CUMMINGS, Circuit Judge.
In January 1977, Bennie Lenard, a black man, was involved in a traffic accident in Melrose Park, Illinois. The Melrose Park police were called and Lenard was subsequently arrested and taken to the police station. While in police custody Lenard was severely injured and eventually spent thirty-nine days in a hospital recovering from the injuries. In 1977 Lenard filed suit against the Village of Melrose Park and four of its police officers.1 The suit alleged various claims under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983 and 1985. In his first jury trial, Lenard was awarded $360,000 in damages and $181,000 in attorneys’ fees. The jury, however, did not find any of the defendants liable under § 1983 for beating Lenard. The defendants appealed and we reversed the judgment in most parts. Lenard v. Argento, 699 F.2d 874 (7th Cir.1983), certiorari denied, 464 U.S. 815, 104 S.Ct. 69, 78 L.Ed.2d 84 (“Lenard I”). The only claim remaining on remand was a § 1985(3) claim against officers Robert Argento and Joseph Sansone, in their individual capacities, for “a conspiracy to deprive [Lenard] due course of justice and equal protection of the law,” id. at 880, as well as a redetermi-nation of an appropriate attorneys’ fees award under 42 U.S.C. § 1988. Liability regarding the one remaining claim had been affirmed; only damages were tried to a jury on remand. This time Lenard obtained a $267,000 damages judgment that was not appealed. Argento and Sansone, however, appealed the district court’s award of $327,000 for attorneys’ fees. We recently vacated the attorneys’ fees award and remanded the case for further proceedings to determine a new amount. Lenard v. Argento, 808 F.2d 1242 (7th Cir.1987) (“Lenard II”).
While the appeal in Lenard II was pending, Lenard continued to pursue various actions to collect the judgments he had obtained. In Appeal No. 86-1960 Lenard sought to collect from the Village of Mel-rose Park (hereinafter “the Village”) the damages and attorneys’ fees judgment against Argento and Sansone. The district court granted Lenard relief on his claim in the nature of mandamus based on Ill.Rev. Stat. ch. 85, § 9-102 (hereinafter “§ 9-102”). The court entered a judgment against the Village in the amount of both the damages and the fee award, but stayed execution of judgment as to the amount of attorneys’ fees contested in Lenard II, which was still pending at the time. The court found it unnecessary to reach Lenard’s other two claims in that action since they were only alternative means of obtaining the same relief.2 In Appeal No. 86-2080 Lenard pursued a garnishment action against Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company (hereinafter “Hartford”), the Village’s, and concomitantly the officers’, insurer. The district court determined that the damages and the fee award obtained by Lenard were covered by the applicable insurance policy and entered a judgment in favor of Lenard and against Hartford for the amounts already awarded and all additional fees and costs obtained against the officers. In Appeal No. 86-3131 Lenard sought an award of costs and attorneys’ fees incurred in obtaining the judgment against the Village.3 The district court awarded $45,991 fees and $777 costs against the Village and in favor of Lenard. Lenard subsequently moved to amend that judgment to designate Argento and San-sone as the ones liable, but the district court denied that motion. In Appeal No. 86-3132 Lenard sought an award of fees and costs incurred in obtaining the judg[1487]*1487ment against Hartford.4 Lenard was awarded $16,965 in attorneys’ fees.
On appeal, the various appellants challenge the propriety of the judgments against them. There are no challenges to the calculations of the amounts awarded. We first consider the district court’s jurisdiction in the cases before us and then separately consider the merits of each appeal.
I. Jurisdiction
All the cases before us contain final judgments over which we have appellate jurisdiction. See Barrington Press, Inc. v. Morey, 816 F.2d 341, 342 (7th Cir.1987); Exchange National Bank of Chicago v. Daniels, 763 F.2d 286, 291-293 (7th Cir.1985). Both below and on appeal the Village argues that the district court did not have jurisdiction in the cases underlying the Village’s two appeals. Hartford and the two police officers do not contest the district court’s jurisdiction over the cases underlying their respective appeals, but, since jurisdictional issues may be raised sua sponte and the issues are similar, we also consider the district court’s jurisdiction in those two cases.5 We will initially focus on the district court’s jurisdiction in Appeal No. 86-1960. Resolving the jurisdictional questions in the other three cases will require little additional elaboration.
A. Appeal No. 86-1960
1. Supplementary Jurisdiction
We agree with Lenard that the district court had jurisdiction over the cases. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 69(a) provides in part:
Process to enforce a judgment for the payment of money shall be a writ of execution, unless the court directs otherwise. The procedure on execution, in proceedings supplementary to and in aid of a judgment, and in proceedings on and in aid of execution shall be in accordance with the practice and procedure of the state in which the district court is held, existing at the time the remedy is sought....
The judgments obtained by Lenard were in proceedings supplementary to and in aid of the initial civil rights judgment. But Rule 69(a) cannot be the end of our jurisdictional analysis since the Federal Rules neither create nor withdraw jurisdiction. Fed.R. Civ.P. 82; Owen Equipment & Erection Co. v. Kroger, 437 U.S. 365, 370, 98 S.Ct. 2396, 2400, 57 L.Ed.2d 274 (1978); Blackburn Truck Lines, Inc. v. Francis, 723 F.2d 730, 732 (9th Cir.1984); Duchek v. Jacobi, 646 F.2d 415, 418 (9th Cir.1981). Rule 69(a), though, is a procedural mechanism for a court’s exercise of its inherent jurisdiction to enforce its judgment in a supplemental proceeding.6 Compare Blackburn, 723 F.2d at 732-733. Such jurisdictional authority has been long recognized.
[T]he rule is universal, that if the power is conferred to render the judgment or enter the decree, it also includes the power to issue proper process to enforce such judgment or decree.
... [T]he jurisdiction of a court is not exhausted by the rendition of the judgment, but continues until that judgment shall be satisfied.
Riggs v. Johnson County, 73 U.S. (6 Wall.) 166, 187, 18 L.Ed. 768 (1867), quoted in McKee-Berger-Mansueto, Inc. v. Board of Education of Chicago, 691 F.2d 828, 831 (7th Cir.1982). See also Root v. Woolworth, 150 U.S. 401, 412, 14 S.Ct. 136, 139, 37 L.Ed. 1123 (1893); Berry v. McLemore, 795 F.2d 452, 455 (5th Cir.1986); Blackburn, 723 F.2d at 732.
