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 Oklahoma Statutes (Last Updated: September 18, 2014)
 Title 11. CITIES AND TOWNS

  § 11-23-102. Defense of municipal employees - Procedure for request and defense.  

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  • If a municipality is to defend a municipal employee in a civil action or special proceeding as provided for in Section 23-101 of this title, the following procedure shall apply:

    1.  The employee shall make a written request to the governing body of the municipality within ten (10) days after service of summons on the employee.  A copy of the request shall be transmitted by the employee to his immediate supervisor and to the municipal attorney or other designated legal counsel;

    2.  Before any defense is initiated, an inquiry shall be made by the municipal governing body of the facts upon which the action or special proceeding is based.  Unless the governing body determines that the employee was acting in good faith and in the course of his employment, representation shall not be provided pursuant to the provisions of Section 23-101 of this title;

    3.  Upon the decision of the municipal governing body to provide representation for the employee, it shall direct an attorney to appear and defend the action.  Said attorney shall determine the method of preparation and presentation of the defense and shall not be held civilly liable for the exercise of such discretion;

    4.  The employee named in the action may employ private counsel at his own expense to assist in his defense;

    5.  It shall be the duty of any municipal law enforcement agency to provide investigators at the request of the designated attorney to assist him in implementing the provisions of this section;

    6.  No findings or reports of the municipal governing body, the designated attorney, or persons making inquiry subject to their direction pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be discoverable or admissible as evidence in any such action or special proceeding, and no reference thereto shall be made in any such trial or hearing; and

    7.  Any officer or employee who acts outside the scope of his official authority shall be liable for damages in the same manner as any private citizen.

Amended by Laws 1984, c. 126, § 49, eff. Nov. 1, 1984.