Title 5 PERSONNEL*
Chapter 5.32 LIABILITY INSURANCE
5.32.010 Definitions.
5.32.020 Employee acts or omissions--Insurance coverage by county.
5.32.030 Exemptions--Fraudulent, corrupt or malicious acts.
5.32.040 Exemptions--Contracts.
5.32.050 Exemptions--Certain injuries to other employees.
5.32.060 Exemptions--Acts before July 24, 1959.
5.32.070 Exemptions--Actions against the county.
5.32.080 Notice following accidents, occurrences or losses.
5.32.090 Cooperation with county counsel.
5.32.100 Employee liability--Amounts.
5.32.110 Employee--Subrogation of rights when.
5.32.120 Private counsel expenses not authorized.
5.32.130 Refusal to settle--County not liable when.
5.32.135 Indemnification for auditor-controller error.
5.32.140 Amendment or repeal of chapter provisions.
5.32.010 Definitions.
As used in this chapter, “employee” or “its
employee” means:
A. An officer, employee or servant, whether or not
compensated, but not an independent contractor;
B. Every officer and attache
of the Superior Court of this county, or of any municipal or justice court of
this county who receives compensation as such and who is included in the
provisions of Section 990.2 of the Government Code. (Ord. 10702 § 1, 1973:
Ord. 9022 § 1 (part), 1966: Ord. 8039 § 1, 1961: Ord. 7552 § 1
(part), 1959: Ord. 4099 Art. 3-D § 93.81, 1942.)
5.32.020 Employee acts or omissions--Insurance coverage by county.
Pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 990 and Section 990.2 of the
Government Code, the county, subject the limitations and exceptions hereinafter
set forth in this chapter, hereby insures each of its employees against any
liability resulting from an act or omission occurring during the course and
scope of his employment. (Ord. 9022 § 1 (part), 1966: Ord. 7814 § 1
(part), 1960: Ord. 7552 § 1 (part), 1959: Ord. 4099 Art. 3-D § 93.82,
1942.)
5.32.030 Exemptions--Fraudulent, corrupt or malicious acts.
The county does not insure any employee from liability resulting
from his actual fraud, corruption or actual malice. (Ord. 9022 § 1 (part),
1966: Ord. 7552 § 1 (part), 1959: Ord. 4099 Art. 3-D § 93.84,
1942.)
5.32.040 Exemptions--Contracts.
This chapter does not apply to any liability of an employee arising
from any contract entered into by him. (Ord. 7552 § 1 (part), 1959: Ord.
4099 Art. 3-D § 93.85, 1942.)
5.32.050 Exemptions--Certain injuries to other employees.
This chapter does not apply to any liability for any injury by one
employee to another employee during the course of their employment. (Ord. 7552
§ 1 (part), 1959: Ord. 4099 Art. 3-D § 93.86, 1942.)
5.32.060 Exemptions--Acts before July 24, 1959.
This chapter does not apply to liability arising from any act or
omission which occurred prior to July 24, 1959, the effective date of the
ordinance codified in this chapter. (Ord. 7552 § 1 (part), 1959: Ord. 4099
Art. 3-D § 93.83, 1942.)
5.32.070 Exemptions--Actions against the county.
The county shall not be liable under this chapter and an action
shall not be against the county until after full compliance with all of the
conditions of this chapter, nor until the amount of the employee’s
obligation to pay shall have finally been determined either by judgment against
the employee after actual trial in which the employee is represented either by
the county council or by an attorney at law approved by the county counsel, or
by written agreement of such officer or employee, the claimant, and the county.
(Ord. 7552 § 1 (part), 1959: Ord. 4099 Art. 3-D § 93.89,
1942.)
5.32.080 Notice following accidents, occurrences or losses.
A. In the event of any accident, occurrence or loss, an employee, as soon
as practicable, shall file with the county counsel a written notice containing
particulars sufficient to identify such employee, and also reasonably obtainable
information with respect to the time, place and circumstances thereof, and the
names and addresses of the injured and of available witnesses. If claim is made
or suit is brought against such employee, he immediately shall forward to the
county counsel every demand, notice, summons or other process received by him,
unless the county counsel approves the employment by such employee of another
attorney, in which event such employee immediately shall forward such demand,
notice, summons or other process to such other attorney.
