[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 22, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 22CFR21.1]

[Page 107-108]
 
                       TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS
 
                     CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF STATE
 
PART 21_INDEMNIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES--Table of Contents
 
Sec.  21.1  Policy.

    (a) The Department of State may indemnify an employee for any 
verdict, judgment, or other monetary award which is rendered against 
such employee, provided that the conduct giving rise to the verdict, 
judgment, or award was taken within the scope of employment and that 
such indemnification is in the interest of the United States, as 
determined as a matter of discretion by the Under Secretary for 
Management or his or her designee.

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    (b) The Department of State may settle or compromise a personal 
damages claim against an employee by the payment of available funds at 
any time, provided the alleged conduct giving rise to the personal 
damages claim was taken within the scope of employment and that such 
settlement or compromise is in the interest of the United States, as 
determined as a matter of discretion by the Under Secretary for 
Management or his or her designee.
    (c) The Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of 
Personnel (``Director General'') shall be the designee of the Under 
Secretary for Management with respect to determinations under paragraphs 
(a) and (b) of this section in cases which involve:
    (1) Foreign courts or foreign administrative bodies and
    (2) Requests of less than five thousand dollars.
    (d) Absent exceptional circumstances as determined by the Under 
Secretary for Management or his or her designee, the Department will not 
entertain a request either to agree to indemnify or to settle a personal 
damages claim before entry of an adverse verdict, judgment, or award.
    (e) When an employee in the United States becomes aware that an 
action has been filed against the employee in his or her personal 
capacity as a result of conduct taken within the scope of his or her 
employment, the employee shall immediately notify the Department through 
the Executive Director of the Office of the Legal Adviser that such an 
action is pending. Employees overseas shall notify their Administrative 
Counselor who shall then notify the Assistant Legal Adviser for Special 
Functional Problems. Employees may be authorized to receive legal 
representation by the Department of Justice in accordance with 28 CFR 
50.15.
    (f) The employee may thereafter request indemnification to satisfy a 
verdict, judgment, or award entered against the employee. The employee 
shall submit a written request, with appropriate documentation including 
copies of the verdict, judgment, award, or settlement proposal if on 
appeal, to the Legal Adviser. Except as provided in paragraph (g) of 
this section, the Legal Adviser and the Director General shall then, in 
coordination with the Bureau of Finance and Management Policy, forward 
the request with their recommendation to the Under Secretary for 
Management for decision. The Legal Adviser may seek the views of the 
Department of Justice, as appropriate, in preparing this recommendation.
    (g) Cases in which the Director General is the designee under 
paragraph (c) of this section may be forwarded by the Assistant Legal 
Adviser for Special Functional Problems, along with the views of the 
employee and the bureau or post as appropriate, to the Director General 
for decision.
    (h) Personal services contractors of the Department are considered 
employees for purposes of the policy set forth in this part.
    (i) Any payment under this part either to indemnify a Department of 
State employee or to settle a personal damages claim shall be contingent 
upon the availability of appropriated funds.
    (j) In addition to the indemnification provisions contained in the 
regulations in this part, the Department will also follow any specific 
policies or regulations adopted with respect to damages awarded against 
Department health care personnel for malpractice claims within the scope 
of 22 U.S.C. 2702.

[60 FR 29988, June 7, 1995]

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