Upon the receipt of a written request by any officer or employee, the attorney general, except as provided in section 109.362 of the Revised Code, except under the circumstances described in division (E) of section 120.06 of the Revised Code, and except for civil actions in which the state is the plaintiff, shall represent and defend the officer or employee in any civil action instituted against the officer or employee. All expenses and court costs, including the reasonable compensation of special counsel, incurred by the attorney general in the defense of an officer or employee shall be paid by the employer that employed the officer or employee at the time the alleged act or omission occurred.

The defense of the officer or employee may be rendered by the attorney general, an assistant attorney general, or any special counsel appointed by the attorney general, who, in addition to providing the defense of the officer or employee, may file counterclaims and cross-claims and engage in third-party practice on behalf of the officer or employee. If the officer or employee recovers any money pursuant to any counterclaim or cross-claim so filed, the officer or employee, to the extent of the recovery on the counterclaim or cross-claim, shall reimburse the attorney general for all expenses and court costs, including the reasonable compensation of assistant attorneys general and special counsel, incurred in bringing the counterclaim or cross-claim. The officer or employee shall cooperate fully with the attorney general's defense. Sections 109.36 to 109.366 of the Revised Code do not deprive any officer or employee of the right to select counsel of his own choice or settle his case at his own expense at any time, and, except under the circumstances described in division (E) of section 120.06 of the Revised Code, do not prohibit the attorney general from entering his appearance in a case to protect the interest of the state even though no request for the appearance has been made by the officer or employee.

Effective Date: 05-01-1992.