[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Woodridge 1-8-1996 by L.L. No.
1-1996 (Ch. 4 of the 1992 Code). Amendments noted
where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires,
the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Any Village Commissioner, member of a Village Board or commission,
Village officer, Village employee, Village volunteer expressly authorized
by the Village to participate in a public-sponsored volunteer program
or any other person holding a Village position by election, appointment
or employment in the service of the Village, whether or not compensated,
but shall not include an independent contractor. The term "employee"
shall include a former employee of the Village his estate or judicially
appointed personal representative.
The Village of Woodridge.
A.
Upon compliance by the employee with the provisions of § 26-3 of this chapter, the Village 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 in good faith purporting to act within the scope of his public employment or duties including, without limitation, any civil action or proceeding arising out of any alleged act or omission in which it is alleged that the officer or employee has violated the civil rights of the claimant, petitioner or plaintiff under §§ 1981 and 1983 of the United States Civil Rights Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1983). Such defense shall not be provided where such action or proceeding is brought by or on behalf of the Village.
B.
Subject
to the condition set forth in this chapter, the employee shall be
represented by the Village Attorney or an attorney employed or retained
by the Village for the defense of the employee. The Board of the Village
shall employ or retain an attorney for the defense of the employee
whenever the Village does not have a Village Attorney; the Board of
the Village determines based upon its investigation in review of the
facts and circumstances of the case that representation by the Village
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 Village Attorney. Reasonable attorneys'
fees and litigation expenses shall be paid by the Village to such
attorney employed or retained, from time to time, during the pendency
of the civil action or proceeding, subject to certification by the
Mayor 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 Village. Any dispute with respect to representation of multiple
employees by the Village 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 Village Attorney or the Mayor as required by § 26-3 of this chapter, the Village Attorney or the Mayor, 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 Village to provide a defense.
D.
Subject
to the conditions set forth in this chapter, the Village shall indemnify
and save harmless its employees in the amount of any judgment obtained
against such employees in a 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 claim arose occurred while the employee was
acting within the scope of his public employment duties; provided,
further, that in the case of a settlement, the duty to indemnify and
save harmless shall be conditioned upon the approval of the amount
of the settlement by the Board of the Village. The duty to indemnify
and save harmless described by this subsection shall not arise where
the injury or damage resulted from intentional wrongdoing or recklessness
on the part of the employee or with respect to punitive or exemplary
damages, fines or penalties or money recovered from an employee pursuant
to § 51 of the General Municipal Law; provided, however,
that the Village shall indemnify and save harmless its employees in
the amount of any cost, attorneys' fees, damages, fines or penalties
which may be imposed by reason of an adjudication that an employee,
acting within the scope of his public employment or duties, has, without
willingness or intent on his part, violated a prior order, judgment,
consent decree or stipulation of settlement entered in any court of
this state or of the United States.
A.
The duties to defend provided in this chapter shall be contingent
upon delivery to the Village Attorney or, if none, to the Mayor of
the original or copy of any summons, complaint, process, notice, demand
or pleading within five days after he was 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
Village 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 Village provide for his defense pursuant to this chapter,
unless the employee shall state, in writing, that a defense is not
requested.
B.
The duty to indemnify and save harmless prescribed by this chapter
shall be conditioned upon full cooperation of the employee in the
defense of such action or proceeding and in defense of any action
or proceeding against the Village based upon the same acts or omission,
and in the prosecution of any appeal.
C.
Upon entry of a final judgment against the employee, or upon the
settlement of the claim, the Employee shall serve 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 of
the Village; and if not inconsistent with the provisions of this section,
the amount of such judgment or settlement shall be paid by the Village.
The benefits of this chapter will inure only to the employees
as defined herein and shall not enlarge or diminish the rights of
any party, nor shall any provision of this chapter be construed to
affect, alter or repeal any provisions of the Worker's Compensation
Law.
The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to impair,
alter, limit or modify the right and obligations of any insurer under
any policy of insurance.
As otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, the provisions
of this chapter shall not be construed in any way to impair, alter,
limit, modify, aggregate or restrict any immunity available to or
conferred upon any unit, entity, officer or employee of the Village
or any right to defense provided for any governmental officer or an
employee by, in accordance with or by reason of any other provision
of state or federal statutorily 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.
