[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of West
Amwell 4-19-1995 by Ord. No. 6-95. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
It is the intent and purpose of this chapter to provide for the defense
of actions against and the indemnification of municipal officials, as permitted
by N.J.S.A. 59:10-1 et seq.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Coverage afforded by insurance policies of every kind, whether the
premiums be paid by the Township, the municipal official or someone on his/her
behalf.
Any official, officer or member of the boards, agencies and committees
of the Township, elected or appointed; or employee, whether or not compensated,
both full-time and part-time, who is authorized to perform any act or service.
This term includes former, present and future municipal officials.
The Township shall provide for the defense of any action brought against
a municipal official on account of any act or omission in the scope of his/her
employment, and this obligation shall extend to any cross actions, counterclaims
or cross complaints against such official.
The provisions of § 13-3 shall not be applicable when the Township Committee determines that:
A.
The act or omission was not within the scope of employment;
B.
The act or failure to act was because of actual fraud
and willful misconduct or actual malice;
C.
The action has been brought by the Township itself against
the municipal official;
D.
The action is criminal or disciplinary in nature;
E.
The municipal official has failed to cooperate fully
with the defense; or
F.
The municipal official has failed to deliver to the Township
Clerk, within 10 calendar days after being serviced with any summons, complaint
process, notice, demand or pleading, the original or a copy of the same.
If the Township Committee determines to provide a defense, it shall
be done by any one or a combination of the following:
The Township shall indemnify and save harmless each municipal official from financial loss resulting from any action described above, including claims, losses, expenses, judgments, fines, attorney fees, court costs and expert or technical witness fees and any amount paid in settlement thereof and actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith. This agreement to indemnify shall include both exemplary and punitive damages subject to the provisions of § 13-4 hereof.
The amount that the Township is obliged to reimburse the municipal official
shall be reduced by any insurance coverage payable to the municipality or
to the municipal official and by the net amount (recovery less attorney fees,
disbursements and court costs) of any money received by the municipal official
in any counter action against the person or persons bringing the action against
him/her.
To the extent N.J.S.A. 40A:14-155 provides broader indemnification to
members of the Township's Police Department, that statute shall supersede
this chapter.
If the legal proceeding is terminated by an agreement amongst the parties,
then the Township shall not be obligated to reimburse the municipal official
unless the Township approves the settlement agreement.
If the municipal official files a counter action in the legal proceeding,
the Township shall not be obligated to reimburse him/her for any attorney
fees or court costs attributable to such counter action.[1]
