Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8525 (2026)

 Legal assistance.

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 8525.  Legal assistance.

When an action is brought under this subchapter against an employee of the Commonwealth government, and it is alleged that the act of the employee which gave rise to the claim was within the scope of the office or duties of the employee, the Commonwealth through the Attorney General shall defend the action, unless the Attorney General determines that the act did not occur within the scope of the office or duties of the employee. In the latter case, if it is subsequently determined that the act occurred within the scope of the office or duties of the employee, the Commonwealth shall reimburse the employee for the expense of his legal defense in such amounts as shall be determined to be reasonable by the court. If an action is brought against a Commonwealth government employee for damages on account of injury to a person or property and it is not alleged that the act of the employee which gave rise to the claim was within the scope of his office or duties, and he successfully defends the action on the basis that the act was within the scope of his office or duties, and he has given prior notice to the Attorney General and the Attorney General has refused to defend the action, he shall likewise be entitled to the reasonable expenses of the defense.

 

Cross References.  Section 8525 is referred to in sections 17131, 17133, 17162, 17312, 17342 of Title 16 (Counties); sections 6006, 6018 of Title 64 (Public Authorities and Quasi-Public Corporations); sections 1711, 1722 of Title 74 (Transportation).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10 cases, 1983–2012 · leading case: Balshy v. Pennsylvania State Police, 988 A.2d 813 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2010).
Balshy v. Pennsylvania State Police, 988 A.2d 813 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2010). · cites it 6× “In our order of October 27, 2009, we directed the parties to file supplemental briefs addressing whether “42 Pa. C.S. § 8525 vests original jurisdiction in a ‘court’ to determine whether the act of a state employee seeking indemnification and/or costs of legal defense is within…”
Irizarry v. Off. of Gen. Couns., 934 A.2d 143 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2007). · cites it 3× “On May 2, 2000, Irizarry, through counsel, provided notice to the Office of Attorney General under 42 Pa.C.S. § 8525 that service of a complaint had been made on Irizarry and requested that the Office of Attorney General defend Irizarry in the civil action.”
United States ex rel. Budike v. Peco Energy, 897 F. Supp. 2d 300 (E.D. Pa. 2012). · cites it 2× “Notwithstanding the provisions of 42 Pa. C.S. § 8525 (relating to legal assistance), the authority, through its legal counsel, shall defend actions brought against the authority, or its members, officers, officials and employees when acting within the scope of their official…”
Reaves v. Knauer, 979 A.2d 404 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2009). “42 Pa. C.S. § 8525. As a result of Plaintiffs failure to serve the Attorney General with the November 2005 complaint, the Attorney General had no notice of Plaintiffs lawsuit and his corresponding duty to defend the Commonwealth parties.”
Powell v. Drumheller, 621 A.2d 1197 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1993). “42 Pa.C.S. § 8525. LaFrankie v. Miklich, 152 Pa.”
Rosenwald v. Barbieri, 456 A.2d 677 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1983). · cites it 2× “The Petitioner and the Association in their briefs in opposition to the Attorney General’s preliminary objection, state that Section 8525 of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa. C. S. §8525, provides for the legal representation requested of the Attorney General.”
Durham v. United States, 9 F. Supp. 2d 503 (M.D. Penn. 1998). · cites it 2× “Furthermore, the Commonwealth argues that Officer Ortalano is a “Commonwealth party” and that he is also entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity whether sued in his official or individual capacities because the Commonwealth has elected to indemnify him pursuant to 42…”
Flagg v. State Sys. of Higher Educ., 904 A.2d 1004 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2006). “42 Pa.C.S. § 8525 provides that the Commonwealth is required to defend or reimburse an employee for the defense of any action arising out of the course of his employment.”
Richter v. Shelby Cnty., 745 N.W.2d 505 (Iowa 2008). “36-366 (2007); 42 Pa. Cons.Stat. Ann. § 8525 (2007); Utah Stat.”
David E. Richter & Lori Falk-goss Vs. Shelby Cnty., Iowa (Iowa 2008). “36–366 (2007); 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 8525 (2007); Utah Stat.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.