Every respondent covered by the provisions of §§ 3085-3092a of this title who applies to the Commonwealth for legal representation may be represented in the suit by attorneys from the Department of Justice or by attorneys in private practice upon authorization of the Secretary of Justice. In these cases, the Commonwealth shall defray the reasonable cost of said legal representation from a special fund created for this purpose. The Commonwealth may recover expenses, costs and attorney’s fees and the amounts so recovered shall be covered into the Treasury of Puerto Rico into the same special fund.
When two (2) or more officials who are defendants in a same legal suit apply for the Commonwealth’s legal representation and have interests that may result contradictory, the Secretary of Justice may authorize that any or all of them be represented by attorneys in the private practice, the cost to be met as provided in the preceding paragraph.
History —June 29, 1955, No. 104, p. 550, added as § 17 on Nov. 26, 1975, No. 9, p. 953, § 1; July 10, 1986, No. 113, p. 358, § 4.