[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Galloway
2-22-2000 by Ord. No. 1414. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Any report, formal or informal, of a demand for compensation for
damages for injuries allegedly caused by an employee as defined herein. The
term shall include, but shall not be limited to, all demands for damages before
any court or agency for bodily injury, property damage and violation of civil
or constitutional rights, including false arrest, inverse condemnation and
causes of action arising under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 et seq.
Any person employed by the Township of Galloway, including elected
officials, constitutional officers and their employees, and volunteers performing
services on behalf of the Township of Galloway while actually performing those
services. The term does not include persons or entities performing services
under a nonemployment contract with the Township of Galloway.
The cost of defense, which may, at the township's option, be provided
by the Galloway Township Solicitor or pursuant to coverage under any policy
of insurance or by private counsel, and all sums which the employee would
be legally obligated to pay as compensatory damages or in settlement of any
claim against the employee for matters arising from or related to actions
taken in the course of employment with the Township of Galloway, whether the
claim is presented during the period of the employee's employment or thereafter,
and shall include the payment of salary or wages for any employee who, by
reason of an indemnified claim, is absent from his work station for the purpose
of attending legal proceedings or other business in connection therewith and
the Township of Galloway would otherwise be responsible for payment of the
employee's salary or wages. The term shall also include all sums which the
employee would be legally obligated to pay in the nature of exemplary or punitive
damages in the event that the Galloway Township Council shall be of the opinion,
upon the advice of the Township Solicitor, that the acts committed by the
employee upon which the damages are based did not constitute actual fraud,
actual malice, willful misconduct or an intentional wrong, pursuant to Chapter
340 of the Laws of 1987 (N.J.S.A. 59:10-4, as amended). The determination
of a civil court shall not preclude a finding by Council that indemnification
is warranted.
Employees, as defined herein, will be indemnified, as defined herein,
by the Township of Galloway where it appears to the Township Solicitor, after
preliminary investigation, that all of the following circumstances exist:
A.
The act or acts complained of took place during a time
when the employee was actually performing services on behalf of the Township
of Galloway, whether or not during formal working hours.
B.
It reasonably appears that the employee was acting within
the scope of Township of Galloway employment or duties, and in furtherance
thereof, in the performance of the act or acts giving rise to the claim and
the employee so avers.
C.
The employee has notified his department head and the Township Manager, in writing, within seven working days of notice of the claim, enclosing a copy of the claim and all relevant documents. Former employees shall be responsible for notifying the Galloway Township Manager within seven working days and shall be required to enclose the same documentation as is required of the current employee. The Township Manager shall promptly acknowledge receipt of the claim and notify the Township Solicitor of the existence of the claim. The Solicitor shall advise the Township Council of the claim, and after the circumstances underlying the claim have been reviewed by Council, the Solicitor shall advise the employee and department head, where appropriate, as to whether indemnification hereunder will be provided. Upon compliance with the provisions of this section, and subject to the provisions of §§ 27-3 and 27-4 of this chapter, indemnification shall be mandatory.
The Township Solicitor may determine, after preliminary investigation
of the matter and taking all circumstances into account, that indemnification
is not warranted if:
A.
The employee, in performing the act complained of, was
acting wrongfully with the intent to injure another;
B.
The employee was acting for the purpose of personal gain;
C.
The employee was acting in a manner which violated state
or federal law, including but not limited to written policy of the Township
of Galloway which the employee was or ought to have been aware; or
The decision to indemnify based upon preliminary investigation is not final and binding upon the Township of Galloway. Should facts be revealed during the course of handling the claim, whether or not they could have been discovered at an earlier time, that show that the employee was acting in a manner which does not entitle him to indemnification for the reasons stated in § 27-3 above, the Township Council may revoke the indemnification. Further, should the employee unjustifiably fail or refuse to cooperate in defending the claim, indemnification may be revoked.
By accepting indemnification from the Township of Galloway in accordance
with this chapter, the employee agrees that the Township of Galloway may perform
such investigations and enter into such negotiations on the employee's behalf
as the Township of Galloway shall deem necessary and proper and may settle
any claims, regardless of whether the Township of Galloway actually feels
the allegations are groundless or false. In the event that the employee refuses
to consent to any settlement, the Township of Galloway shall be liable only
for that amount for which the Township of Galloway could have settled the
claim had the employee consented.
This chapter shall not create, nor shall it be construed as, a contract
of insurance between the Township of Galloway and any employee. The Township
of Galloway shall not be considered an insurer or primary insurer for any
purpose and shall not by this chapter be obligated to settle any claim on
an employee's behalf or to tender its limits of coverage in order to avoid
excess liability on the employee's part.
Where an employee has been charged with a criminal offense or an offense
under the Motor Vehicle Law of the State of New Jersey, it may be that, regardless
of the outcome of the charge, disciplinary action will be taken against the
employee based on the underlying facts. Accordingly, representation will not
be provided by the Township Solicitor unless there is a specific provision
to the contrary in the applicable collective bargaining agreement. Employees
without such a contract provision who desire counsel will be required to retain
their own attorney.
This chapter shall apply to all matters which have not been finally
resolved at the date of enactment hereof, regardless of whether or not the
acts for which damages are sought occurred before passage of this chapter.