The Village argues, however, that such jurisdiction does not extend to separate actions against nonparties to the original suit. It argues that a basis of jurisdiction separate from that over the original [1488]*1488action is necessary when nonparties are involved.7 The Village cites Root which contains language applying supplementary jurisdiction to equity suits involving “the same parties.” Root, 150 U.S. at 411-412, 14 S.Ct. at 138-139. But Root only states that the rule is well settled as to the same parties; in that case it was unnecessary to consider whether the rule applied to a non-party and the Court nowhere discusses that question. Therefore Root is not controlling precedent in the Village’s favor. Moreover, in the almost 100 years since Root was decided, ancillary jurisdiction has been greatly expanded by the courts. See C.A. Wright & A. Miller, Federal Practice & Procedure § 1444 at 219-220 (1971). The dissent, on the other hand, relies on H.C. Cook Co. v. Beecher, 217 U.S. 497, 30 S.Ct. 601, 54 L.Ed. 855 (1910). That case, decided over 75 years ago, is three paragraphs long containing a conclusion, but virtually no discussion. It has rarely been cited as precedent. Instead we rely on more recent and more complete explications of ancillary jurisdiction. Cf. Skevofilax v. Quigley, 810 F.2d 378, 385 n. 4 (3d Cir.1987) (en banc), certiorari denied, — U.S. -, 107 S.Ct. 1956, 95 L.Ed.2d 528.
Two recent appellate court cases, neither of which are cited by the parties, discuss the jurisdictional issue now before us. The Third Circuit, sitting en banc, held that a § 1983 plaintiff, who had obtained a judgment against police officers in their individual capacities, could also obtain a judgment against the township employing the officers based on an indemnity provision in their collective bargaining agreement. A five-judge majority held “that the district court has ancillary jurisdiction to adjudicate a garnishment action by a judgment creditor against a nonparty to the original lawsuit which may owe the judgment debt- or an obligation to indemnify against the judgment, or any other form of property.” Skevofilax, 810 F.2d at 385. Three of the judges on the majority additionally held that the township could have been added as a third-party defendant to a Rule 13(g) cross-claim by the police officers and therefore there was also jurisdiction over the township on that basis. Id. at 385-386. Judge Becker concurred. He determined that ordinary ancillary jurisdiction rules had to be applied and that under those rules there was jurisdiction. Id. at 388-390 (Becker, J., concurring). Three judges dissented. They agreed with the majority that a court has ancillary jurisdiction to execute on its judgments and that Rule 69(a) governed the exercise of such jurisdiction. Id. at 390 (Stapleton, J., dissenting). They concluded, however, that the particular state procedure incorporated by Rule 69(a) created a cause of action separate from the original § 1983 suit and therefore a separate basis of jurisdiction was required. Id. at 392. That determination did not depend on a party/nonparty distinction except to the extent the applicable state procedure made such a differentiation.
In Berry v. McLemore, 795 F.2d 452 (5th Cir.1986), a police officer was found liable in his individual capacity under § 1983. The town that employed the officer was not found liable. The plaintiff subsequently pursued a garnishment action against both the town based on the town’s alleged promise to the officer to pay any judgment against him and the town’s insurer based on an insurance contract. The Fifth Circuit held that jurisdiction in aid of a judgment is limited to actions that a court may take in the same action. Since it considered garnishment actions to be separate actions, it required that there be a separate basis of jurisdiction for the garnishment proceedings. Id. at 455. It found no separate basis of jurisdiction regarding the town, but found that the action against the insurer fell under the district court’s diversity jurisdiction. Id. at 456.
We find no reason to draw a distinction, for purposes of subject matter jurisdiction,8 between supplementary jurisdiction over a party and supplementary jurisdiction over a nonparty. Even the decision in Berry and the dissent in Skevofilax depended on a separate action distinction, not a party/nonparty distinction. The majority in Skevofilax and other cases have held that courts have supplementary jurisdiction to enforce their judgments even when nonparties are involved. Skevofilax, 810 F.2d at 385; Blackburn, 723 F.2d at 732-733; Chambers v. Blickle Ford Sales, Inc., 313 F.2d 252 (2d Cir.1963); Castro v. Beecher, [1489]*1489386 F.Supp. 1281, 1282 (D.Mass.1975); Green v. Benson, 271 F.Supp. 90, 93 (E.D.Pa.1967). See also Barrett v. International Underwriters, Inc., 346 F.2d 345 (7th Cir.1965); Chicago District Council of Carpenters Health & Welfare Fund v. Alan Scott Co., 597 F.2d 1103, 1104 (7th Cir.1979) (per curiam); United States ex rel. Goldman v. Meredith, 596 F.2d 1353, 1357 (8th Cir.1979), certiorari denied, 444 U.S. 838, 100 S.Ct. 76, 62 L.Ed.2d 50.
