of employment.
(2)Â
The act or failure to act was because of actual fraud, willful misconduct
or actual malice.
(3)Â
The defense of the action or proceeding would create a conflict of
interest between the Township and the public employee.
(4)Â
The defense of the action or proceeding is provided for by an insurance
policy or policies, whether obtained by the Township or by any other
person.
(5)Â
The public employee failed to deliver to the Township Administrator,
within ten (10) calendar days after the time he is served with any
summons, complaint, process, notice, demand or pleading, the original
or a copy of the same.
(6)Â
The public employee has failed to cooperate fully with the defense.
Whenever the Township provides any defense required of it under
this chapter, the Township, through counsel, may assume exclusive
control over the representation of the public employee, and such employee
shall cooperate fully with the defense.
A.Â
In any case where the Township is required to provide a defense under
this chapter, the Township shall pay or shall reimburse the public
employee for:
(1)Â
Any bona fide settlement agreements entered into by the employee.
(2)Â
Any judgments entered against the employee.
(3)Â
If the Township has failed to provide such required defense, all
costs of defending the action, including reasonable counsel fees and
expenses, together with costs of any appeal.
B.Â
In addition, in any case where the Township would be required to
provide a defense under this chapter except for the fact that such
defense is provided for by insurance, the Township shall provide indemnification
as aforesaid, but only to the extent not covered by insurance.
Nothing in this chapter shall authorize the Township to pay
for punitive or exemplary damages or damages resulting from the commission
of a crime.