52-6-201. Indictment or information against officer or employee -- Reimbursement of attorney fees and court costs incurred in defense.

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A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Effective 5/3/2023

(1)Except as provided in Subsection

(3), and subject to Subsection

(2), if a state grand jury indicts, or if an information is filed against, an officer or employee, in connection with or arising out of any act or omission of that officer or employee during the performance of the officer or employee's duties, within the scope of the officer or employee's employment, or under color of the officer or employee's authority, and that indictment or information is quashed or dismissed or results in a judgment of acquittal, unless the indictment or information is quashed or dismissed upon application or motion of the prosecuting attorney, that officer or employee is entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees and court costs necessarily incurred in the defense of that indictment or information from the public entity, unless the officer or employee is found guilty of substantially the same misconduct that formed the basis for the indictment or information.

(2)Except as provided in Subsection

(3), if the officer or employee is acquitted of some of the charges or counts, or portions of the indictment or information are quashed or dismissed, that officer or employee is entitled to recover from the public entity reasonable attorney fees and court costs necessarily incurred in the defense of those charges, counts, or portions of the indictment or information that were quashed, dismissed, or resulted in a judgment of acquittal, unless the alleged misconduct covered by those charges, counts, or portions of the indictment or information that were quashed, dismissed, or resulted in a judgment of acquittal is substantially the same alleged misconduct that formed the basis for charges, counts, or portions of the indictment or information of which the officer or employee was found guilty.

(3)An officer or employee entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees and court costs under Subsection

(1)or

(2)in connection with the officer's or employee's position within a political subdivision, is entitled to recover all fees and costs from the state rather than the political subdivision, if:

(a)after the local attorney declines to pursue an indictment, or file an information, against the officer or employee, the attorney general obtains an indictment, or files an information, against the officer or employee;

(b)the alleged misconduct forming the basis of the indictment or information against the officer or employee is substantially similar to the facts or investigation results upon which the local attorney relied in deciding not to pursue an indictment, or file an information, against the officer or employee; and

(c)the attorney general pursued the indictment, or filed the information, against the officer or employee, for a reason other than that:

(i)the local attorney requested the attorney general's involvement in the prosecution of the officer or employee due to a conflict of interest; or

(ii)the local attorney lacked the resources or subject matter expertise to initiate or proceed with the prosecution of the officer or employee.

(4)An officer or employee who recovers under this section shall also be entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees and costs necessarily incurred by the officer or employee in recovering the attorney fees and costs allowed under this section, including attorney fees and costs incurred on appeal.

(5)Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an officer or employee may not recover for the costs incurred in defense of any charge, count, or portion of the indictment or information that is quashed or dismissed upon application or motion of the prosecuting attorney.

Amended by Chapter 444 , 2023 General Session