City staff brief council on elected-official liability coverage and limits under Oregon law

A presenter gave Newberg City Council members a detailed briefing on the city's liability coverage, how it ties to the Oregon Tort Claims Act and the conditions that can cause coverage to be denied. The talk explained what kinds of acts are considered torts, the definition of a "member" for coverage purposes, and the financial limits and procedural conditions that apply under the city's policy. The issue matters because members acting outside the "course and scope" of their council duties can lose insurance backing and face personal exposure. The presenter told the council the city's liability program includes a $30,000,000 aggregate limit and $10,000,000 per-occurrence limit available to covered members. Coverage is tied to the Oregon Tort Claims Act and, at the…