\nIf any employee has been defended by the Attorney General, or if the State has provided private counsel for an employee, and judgment rendered on the claim establishes that the act or omission complained of did not meet the requirements of G.S. 115-146.1, the judgment against the employee may provide for payment to the State of its costs including a reasonable attorney fee. (1979, c. 971, s. 2.)
North Carolina Legal Code