We still must consider the separate action distinction. The Village characterizes the action against it as an indemnity action and argues that such claims “are separate and apart from tort claims and should not be heard in federal court.” Kerr v. City of Chicago, 424 F.2d 1134, 1141-1142 (7th Cir.1970), certiorari denied, 400 U.S. 833, 91 S.Ct. 66, 27 L.Ed.2d 64. But compare Thomas v. Shelton, 740 F.2d 478, 486 (7th Cir.1984) (the most common third-party claim is a claim for indemnity). The applicable statute is Ill.Rev.Stat. ch. 85, § 9-102. Although often referred to as an indemnity provision, see, e.g., Coleman v. Smith, 814 F.2d 1142, 1148 (7th Cir.1987), § 9-102 actually makes a local public entity directly liable for the payment of certain tort judgments against its employees. Estate of Ahmed v. County of Cook, 146 Ill.App.3d 719, 721-722, 100 Ill.Dec. 368, 369-370, 497 N.E.2d 346, 347-348 (1986); Kolar v. County of Sangamon, 756 F.2d 564, 566 (7th Cir.1985). See also Arnolt v. City of Highland Park, 52 Ill.2d 27, 32-35, 282 N.E.2d 144, 147-148 (1972); McCottrell v. City of Chicago, 135 Ill.App.3d 517, 519-520, 90 Ill.Dec. 258, 259-260, 481 N.E.2d 1058, 1059-1060 (1985). In Kolar the claim under § 9-102 was brought in a separate proceeding, 756 F.2d at 565, but in Coleman the § 9-102 claim was brought in a post-trial motion as part of the original action,9 814 F.2d at 1148. Rule 69(a) incorporates state procedure, so that it is state procedure we look to in determining if a § 9-102 claim should be considered a separate action. Skevofilax, 810 F.2d at 390 (Stapleton, J., dissenting). There is only one reported Illinois case in which § 9-102 is cited. It appears from that case that a claim pursuant to § 9-102 may be brought in the same action as the one against the government employee in his individual capacity. See Ahmed, 146 Ill.App.3d at 721-722, 100 Ill.Dec. at 369-370, 497 N.E.2d at 347-348. See also Amolt, 52 Ill.2d at 35, 282 N.E.2d at 148; McCottrell, 135 Ill. [1490]*1490App.3d at 519-520, 90 Ill.Dec. at 259-260, 481 N.E.2d at 1059-1060. Since the provisions of § 9-102 do not require a separate action, it is unnecessary to determine if a separate action distinction should be made in determining the extent of the district court's supplementary jurisdiction. We therefore hold that, in Appeal No. 86-1960, the district court had jurisdiction to determine the Village’s liability under § 9-102.
Last, we wish to make clear that the decision we reach is a relatively narrow one. See Skevofilax, 810 F.2d at 388 (Becker, J., concurring). We do not decide the outer limit of a court’s supplementary jurisdiction, nor do we extend supplementary jurisdiction beyond the scope of other types of ancillary jurisdiction. Both the § 9-102 claim against the Village and the indemnity claim against the insurer (which is discussed below) are adequately related to the initial civil rights action to fall under ancillary jurisdiction. Skevofilax, 810 F.2d at 389-390 (Becker, J., concurring). See generally Owen Equipment, 437 U.S. at 372, 98 S.Ct. at 2401; Ambromovage v. United Mine Workers of America, 726 F.2d 972, 989-992 (3d Cir.1984). The claims arise from a common nucleus of operative facts. Judicial economy was well served since no additional fact-finding proceedings were necessary and the court was already familiar with the case through pri- or proceedings. This is not a case like Owen Equipment where the plaintiff had an independent claim against the third-party defendant and sought to avoid jurisdictional problems that would have existed if the plaintiff had brought suit directly against that party. See Owen Equipment, 437 U.S. at 376, 98 S.Ct. at 2404. The Village and Hartford are only liable to Lenard to the extent that Argento and San-sone are liable to Lenard; Lenard has no claims against the Village and Hartford independent of his claims against Argento and Sansone.
The dissent’s principal reason for finding this case to be inappropriate for ancillary jurisdiction is that the ancillary claims require the resolution of state law issues. To the extent that Rule 69(a) incorporates state practice and procedure as the federal rule, though, it is actually federal law that is being enforced. Also, most of the state law being applied is settled, and it is only necessary to apply the law to the specific facts of this case. To the extent that new issues of state law must be decided, it is justified by the close link between the main and supplemental claims as well as judicial convenience and economy. Moreover, it is within the district court’s discretion to determine when it is appropriate to exercise ancillary jurisdiction and we certainly do not find an abuse of discretion. The supplemental claims in this case satisfy ordinary ancillary jurisdiction rules.10
It is also unnecessary to decide if supplementary jurisdiction extends to “a fact-specific, disputed claim against a new, unrelated third party asserted after the end of the principal litigation.” Skevofilax, 810 F.2d at 389 (Becker, J., concurring). An example of this would be “the post-judgment pursuit of a questionable gambling debt allegedly due the defendant from a non-diverse party who was not involved in the principal litigation.” Id. at 388-389. The supplemental claims in the present case are not like the gambling debt example. The liability of the Village and the insurer are related to the same events that underlie the original civil rights action. Therefore we expressly limit today’s decision to third-party, supplemental claims in which the third party’s liability to the defendant is related to the original cause of action.
2. Pendent Jurisdiction
Even if the district court did not have jurisdiction in Appeal No. 86-1960 based on its supplemental powers to enforce its judgment, there was pendent jur[1491]*1491isdiction over the § 9-102 claim.11 Lenard had three claims against the Village: the § 9-102 claim, a claim under an Illinois police indemnity statute, and a federal due process claim. Lenard argues that there is jurisdiction over the § 9-102 claim pendent to the federal due process claim. The Village counters that the due process claim was insubstantial so that there can be no pendent jurisdiction. For there to be pendent jurisdiction over a state claim, the state claim and a federal claim must derive from a common nucleus of operative facts, and the federal claim must be sufficiently substantial to confer subject matter jurisdiction on the court. United Mine Workers of America v. Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715, 725, 86 S.Ct. 1130, 1138, 16 L.Ed.2d 218 (1966). The parties do not dispute that the § 9-102 claim and the due process claim derive from a common nucleus of operative facts.
It is true that when a district court dismisses all of a plaintiff’s federal claims, it ordinarily should dismiss any pendent state claims as well. Maguire v. Marquette University, 814 F.2d 1213, 1218 (7th Cir.1987). The court is not required, though, to decide the merits of the federal claim before considering the pendent state claim. The court can provide relief on the state claim without ever deciding whether the federal claim was one on which relief could have been granted; it is only necessary that the federal claim has been substantial. Hagans v. Lavine, 415 U.S. 528, 536, 94 S.Ct. 1372, 1378, 39 L.Ed.2d 577 (1974). Moreover, it is ordinarily preferable to decide the pendent state claim first if by doing so the court can avoid a constitutional question. Id.; Schmidt v. Oakland Unified School District, 457 U.S. 594, 595, 102 S.Ct. 2612, 2612, 73 L.Ed.2d 245 (1982) (per curiam); C.A. Wright, A. Miller, & E. Cooper, Federal Practice and Procedure § 3567.1 at 141-142 (2d ed. 1984). A claim can be substantial enough to support jurisdiction without actually stating a claim upon which relief can be granted. A claim is unsubstantial only if it is “so attenuated and unsubstantial as to be absolutely devoid of merit, wholly unsubstantial, obviously frivolous, plainly unsubstantial, or no longer open to discussion.” Hagans, 415 U.S. at 536-537, 94 S.Ct. at 1378-1379 (citations omitted). “[I]f there is any foundation of plausibility to the claim federal jurisdiction exists.” Wright, Miller, & Cooper, § 3564 at 71.
