Illinois Code § 5-1003

§ 5-1003.

Indemnity of public defender or assistant public defender. If any injury to the person or property of another is caused by a public defender or any assistant public defender, while the public defender or assistant public defender is engaged in the performance of his duties as such, the county shall indemnify the public defender or assistant public defender, as the case may be, for any judgment recovered against him as the result of that injury, except where the injury results from the willful misconduct of the public defender or assistant public defender, as the case may be. Any person who, at the time of performing such an act complained of, was a public defender or assistant public defender, who is made a party defendant to any such action shall, within 10 days of service of process upon him, notify the county, of the fact that the action has been instituted, and that he has been made a party defendant to the action. The notice must be in writing, and be filed in the office of the State's attorney and also in the office of the county clerk, either by himself, his agent or attorney. The notice shall state in substance, that the public defender or assistant public defender, as the case may be, (naming him), has been served with process and made a party defendant to an action wherein it is claimed that a person has suffered injury to his person or property caused by that public defender or assistant public defender stating the title and number of the case; the court wherein the action is pending; and the date the public defender or assistant public defender was served with process in the action, and made a party defendant thereto. The county which is or may be liable to indemnify the public defender or assistant public defender as the case may be, may intervene in the suit against the public defender or assistant public defender, as the case may be, and shall be permitted to appear and defend. The duty of the county to indemnify any public defender or assistant public defender for any judgment recovered against him is conditioned upon receiving notice of the filing of any such action in the manner and form herein described. (Source: P.A. 86-962.)