                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

EMPLOYMENT OF COUNSEL TO DEFEND LOCALITIES AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, GOVERNING
BODIES, OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES IN CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS; COSTS AND EXPENSES OF SUCH
PROCEEDINGS (§ 15.2-1520)

Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, general or special, a
locality, or political subdivision of such locality may employ the county, city
or town attorney, or the attorney for the Commonwealth, if there be no county,
city or town attorney, or other counsel approved by the governing body to defend
it, or any member thereof, or any officer of the locality, or political
subdivision or employee thereof, or any trustee or member of any board or
commission appointed by the governing body in any legal proceeding to which the
governing body, or any member thereof, or any of the foregoing named persons may
be a defendant, when such proceeding is instituted against it, or them by virtue
of any actions in furtherance of their duties in serving the locality or
political subdivision as its governing body or as members thereof or the duties
or service of any officer or employee of the locality or political subdivision
or any trustee or any member of any board or commission appointed by the
governing body.

All costs and expenses of such proceedings so defended shall be charged against
the treasury of the locality, or political subdivision and shall be paid out of
funds provided therefor by the governing body thereof. Further, in the event any
settlement is agreed upon or judgment is rendered against any of the foregoing
persons or governing body, the governing body may, in its discretion, pay such
settlement or judgment from public funds or other funds or in connection with
all of the foregoing may expend public or other funds for insurance or to
establish and maintain a self-insurance program to cover such risks or
liability.

HISTORY: 1968, c. 23, § 15.1-19.2; 1976, c. 544; 1977, c. 47; 1978, c. 442;
1997, c. 587.