The pertinent federal claim was that the Village denied Lenard’s due process rights by refusing to pay him the amount the Village owed him pursuant to § 9-102. In Evans v. City of Chicago, 689 F.2d 1286, 1296-1297 (7th Cir.1982), we held that such a right to payment is a property right.12 We also held that Chicago’s practice of delaying payments beyond the time permitted by Illinois statute constituted a deprivation of property without due process of law. Id. at 1297-1298. Lenard’s claim is distinguishable in that he does not allege a practice of delay, but only a failure to pay the amount owed one person — himself. In light of Evans, however, we cannot say that such a claim is unsubstantial. The Village argues that Parratt v. Taylor, 451 U.S. 527, 101 S.Ct. 1908, 68 L.Ed.2d 420 (1981), forecloses any federal claim Lenard might have. Parratt holds that there is no procedural due process violation if a state provides meaningful postdeprivation remedies. Id. at 539, 101 S.Ct. at 1915; Hudson v. Palmer, 468 U.S. 517, 531, 104 S.Ct. 3194, 3202, 82 L.Ed.2d 393 (1984). The Village points to Lenard’s [1492]*1492ability to raise his two pendent claims in state court as constituting an adequate postdeprivation remedy. However, Par-ratt applies only to deprivations caused by random and unauthorized acts, Hudson, 468 U.S. at 532-533, 104 S.Ct. at 3203; Logan v. Zimmerman Brush Co., 455 U.S. 422, 435-436, 102 S.Ct. 1148, 1158, 71 L.Ed. 2d 265 (1982); Parratt, 451 U.S. at 541, 101 S.Ct. at 1916, and Lenard has a substantial, if not meritorious, argument that claims like his, which involve intentional and authorized official acts of a municipality, are not foreclosed by Parratt. See Wolfenbarger v. Williams, 774 F.2d 358, 363-365 (10th Cir.1985), certiorari denied, 475 U.S. 1065, 106 S.Ct. 1376, 89 L.Ed.2d 602 (1986), and the cases cited therein. Without deciding whether Lenard ultimately could have prevailed on his due process claim, or even whether his allegations could have withstood a motion to dismiss, we hold that the due process claim was a substantial federal claim sufficient to confer subject matter jurisdiction upon the court. The § 9-102 claim could appropriately be considered pursuant to the district court’s pendent jurisdiction.
B. Appeal Nos. 86-2080, 86-8131, and 86-3132
We now consider whether the district court had jurisdiction over the other three cases that are part of this consolidated appeal. We first consider Appeal No. 86-2080, the indemnity action against the Village’s insurer. No party contests the district court’s jurisdiction, but as stated above, it is appropriate to consider the issue. We have already determined that the mere fact that a nonparty is involved does not preclude jurisdiction to enforce the court’s judgment. We can again avoid deciding the question of whether a separate action distinction should be made in determining jurisdiction. In Appeal No. 86-2080 the indemnity proceeding against the insurer was brought as a post-judgment motion in the original action. In its brief, the Village quoted language from Kerr characterizing indemnity actions as being separate and apart from the underlying tort claim. The full quotation, however, is, “Claims for indemnity are separate and apart from tort claims and are not consolidated with the tort claim unless there is another contested issue such as the duty of the indemnitor to defend.” 424 F.2d at 1141-1142 (emphasis added). Thus in this Circuit an insurer ordinarily cannot obtain a declaratory judgment as to its liability prior to the insured first being found liable, Cunningham Brothers, Inc. v. Bail, 407 F.2d 1165, 1169 (7th Cir.1969), certiorari denied, 395 U.S. 959, 89 S.Ct. 2100, 23 L.Ed.2d 745; National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh v. Continental Illinois Corp., 646 F.Supp. 746, 750 (N.D.Ill.1986), and an insurer cannot ordinarily be joined as a third-party defendant. Kerr, 424 F.2d at 1141-1142; but compare Thomas, 740 F.2d at 486. However, where there is an actual controversy, such as over an insurer’s duty to defend, both declaratory relief, Sears, Roebuck and Co. v. Zurich Insurance Co., 422 F.2d 587, 589 (7th Cir.1970), and joining the insurer as a third party, Colton v. Swain, 527 F.2d 296, 302-303 (7th Cir.1975), are proper. See also Gianinni v. Bluthart, 132 Ill.App.2d 454, 460-461, 270 N.E.2d 480, 484-485 (1971); Loeber Motors, Inc. v. Sims, 34 Ill.App.3d 342, 351-352, 340 N.E.2d 132, 138-139 (1975); Wright & Miller, §§ 1444, 1449. In the present case the liability of the defendants had already been established and Hartford denied liability under the insurance policy. Therefore a controversy existed that permitted Hartford to be joined in the action. Gianinni, 132 Ill.App.2d at 460-461, 270 N.E.2d at 484-485; Skevofilax, 810 F.2d at 386 n. 6; Wright & Miller, § 1449 at 267. Thus the indemnity claim in this case need not be brought in a separate action and we perceive no other reason why the district court might possibly have lacked jurisdiction.
Even if this were to be considered a separate action, we doubt that the result would be different. The garnishment certainly is in aid of the court’s jurisdiction and it is adequately related to the original action. Compare Skevofilax, 810 F.2d at 385; id. at 389-390 (Becker, J., concurring); Barrett, 346 F.2d 345; Chambers, 313 F.2d [1493]*1493252; Castro, 386 F.Supp. at 1282; Green, 271 F.Supp. at 93. Additionally, even if there were no supplementary jurisdiction in Appeal No. 86-2080, there may be diversity jurisdiction in that case. See Berry, 795 F.2d at 456.
