Sec. 5. (a) Civil actions relating to acts taken by a board, a committee, a commission, an authority, or another instrumentality of a governmental entity may be brought only against the board, the committee, the commission, the authority, or the other instrumentality of a governmental entity. A member of a board, a committee, a commission, an authority, or another instrumentality of a governmental entity may not be named as a party in a civil suit that concerns the acts taken by a board, a committee, a commission, an authority, or another instrumentality of a governmental entity where the member was acting within the scope of the member's employment. For the purposes of this subsection, a member of a board, a committee, a commission, an authority, or another instrumentality of a governmental entity is acting within the scope of the member's employment when the member acts as a member of the board, committee, commission, authority, or other instrumentality.
(b) A judgment rendered with respect to or a settlement made by a governmental entity bars an action by the claimant against an employee, including a member of a board, a committee, a commission, an authority, or another instrumentality of a governmental entity, whose conduct gave rise to the claim resulting in that judgment or settlement. A lawsuit alleging that an employee acted within the scope of the employee's employment bars an action by the claimant against the employee personally. However, if the governmental entity answers that the employee acted outside the scope of the employee's employment, the plaintiff may amend the complaint and sue the employee personally. An amendment to the complaint by the plaintiff under this subsection must be filed not later than one hundred eighty (180) days from the date the answer was filed and may be filed notwithstanding the fact that the statute of limitations has run.
(c) A lawsuit filed against an employee personally must allege that an act or omission of the employee that causes a loss is:
(1) criminal;
(2) clearly outside the scope of the employee's employment;
(3) malicious;
(4) willful and wanton; or
(5) calculated to benefit the employee personally.
The complaint must contain a reasonable factual basis supporting the allegations.
(d) This subsection applies when the governmental entity defends or has received proper legal notice and has the opportunity to defend an employee for losses resulting from the employee's acts or omissions. Subject to the provisions of sections 4, 14, 15, and 16 of this chapter, the governmental entity shall pay any judgment of a claim or suit against an employee when the act or omission causing the loss is within the scope of the employee's employment, regardless of whether the employee can or cannot be held personally liable for the loss.
(e) The governmental entity shall provide counsel for and pay all costs and fees incurred by or on behalf of an employee in defense of a claim or suit for a loss occurring because of acts or omissions within the scope of the employee's employment, regardless of whether the employee can or cannot be held personally liable for the loss.
(f) This chapter shall not be construed as:
(1) a waiver of the eleventh amendment to the Constitution of the United States;
(2) consent by the state of Indiana or its employees to be sued in any federal court; or
(3) consent to be sued in any state court beyond the boundaries of Indiana.
[Pre-1998 Recodification Citation: 34-4-16.5-5.]
As added by P.L.1-1998, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.192-2001, SEC.2; P.L.161-2003, SEC.7.
Structure Indiana Code
Title 34. Civil Law and Procedure
Article 13. Causes of Action: Claims Against the Government
Chapter 3. Tort Claims Against Governmental Entities and Public Employees
34-13-3-0.1. Application of Certain Amendments to Chapter
34-13-3-0.2. Application of Certain Amendments to Prior Law
34-13-3-1. Applicability of Chapter
34-13-3-2. Applicability of Chapter
34-13-3-2.3. Applicability of Chapter to Ncsl 2020 Legislative Summit Host Committee
34-13-3-3. Immunity of Governmental Entity or Employee
34-13-3-4. Limitation on Aggregate Liability; Punitive Damages Prohibited
34-13-3-6. Notice to Attorney General and State Agency Involved
34-13-3-7. Administrative Claim for Inmate's Recovery of Property
34-13-3-8. Claims Against Political Subdivisions; Notice Requirement
34-13-3-9. Incapacitated Plaintiffs; Notice Requirement
34-13-3-10. Notice Requirement; Form of Statement
34-13-3-11. Approval or Denial of Claim by Government Entity
34-13-3-12. Notice Requirements; Service
34-13-3-13. Denial of Claim as Prerequisite to Suit
34-13-3-14. Compromise or Settlement of Claim by Governor
34-13-3-15. Attorney General; Powers and Duties
34-13-3-16. Compromise or Settlement of Claim by Political Subdivision
34-13-3-17. Enforcement of Judgments Against Governmental Entities
34-13-3-18. Time for Payment of Claim or Judgment; Interest Rate
34-13-3-19. Applicability of Ic 34-13-3-18; Settlement
34-13-3-20. Liability Insurance; Prohibitions
34-13-3-21. Attorney's Fees; Allowance to Governmental Entity; Action for Abuse of Process
34-13-3-22. Persons or Entities Considered Political Subdivisions
34-13-3-23. Structured Settlement; Discharge; Limits
34-13-3-24. Appropriations for Payment of Claims and Expenses
34-13-3-25. Presentation of Vouchers and Issuance of Warrants for Appropriations