[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of East Bloomfield 9-8-1980
by L.L. No. 2-1980. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise, the
following terms shall have the meanings indicated.
Any person holding a position by election, appointment or employment
in the service of the town, but it shall not include an independent contractor.
The term "employee" shall include a former employee, his estate or judicially
appointed personal representative.
The Town of East Bloomfield.
A.
Upon compliance by the employee with the provisions of § 9-3 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. Such defense shall not be provided where such civil 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 the
town does not have a Town Attorney, the Town Board determines based upon its
investigation and review of facts and circumstances of the case that representation
by the Town Attorney would be inappropriate or a court of competent jurisdiction
determines that a conflict of interest exists and that the employee cannot
be represented by the Town Attorney. Reasonable attorney's 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 a request for a defense to the Town Attorney or the Town Supervisor as required by § 9-3 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.
The duties to defend provided in this chapter shall be contingent upon
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 he is served with such document and 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. 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.
A.
The benefits of this chapter will inure only the 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.
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 Civil Service Law Article 14 only if such agreement expressly
so provides.
A.
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.
B.
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 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 by, in accordance with,
or by reason, any other provisions of state or federal statutory or common
law.
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.