Last, Appeals No. 86-3131 and No. 86-3132 are simply further proceedings of Nos. 86-1960 and 86-2080 respectively. Therefore, for the reasons already given, the district court had jurisdiction over those proceedings as regards the Village and Hartford. As regards Argento and Sansone, there was jurisdiction just as there was in the original civil rights action.
In sum, there is no jurisdictional problem with any of the cases now before us.
II The Merits
The district court found that, pursuant to Ill.Rev.Stat. ch. 85, § 9-102,13 the Village was liable for the judgments against San-sone and Argento. The Village is a public entity to which that statute applies, but the Village argues that since Argento and San-sone are police officers, Illinois’ police indemnity statute takes precedence and therefore is the only proper statute to apply. See Ill.Rev.Stat. ch. 24, § 1-4-6.14 Assuming § 9-102 is applicable, the Village alternatively argues that it is not liable because Argento and Sansone were not acting within the scope of their employment.15
The Village’s principal argument regarding which statute applies is that the police indemnity statute is the more particular one and therefore it controls over § 9-102, which is more general and part of Illinois’ Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act (hereinafter “Tort Immunity Act”). It is true that § 9-102 is to be read in pari materia with § 1-4-6. See Arnolt v. City of Highland Park, 52 Ill.2d 27, 34, 282 N.E.2d 144, 148 (1972); Gillespie v. City of Maroa, 104 Ill.App.3d 874, 878, 60 Ill.Dec. 646, 649, 433 N.E.2d 688, 691 (1982). We also agree that Illinois applies the rule of statutory construction that particular statutes control over general statutes. See Mills v. County of Winnebago, 104 Ill.App.2d 366, 372, 244 N.E.2d 65, 68 (1969). In Mills the Appellate Court of Illinois held [1494]*1494that a sheriff indemnity statute, similar in relevant parts to § 1-4-6 including excepting wilful misconduct from indemnification, controlled over a provision of the Tort Immunity Act which permits the imposition of liability on a county for wilful and wanton misconduct. See Ill.Rev.Stat. ch. 85, § 2-202. That court held that the plaintiff could recover from a deputy sheriff for his wilful misconduct, but the county would not have to indemnify. Id. at 371-373, 244 N.E.2d at 68-69. Although different, but related, statutes were involved, this is essentially the same argument that the Village is now making. However, this holding in Mills was overruled sub silentio by Arnolt, 52 Ill.2d at 30-35, 282 N.E.2d at 146-148. See Hampton v. City of Chicago, 484 F.2d 602, 611 (7th Cir.1973), certiorari denied, 415 U.S. 917, 94 S.Ct. 1413, 39 L.Ed.2d 471 (1974); McCottrell v. City of Chicago, 135 Ill.App.3d 517, 520, 90 Ill.Dec. 250, 252, 481 N.E.2d 1058, 1060 (1985); Holda v. Kane County, 88 Ill.App.3d 522, 532-533, 43 Ill.Dec. 552, 560-561, 410 N.E.2d 552, 560-561 (1980).
In Arnolt the Illinois Supreme Court stated that § 1-4-6 and § 2-202 are seemingly incompatible,16 but must be interpreted so as to give each meaning and effect. 52 Ill.2d at 31-32, 282 N.E.2d at 146. The court then held that § 2-202 applies to direct liability of a municipality, but § 1-4-6 only provides for indemnity; § 1-4-6 “neither imposes liability upon, nor grants immunity to a municipality.” Id. at 32, 282 N.E.2d at 147. The court made it clear that the Tort Immunity Act was the only one of the two statutes to consider in initially determining the liability of a municipality. The indemnity statute only comes into play if the police officer, or an assignee of the officer, seeks indemnity from a municipality after liability has been imposed on the officer. Id. at 33-34, 282 N.E.2d at 147-148. See also Andrews v. City of Chicago, 37 Ill.2d 309, 311, 226 N.E.2d 597, 598 (1967); Glover v. City of Chicago, 106 Ill.App.3d 1066, 1073-1074 & n. 1, 62 Ill.Dec. 597, 603 & n. 1, 436 N.E.2d 623, 629 & n. 1 (1982); Holda, 88 Ill.App.3d at 533, 43 Ill.Dec. at 560-561, 410 N.E.2d at 560-561; Krieger v. Village of Carpentersville, 8 Ill.App.3d 243, 247, 289 N.E.2d 481, 483 (1972). Thus in the present case § 9-102 determines whether the Village is liable for payments to Lenard; § 1-4-6 only determines whether the Village has to indemnify Argento and Sansone.17
Section 9-102 makes the Village liable for the payment of any tort judgments incurred in its own name, as well as any tort judgment entered against one of its employees as long as the employee was acting in the scope of his employment. See Ahmed, 146 Ill.App.3d at 721-722, 100 Ill.Dec. at 369-370, 497 N.E.2d at 347-348. The Village was not found liable in the initial civil rights action; therefore it is only liable if Argento and Sansone were acting within the scope of employment when they committed the “tort”18 they were found liable for. The Village argues that intentional torts are not within the scope of employment. Illinois law, however, is clearly to the contrary. Coleman, 814 F.2d at 1149; McCottrell, 135 Ill.App. 3d at 518-519, 90 Ill.Dec. at 259, 481 N.E. 2d at 1059; Krieger, 8 Ill.App.3d at 247-248, 289 N.E.2d at 483-484; Cullom v. Yurkovich, 409 F.Supp. 557, 559 (N.D.Ill.1975). See also Hampton, 484 F.2d at 611; Arnolt, 52 Ill.2d at 31, 282 N.E.2d at 146; Glover, 106 Ill.App.3d at 1074, 62 Ill.Dec. at 604, 436 N.E.2d at 630. In Coleman, which interpreted scope of employment under Illinois’ § 9-102, we followed Hibma v. [1495]*1495Odegaard, 769 F.2d 1147 (7th Cir.1985), an interpretation of a similar provision of Wisconsin law.