B. The notice
required by this section is in addition to the notice required by Section
5.28.040 of this code. (Ord. 7552 § 1 (part), 1959: Ord. 4099 Art. 3-D
§ 93.87, 1942.)
5.32.090 Cooperation with county counsel.
An employee shall cooperate with the county counsel or other
attorney approved by the county counsel, representing him, and upon the request
of the county counsel or such other attorney, attend hearings and trials and
assist in making settlements, securing and giving evidence, obtaining the
attendance of witnesses, and in the conduct of suits. Such employee shall not,
except at his own cost, voluntarily make any payment, assume any obligation or
incur any expense other than for such immediate medical and surgical relief as
shall be imperative at the time of the accident. (Ord. 9022 § 1 (part),
1966: Ord. 8345 § 1 (part), 1963: Ord. 7552 § 1 (part), 1959: Ord.
4099 Art. 3-D § 93.88, 1942.)
5.32.100 Employee liability--Amounts.
If either a final judgment in an action in which the county counsel
or an attorney approved by the county counsel has represented the employee, or a
contract to which the county is a party, determines that such employee is liable
to any person for injuries or damages covered by this chapter for any one
accident or occurrence for any one employee the county shall pay the excess over
the amount covered by other valid and collectible insurance, but not to exceed a
total payment by the county of $75,000.00, plus premiums on bonds fur release of
attachments, premiums on appeal bonds, all costs of suit awarded against the
employee, and all interest on that portion of the judgment which the county has
agreed to pay, accruing after the entry of the judgment. (Ord. 9022 § 1
(part), 1966: Ord. 8345 § 1 (part), 1963: Ord. 7552 § 1 (part), 1959:
Ord. 4099 Art. 3-D § 93.90, 1942.)
5.32.110 Employee--Subrogation of rights when.
Every employee for whom the county pays any liability pursuant to
this chapter, in consideration for such payment, agrees that the county shall be
subrogated to any rights which such employee may have against any other person
arising from the accident or occurrence from which the liability of such
employee arose.
Such employee further agrees to sign all assignments or
other documents deemed necessary by the county or by the county counsel to
enable the county to recover judgment for, or collect any amounts so due. (Ord.
7552 § 1 (part), 1959: Ord. 4099 Art. 3-D § 93.91, 1942.)
5.32.120 Private counsel expenses not authorized.
This chapter does not authorize the expenditure of county funds
either to pay any private attorney hired by any employee for his services or to
reimburse such attorney for expenses incurred by him. (Ord. 7552 § 1
(part), 1959: Ord. 4099 Art. 3-D § 93.92, 1942.)
5.32.130 Refusal to settle--County not liable when.
If the county counsel advises any employee to agree to a compromise
or other settlement of a claim or action against him, and such employee without
a good and sufficient reason refuses to agree to such a compromise or other
settlement, and both the county counsel and chief administrative officer so
find, the provisions of this chapter shall not apply and the county shall not be
liable. (Ord. 7552 § 1 (part), 1959: Ord. 4099 Art. 3-D § 93-93,
1942.)
5.32.135 Indemnification for auditor-controller error.
In any case where the Internal Revenue Service assesses added
taxes, penalties, or interest upon a county employee or officer solely upon
their finding of taxable income from the county not reported by the
auditor-controller on the employee’s W-2 form, such assessment shall be a
charge upon the county. This indemnification shall be void if the employee has
withheld information or otherwise improperly influenced the auditor-controller
in reporting his taxable income or the employee fails to immediately report to
the county counsel any indicated assessment by the Internal Revenue Service or
fails to fully cooperate with the county counsel in asserting any rights the
employee or the county may have in contesting the assessment and otherwise meet
the requirements of this chapter. (Ord. 86-0015U § 1 (part),
1986.)
5.32.140 Amendment or repeal of chapter provisions.
The board reserves the right to amend or repeal this chapter at any
time. Such amendment or repeal shall not affect the right of any person arising
from any act or omission which occurred prior to the effective date of such
amendment or repeal. (Ord. 7552 § 1 (part), 1959: Ord. 4099 Art. 3-D §
93.94, 1942.)
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