DATE:                     October 8, 2019
 
TO:                     Board of Supervisors
 
SUBMITTED BY:                     Paul Nerland, Director of Human Resources
 
SUBJECT:                     Request to Defend Public Officers or Employees
 
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize Chairman to execute Agreement to Defend Public Officer(s) or Employee(s) for the employee(s) listed below:
 
Name of Officer(s)
| Employee | Position | Title of Action | 
| Brian Erickson | Deputy Sheriff III | Dennis Maric | 
|   | Sheriff/Coroner |            v | 
| Michael Hernandez | Deputy Sheriff | County of Fresno, et al. | 
|   | Sheriff/Coroner |   | 
REPORT
Description:
 
Claimant alleges Civil rights violation, which is the proximate cause of the claimant’s injuries/damages. 
 
Fresno County Claim No.:                                              10126
Eastern District Court Case No.:                     1:19-CV-00775-DAD-EPG
Claimant:                                                                                         Dennis Maric
 
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
 
No alternative action is available as Article 4 (commencing with section 825), Chapter 1, Part 2, Division 3.6 of Title 1 of the Government Code requires the County indemnify its public employees. 
 
FISCAL IMPACT:
 
Funds to finance the cost of defense are contained in the Risk Management Internal Services Fund. Defense costs are supported by annual budgetary contributions based on actuarial projections. 
 
DISCUSSION:
 
The California Government Code requires the County to defend its officer(s) and/or employees(s) who are sued because of their actions while in the course and scope of employment. The County may require officer(s) and/or employee(s) to agree that the County’s rights under the law are protected. 
 
In the above-mentioned action, the officer(s) and/or employee(s) who have been named in the suit have requested the County to provide legal defense. The necessary agreement to protect the County’s rights has been signed by said officer(s) and/or employee(s) and is on file with the Clerk of the Board. 
 
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
 
On file with Clerk - Agreement to Defend Brian Erickson
On file with Clerk - Agreement to Defend Michael Hernandez
 
CAO ANALYST:
 
Debbie Paolinelli