We stated in Hibma that “courts recognize that scope of employment includes ‘those acts which are so “closely connected with what the servant is employed to do, and so fairly and reasonably incidental to it, that they may be regarded as methods, even though quite improper ones, of carrying out the objectives of the employment.” ’ Cameron [v. City of Milwaukee, 102 Wis.2d 448], 307 N.W.2d [164] at 168-69 [ (1981) (quoting W. Prosser, Law of Torts § 70 at 460-61 (4th ed. 1980)) ]. The employee’s actions in these instances further the objectives of the employment even absent good faith or an intention to benefit the employer.” 769 F.2d at 1152. We then concluded: “While the deputies’ actions were unquestionably designed to further their own wrongdoing, they also were designed to further the objectives of Sawyer County. They were performing their duties as deputy sheriffs but using quite improper methods of carrying out those duties.” Id. at 1153.
... We are of the view that those actions having an intimate bearing on the duties normally assigned to the office of employment, even though usurped or misused, must be considered as falling within the meaning of the term “scope of employment.” ... If the relevant acts are shown to be a natural part of or incident to the service of employment, [§ 9-102] is satisfied.
Coleman, 814 F.2d at 1149. The acts committed by Argento and Sansone, which were pursuant to the arrest of Lenard while the officers were on duty, were within the scope of their employment. Compare Gillespie, 104 Ill.App.3d at 879, 60 Ill.Dec. at 650, 433 N.E.2d at 692. The district court properly determined that pursuant to § 9-102 the Village is required to pay the judgments against Argento and Sansone.19
B. Appeal No. 86-3131
In Appeal No. 86-3131 Lenard was awarded attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in pursuing the mandamus action against the Village. A prevailing civil rights plaintiff is entitled to attorneys’ fees incurred in collecting his civil rights judgment. Balark v. Curtin, 655 F.2d 798, 803 (7th Cir.1981). Argento and Sansone, the defendants liable in the initial civil rights action, are clearly liable for the expenses incurred in collecting from the Village and have reached a settlement to that effect.20 The Village is liable for tort judgments or settlements involving the two officers. 111. Rev.Stat. ch. 85, § 9-102. As long as the officers did not settle by agreeing to pay [1496]*1496potential liabilities outside their scope of employment, the Village must pay the settlement. Compare Gillespie, 104 Ill.App.3d at 879, 60 Ill.Dec. at 650, 433 N.E. 2d at 692. We have already determined the officers' liability was for a tort committed in the scope of employment and the Village has made no argument that attorneys’ fees and costs fall outside § 9-102’s definition of tort judgment or settlement. Therefore the Village must pay the fees and costs imposed on it in Appeal No. 86-3131. We reemphasize that this is a liability incurred under § 9-102 in that a tort judgment and settlement imposed a liability on two of the Village’s employees. Argen-to and Sansone are unsuccessful civil rights defendants who are required to pay the fees pursuant to § 1988; § 9-102 then requires that the Village pay that liability. Thus, contrary to the Village’s argument, liability for the fees is not being imposed on the Village in its status as a prevailing defendant in the initial civil rights action nor simply because it is an innocent third party in a collection action; the obligation arises under § 9-102 in the Village’s status as an Illinois municipal employer, a “local public entity” within the scope of the statute.
C. Appeal No. 86-2080
Appeal No. 86-2080 is a garnishment proceeding in which Lenard asserted Ar-gento’s and Sansone’s indemnity rights under a contract of insurance between the Village and Hartford. The district court found that Hartford was liable under the policy21 and entered a judgment for Lenard in the amount of the damages and fees he had won from Argento and San-sone. Hartford points to two clauses of the insurance policy that it claims exclude liability for the judgment against the police officers. It also argues that it was not obligated to pay the attorneys’ fees as part of its obligation to pay costs. The parties do not dispute that Illinois law applies to this question.
The relevant provisions of the policy start with the provision defining “persons insured.” The named insured is the Village, but persons insured also includes any employee of the Village “while acting within the scope of his duties as such.” The policy provides coverage for damages liability resulting from an “occurrence.” “ ‘Occurrence’ means an accident, including continuous or repeated exposure to conditions, which results in bodily injury or property damage neither expected nor intended from the standpoint of the insured.” Hartford also agreed to pay “all costs taxed against the insured in any suit defended by” Hartford.
1. Damages
Hartford argues that the acts of Argento and Sansone were outside the scope of their duties. Hartford’s argument assumes that scope of duties is synonymous with scope of employment. We have already determined that Argento and Sansone were acting within the scope of their employment. Therefore they are “persons insured” under the policy.
The next question is whether there was an “occurrence” covered by the policy. Hartford argues that Argento and Sansone either expected or intended the injuries that Lenard suffered and therefore there was no covered occurrence. The district court found that there were disputed facts on this issue as to Argento, but held the undisputed facts were that Sansone did not expect or intend Lenard’s injury. Under the terms of the policy, and based on principles of joint and several liability, the district court found Hartford’s liability for Sansone’s “occurrence” was sufficient to make Hartford liable for all the damages won by Lenard. The principal question now before us is whether Sansone expected or intended Lenard’s injuries. The jury verdict and our prior interpretation of that verdict control in the present case as regards any facts determined in those prior proceedings. See N.E. Finch Co. v. R.C. [1497]*1497Mahon Co., 54 Ill.App.3d 573, 576-577, 12 Ill.Dec. 537, 540, 370 N.E.2d 160, 163 (1977); Illinois Law & Practice: Indemnity § 42 at 489 (1977). Compare Bay State Insurance Co. v. Wilson, 96 Ill.2d 487, 492-494, 71 Ill.Dec. 726, 728-729, 451 N.E. 2d 880, 882-883 (1983); J. Roth Builders, Inc. v. Aetna Life and Casualty Co., 151 Ill.App.3d 572, 577-578, 104 Ill.Dec. 920, 924, 503 N.E.2d 782, 786 (1987).
