[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Ogdensburg 6-8-1981 by L.L. No. 4-1981 (Ch. 105 of the 1975 Ogdensburg Municipal Code). Amendments noted
where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to provide legal and financial
protection for those individuals serving the City of Ogdensburg, from
suits which may be brought against them in their individual capacity
for acts taken while in the performance of their official duties and
responsibilities. In enacting this chapter, the City Council finds
that the State of New York has enacted similar provisions for the
legal and financial security of its officers and employees and further
finds that such security is also required for local personnel. By
enactment of this chapter, the City Council does not intend to limit
or otherwise abrogate any existing right or responsibility of the
City or its employees with regard to indemnification or legal defense.
It is solely the intent of this chapter to provide similar coverage
for local employees as is presently provided for state employees,
so as to continue to attract qualified individuals to local government
service.
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires,
the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Any person holding a position by election, appointment or
employment in the service of the City of Ogdensburg, whether or not
compensated, or a volunteer expressly authorized to participate in
a municipally sponsored volunteer program, but shall not include an
independent contractor. The term "employee" shall include a former
employee, his estate or judicially appointed personal representative.
A.ย
Upon compliance by the employee with the provisions of ยงย 17-5 of this chapter, the City 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 within the scope of his public employment or duties or which is brought to enforce a provision of 42 U.S.C. ยงย 1981 or 1983. This duty to provide for a defense shall not arise where such civil action or proceeding is brought by or on behalf of the City of Ogdensburg.
B.ย
Subject to the conditions set forth in Subsection A of this section, the employee shall be entitled to be represented by the City Attorney; provided, however, that the employee shall be entitled to representation by private counsel of his choice in any civil judicial proceeding whenever the City Attorney determines, based upon his investigation and review of the facts and circumstances of the case, that representation by the City Attorney would be inappropriate, or whenever a court of competent jurisdiction upon appropriate motion or by a special proceeding, determines that a conflict of interest exists and that the employee is entitled to be represented by private counsel of his choice. The City Attorney shall notify the employee in writing of such determination that the employee is entitled to be represented by private counsel of his choice. The City Attorney may require, as a condition to payment of the fees and expenses of such representation, that appropriate groups of such employees be represented by the same counsel. If the employee or group of employees is entitled to representation by private counsel under the provisions of this section, the City Attorney shall so certify to the City Council. Reasonable attorneys' fees and litigation expenses shall be paid by the City to such private counsel from time to time during the pendency of the civil action or proceeding subject to certification that the employee is entitled to representation under the terms and conditions of this section by the head of the department, commission, division, office or agency in which such employee is employed and upon the audit and warrant of the City Treasurer. Any dispute with respect to representation of multiple employees by a single counsel or the amount of litigation expenses or the reasonableness of attorneys' fees shall be resolved by the court upon motion.
C.ย
Where the employee delivers process and a request for a defense to the City Attorney as required by ยงย 17-5 of this chapter, the Attorney shall take the necessary steps, including the retention of private counsel 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 pertaining to the obligation to provide for a defense.
A.ย
The
City shall indemnify and save harmless its employees in the amount
of any judgment obtained against such employees in any 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 settlement arose occurred
while the employee was acting within the scope of his public employment
or duties; the duty to indemnify and save harmless prescribed by this
section shall not arise where the injury or damage resulted from intentional
wrong doing or recklessness on the part of the employee.
B.ย
An
employee represented by private counsel shall cause to be submitted
to the City Council any proposed settlement which may be subject to
indemnification by the City and if not inconsistent with the provisions
of this section, the Mayor shall certify such settlement, and submit
such settlement and certification to the City Attorney. The Attorney
shall review such proposed settlement as to form and amount, and shall
give his approval if in his judgment the settlement is in the best
interest of the City. Nothing in this section shall be construed to
authorize the City to indemnify or save harmless an employee with
respect to a settlement not so reviewed and approved by the City Attorney.
C.ย
Upon
entry of a final judgment against the employee or upon the settlement
of the claim, the employee shall cause to be served 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 Mayor;
and if not inconsistent with the provisions of this section, such
judgment or settlement shall be certified for payment by such Mayor.
If the Attorney concurs in such certification, the judgment or settlement
shall be paid upon the audit and warrant of the City Treasurer.
D.ย
Nothing
in this chapter shall authorize the City to indemnify or save harmless
the employee with respect to punitive or exemplary fines or penalties.
The duty to defend or indemnify and save harmless provided by
this chapter shall be conditioned upon delivery to the corporation
counsel or his assistant, at his office, by the employee 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 in defense of any action or proceeding against the City 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 City
provide for his defense pursuant to this chapter.
The benefits of this chapter shall 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 provision of the Workers' Compensation
Law.
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.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all actions and
proceedings pending upon the effective date thereof or thereafter
instituted.
Except 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
City, or any right to defense and/or 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.