2006 Minnesota Statutes

471.86 PROTECTION FOR FIREFIGHTER DRIVER SUED FOR DAMAGES.
    Subdivision 1. Legal counsel, employment. Every city, township, or other governmental
subdivision of the state shall furnish legal counsel for any firefighter employed by it upon the
firefighter's written request in all actions brought against such firefighter to recover damages for
injury to person or property, or for wrongful death, when such action arose out of the operation of
a motor vehicle by such firefighter in the performance of official duties, and pay the expenses of
defending such suit, including witness and reasonable counsel fees, notwithstanding any contrary
provision in the law or in the charter of any such governmental subdivision.
    Subd. 2. Judgment, payment authorized. If judgment is rendered in favor of the firefighter,
costs and disbursements included therein shall be assigned to such governmental subdivision by
the firefighter, and all money collected thereon shall be paid to it. If judgment is rendered against
the firefighter, such governmental subdivision shall appropriate money from any funds available
to pay such judgment, or shall levy funds for the payment thereof pursuant to law.
    Subd. 3. Application. The obligation of this section shall not apply in any case where such
firefighter is fully indemnified against claims for such damages and for such expenses by contract
with another, and this section shall not be construed to waive any existing immunity accorded
by law to municipalities or governmental subdivisions from claims for damages sustained as
the result of the negligence of its officers, agents or servants in the exercise or performance of
governmental or public functions.
History: 1951 c 183 s 1-3; 1957 c 199 s 1; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7; 1977 c 429 s 63; 1986 c 444