The occurrence clause now before us and other similar clauses have been the subject of numerous cases both in Illinois and other states. See, e.g., Mutual Service Casualty Insurance Co. v. McGehee, 711 P.2d 826 (Mont.1985) (collecting cases). In Illinois the clause has been interpreted as requiring a specific intent or expectation22 that the bodily injury will occur. Thus there can be an intentional act causing an unexpected or unintended result, and there will be coverage under the occurrence clause. Bay State, 96 Ill.2d at 493, 71 Ill.Dec. at 728, 451 N.E.2d at 882; Farmers Automobile Insurance Association v. Medina, 29 Ill.App.3d 224, 225, 329 N.E.2d 430, 431 (1975); Affiliated FM Insurance Co. v. Beatrice Foods Co., 645 F.Supp. 298, 301 (N.D.Ill.1985). Whether an injury was expected is a subjective question, Bay State, supra; Roth Builders, 151 Ill.App.3d at 577, 104 Ill.Dec. at 924, 503 N.E.2d at 786; Shook v. Tinny, 122 Ill.App.3d 741, 745, 78 Ill.Dec. 58, 61, 461 N.E.2d 642, 645 (1984); Affiliated FM, supra, but a subjective expectation can be inferred from objective evidence that the injury was the natural and probable result of the act. Angelina Casualty Co. v. Pattonville-Bridgeton Terrace Fire Protection District, 706 S.W.2d 483, 484 (Mo.Ct.App.1986). Thus “[ijnjuries which are of such a nature that they should have been reasonably anticipated by the insured” will be found to have been subjectively expected. Bay State, 96 Ill.2d at 494, 71 Ill.Dec. at 728-729, 451 N.E.2d at 882-883. See also Shook, 122 Ill.App.3d at 746, 78 Ill.Dec. at 61, 461 N.E.2d at 645.
Most of the cases cited by Hartford are battery cases. In such instances it is not necessary that the tortfeasor specifically intend or expect all the injuries that are the result of the blow to the injured person. The tortfeasor intends and expects at least some bodily injury and therefore necessarily expects any additional bodily injury that occurs. See Aetna Casualty & Surety Co. v. Freyer, 89 Ill.App.3d 617, 619, 44 Ill.Dec. 791, 793, 411 N.E.2d 1157, 1159 (1980); Shelter Insurance Companies v. Smith, 133 Ill.App.3d 635, 639, 88 Ill.Dec. 752, 754, 479 N.E.2d 365, 367 (1985); Angelina Casualty, 706 S.W.2d at 484-485. A conspiracy to deprive a person of the equal protection of the law is different. A member of the conspiracy may only have specifically intended or expected nonphysical injury, but under § 1985 he can still be found liable for bodily injury caused by the conspiracy, including injuries immediately caused by other members of the conspiracy. Lenard I, 699 F.2d at 882-883 (quoting Hampton v. Hanrahan, 600 F.2d 600, 620-621 (7th Cir.1979), reversed in part on other grounds, 446 U.S. 754, 100 S.Ct. 1987, 64 L.Ed.2d 670 (1980)). A conspirator does not have to know specifically of, intend, or expect all the acts of the conspiracy nor all the injuries that will result; he will still be liable for injuries resulting from the conspiracy. Id.
In this regard a recent Illinois Appellate Court case is most instructive. In Illinois Farmers Insurance Co. v. Preston, 153 Ill.App.3d 644, 106 Ill.Dec. 552, 505 N.E.2d 1343 (1987), the insured was a defendant in a federal civil rights suit (Kufalk v. Hart, 610 F.Supp. 1178 (N.D.Ill.1985)). Kufalk alleged in the federal suit that he lost his job and suffered emotional distress resulting in bodily injury, due to false, misleading, and pretextual statements made by the insured as part of a conspiracy. Preston, 153 Ill.App.3d at 646, 106 Ill.Dec. at 553, 505 N.E.2d at 1344. The state suit was a declaratory judgment action brought by the insurer to establish [1498]*1498that it had no duty to defend the insured since the claims against the insured were for intentional acts. The insurance policy provided liability coverage for accidental bodily injury. Like “occurrence” in Hartford’s policy, “accident” was defined as “a sudden event; including continuous or repeated exposure to the same conditions, resulting in bodily injury neither expected nor intended by the insured.” Id. at 647, 106 Ill.Dec. at 554, 505 N.E.2d at 1345. The court held that the federal claims fell under the contractual definition of accidents since a reasonable person could find that the injuries of Kufalk were not a foreseen natural and probable result of the insured’s intentional conduct. Id. at 649, 106 Ill.Dec. at 554-556, 505 N.E.2d at 1345-1346. The court then determined whether a separate “intentional act” exclusion foreclosed any duty to defend. The court held that Kufalk’s § 1983 claim and conspiracy claim had to involve intentional acts to be cognizable. Id. at 649-650, 106 Ill.Dec. at 557, 505 N.E.2d at 1347. Since coverage was separately excluded for “bodily injury ‘arising as a result of intentional acts of an insured,’ ” coverage was excluded under that clause even though the injury in the case fell under the definition of accident. Id. at 649-650, 106 Ill.Dec. at 556-557, 505 N.E.2d at 1346-1347. The “intentional act” exclusion was therefore distinguishable from the “accident” clause in that the exclusion excepted any bodily injury caused by an intentional act, while the accident clause only excepted bodily injuries specifically expected or intended to be caused by an intentional act. The lesson to be drawn from Preston is that civil rights claims for intentional violations can fall under the definition of occurrence as long as the injuries incurred were not specifically intended or expected. The policy in the present case does not have a separate “intentional act” exclusion.
As was the case with the insured in Preston, Sansone must have committed an intentional act; otherwise he could not have been found liable under § 1985(3). See Quinones v. Szorc, 771 F.2d 289, 291 (7th Cir.1985). It does not follow, however, that he necessarily intended or expected the bodily injuries inflicted upon Lenard; such specific intent is not a necessary element of a § 1985(3) claim. Id.; Lenard I, 699 F.2d at 882-883. Lenard I is the law of the case and, as the parties agree, we must follow it. Certain factual determinations follow necessarily from the jury verdict and our decision in Lenard I. Sansone intended to discriminate against Lenard and he agreed with Argento to do so. Their conspiracy caused Lenard to suffer bodily injuries. Those injuries occurred while Lenard was in police custody, but they were not the result of a beating. San-sone’s contact with Lenard was primarily at the scene of an auto accident, not at the police station where Lenard was apparently injured. This indicates Sansone may not have been the immediate cause of Lenard’s injury, but it does not show whether San-sone expected that Lenard would be physically injured while in police custody. It is necessarily true that Sansone expected Lenard to be treated discriminatorily, but physical injury is not necessarily an expected result of discrimination. To determine Sansone’s specific intent precisely, we need to know the understanding between Argen-to and Sansone; but all we can know for sure is that they did not conspire to beat Lenard. See Lenard I, 699 F.2d at 883, 891.
