Montana Workers’ Compensation Court
No new enumerated decisions this period.
Montana Workers’ Compensation Stipulations Summary (through March 5, 2026)
Plan 2
| Case Name | DOI | Body Part(s) | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Petitioner Attorney | Respondent Attorney |
| John Smith v. Technology Ins. Co. Inc. | 12/15/23 | Head, neck, and low back | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Closed | $45,000.00
Allocated $10,000 – indemnity; $35,000 – medical; |
Dalpiaz, Leslae
Dalpiaz & Associates |
Smith, Charlie
Crowley Fleck, PLLC |
Plan 3
| Case Name | DOI | Body Part(s) | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Petitioner Attorney | Respondent Attorney |
| Charlie Mohring v. Montana State Fund | 8/22/24 | Low back | Petition for Settlement – Medicals closed | $80,000.00 | Braukmann, Matt
Rimrock Law, PLLC |
Meyer, Mark
Montana State Fund |
ESD Settlements Approved through Feb. 27, 2026
Plan 1
| Claimant Name | DOI | Body Part | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Attorney |
| Howard, Russell | 4/21/23 | Shoulder(s) | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Closed | $160,000.00 | Storrar, Keif |
| Loggins, Tom | 3/16/23 | Multiple body parts | Best Interests | $141,000.00 | McKeon, Michael Jr. |
| Schwartz, Deborah | 12/12/25 | Lower back | Disputed Initial Compensability | $5,000.00 | None |
Plan 2
| Claimant Name | DOI | Body Part | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Attorney |
| Briceno, Maria | 12/14/24 | Multiple Body Parts | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Closed | $3,000.00 | None |
| Imlay, Kaleb | 3/28/24 | Finger(s) | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Closed | $35,000.00 | Murphy, Matthew |
| Manley, Kristine | 6/25/20 | Multiple body parts | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Closed | $75,000.00 | Murphy, Tommy |
| Trudell, Lisa | 8/10/21 | Multiple body parts | Best Interests | $50,000.00 | Lighthall, David |
Plan 3
| Claimant Name | DOI | Body Part | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Attorney |
| Butikofer, Christopher | 7/14/25 | Hand | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Closed | $92,500.00 | Tempel- St. John, Stacy |
| Fleege, Jason | 10/27/25 | Upper back | Disputed Initial Compensability | $1,700.00 | None |
| Hughes, Tiffanie | 1/19/26 | Ankle | