Legal Definitions - bill of indemnity

A bill of indemnity is a legal document that protects a public official from being held liable for their official acts. It can also refer to an initial pleading by a plaintiff to require another party, such as an insurance company, to discharge the plaintiff's liability to a third person.

1. In the past, an annual bill of indemnity was passed by Parliament to protect officeholders who unintentionally failed to take a required oath from being held responsible for their actions in an official capacity. This law was replaced by the Promissory Oaths Act in 1868.

2. A police officer who uses reasonable force to apprehend a suspect is protected by a bill of indemnity from being sued for assault or battery.

3. A construction company may require a subcontractor to sign a bill of indemnity to protect themselves from any liability arising from the subcontractor's work.

These examples illustrate how a bill of indemnity can provide legal protection to individuals or organizations from being held responsible for certain actions or events.