To resolve the factual issue before us, it is essential to determine the appropriate standard of review. Lenard sought garnishment in what he termed a motion for a turnover order. That motion relied on the jury verdict and Lenard I for its facts. Hartford opposed the motion by moving to dismiss the garnishment proceeding or alternatively for summary judgment. Hartford provided verified copies of the insurance policies, a copy of the complaint, copies of jury instructions, and letters to the police officers regarding its duty to defend. Yet from the discussion above it is not at all clear that the undisputed facts show that Sansone specifically intended or expected the bodily injury to Lenard. Therefore Hartford was not entitled to summary judgment. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). The parties do not discuss what standard [1499]*1499should be applied in reviewing the turnover motion. However, they rely entirely on the jury verdict and Lenard I for the facts to be considered. Hartford nowhere argues that it should have the opportunity to present additional evidence beyond what is already in the trial record. There is also no indication that Hartford agreed with the district court that the turnover motion was actually a motion for summary judgment; Hartford does not argue that disputed issues of material fact require reversal, nor does Lenard argue he has presented undisputed facts.
The district judge determined that the undisputed facts showed that Sansone did not specifically intend or expect Lenard’s injuries. We question whether the facts should be considered undisputed, and we refuse to infer from Sansone’s limited involvement that he did not specifically intend or expect the injuries that occurred. Further, under the substantive law of conspiracy a conspirator’s intention or expectation is imputed to the co-conspirator because of the principle of vicarious liability. Thus, before Hartford is obligated to indemnify its insured, the case must be remanded to the trier of fact to determine specifically whether either of the co-conspirators intended or expected Lenard’s injuries. If the trier of fact finds that either Argento or Sansone intended or expected Lenard’s injuries, then Lenard’s injury could not be considered as an “occurrence” and thus Hartford would not be obligated to indemnify its insureds.
2. Attorneys’ Fees
Still remaining is the question of whether attorneys’ fees imposed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988 are covered by the policy. Hartford argues such fees are neither damages nor costs and therefore are not covered under any provision of the policy. Lenard argues only that they are costs; that is all that needs to be considered.
The policy provides that Hartford will pay “all costs taxed against the insured in any suit defended by the company.” The attorneys’ fees were awarded pursuant to § 1988. Section 1988 expressly designates that the fees are allowed “as part of costs.” 42 U.S.C. § 1988. Marek v. Chesny, 473 U.S. 1, 7-11, 105 S.Ct. 3012, 3016-3019, 87 L.Ed.2d 1 (1985); Hutto v. Finney, 437 U.S. 678, 697, 98 S.Ct. 2565, 2577, 57 L.Ed.2d 522 (1978); Szabo Food Service, Inc. v. Canteen Corp., 823 F.2d 1073, 1077 (7th Cir.1987). Since § 1988 attorneys' fees are costs, they are covered by the policy. County of Suffolk v. Royal Globe Insurance Co., 1981 CCH Fire & Casualty Cases 1457, 1459 (E.D.N.Y.1981); Board of County Commissioners v. Guarantee Insurance Co., 90 F.R.D. 405, 407-408 (D.Colo.1981) (dictum). Hartford argues that Illinois law controls and that it provides that indemnity contracts require the payment of attorneys’ fees only if expressly stated or statutorily required. See Michaels v. Michaels, 767 F.2d 1185, 1205 (7th Cir.1985), certiorari denied, 474 U.S. 1057, 106 S.Ct. 797, 88 L.Ed.2d 774 (1986); Qazi v. Ismail, 50 Ill.App.3d 271, 272-273, 7 Ill.Dec. 434, 435-436, 364 N.E.2d 595, 596-597 (1977); Reese v. Chicago, Burlington & Quincy R.R., 5 Ill.App.3d 450, 457-458, 283 N.E.2d 517, 522 (1972), affirmed, 55 Ill.2d 356, 303 N.E.2d 382 (1973). The cases cited by Hartford are distinguishable. They all involve an indemnitee’s attempt to recover his own attorneys’ fees incurred in pursuing litigation. The attorneys’ fees Hartford must pay are the fees of a third party that have been imposed on the insured as a cost. Moreover, unlike any of the cases cited by Hartford (but like Royal Globe and Guarantee Insurance), the fees were imposed on the insured by statute. The insurance policy obligates Hartford to pay the attorneys’ fee award as part of Hartford’s obligation to pay costs. This decision is not contrary to Illinois law.
D. Appeal No. 86-3132
In Appeal No. 86-3132 Lenard was awarded attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in pursuing the garnishment proceeding involving Hartford. As a prevailing civil rights plaintiff, Lenard was entitled to these fees which were incurred in collecting his civil rights judgment. Balark, 655 F.2d at 803. Argento and Sansone are the [1500]*1500appellants in this case. Their only argument is that a reversal in Appeal No. 86-2080 would require a reversal in No. 86-3132. Since we are reversing and remanding Appeal No. 86-2080, No. 86-3132 must also be reversed and remanded.
Additionally Lenard argues that this appeal is frivolous and therefore he is entitled to sanctions. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 38. We disagree. Since Appeal No. 86-2080 is being reversed, Argento and Sansone may obtain relief in No. 86-3132 by filing a Rule 60(b)(5) motion in the district court. See Mother Goose Nursery Schools, Inc. v. Sendak, 770 F.2d 668, 676 (7th Cir.1985), certiorari denied, 474 U.S. 1102, 106 S.Ct. 884, 88 L.Ed.2d 919 (1986). That method may be preferable, but the officers’ decision to appeal No. 86-3132, and consolidate it with the appeal of a prior judgment on which No. 86-3132 relies, is also permitted. See, e.g., id.
III. Conclusion
Appeal No. 86-1960 and Appeal No. 86-3131 are affirmed. Appeal No. 86-2080 and Appeal No. 86-3132 are reversed and remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.23 Costs are taxed against the particular appellant or appellants in Appeal No. 86-1960 and Appeal No. 86-3131. Fed.R.App.P. 39.
Affirmed in Part, Reversed in Part, and Remanded.