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result of or in connection with the performance of his or her official duties and assignments <br />pursuant to this MOU may request to be certified by the U.S. Attorney General or his designee as <br />having acted within the scope of federal employment at the time of the incident giving rise to the <br />suit. 28 U.S.C. § 2679(d)(2). Upon such certification, the individual will be considered an <br />"employee" of the United States government for the limited purpose of defending the civil claim <br />under the FTCA, and the claim will proceed against the United States as sole defendant. 28 <br />U.S.C. § 2679(d)(2). Once an individual is certified as an employee of the United States for <br />purposes of the FTCA, the United States is substituted for the employee as the sole defendant <br />with respect to any tort claims. Decisions regarding certification of employment under the FTCA <br />are made on a case -by -case basis, and the USMS cannot guarantee such certification to any <br />RFTF/VOTF personnel. <br />For the limited purpose of defending against a civil claim arising from an alleged violation of the <br />U.S. Constitution pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 or Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of the <br />Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971): an individual assigned to the RFTF/VOTF <br />who is named as a defendant in a civil action as a result of or in connection with the performance <br />of his or her official duties and assignments pursuant to this MOU may request individual - <br />capacity representation by DOJ to defend against the claims. 28 C.F.R. §§ 50.15, 50.16. Any <br />such request for individual -capacity representation must be made in the form of a letter from the <br />individual defendant to the U.S. Attorney General through the USMS Office of General <br />Counsel. In the event of an adversejudgment against the individual, he or she may request <br />indemnification from DOJ. 28 C.F.R. § 50.15(c)(4). Requests for DOJ representation and <br />indemnification are determined by DOJ on a case- by -case basis. The USMS cannot guarantee <br />the United States will provide legal representation or indemnification to any RFTF/VOTF <br />personnel. <br />Liability for any conduct by RFTF/VOTF personnel undertaken outside of the scope of their <br />assigned duties and responsibilities under this MOU shall not be the responsibility of the USMS <br />or the United States and shall be the sole responsibility of the respective employee and/or agency <br />involved. <br />EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION: This MOU is in effect once signed by all parties. <br />Participating agencies may withdraw their participation after providing 30 days advanced written <br />notice to the RFTF/VOTF Chief Inspector/Chief Deputy. <br />Rev. 03/2023 Page 7 of 8 <br />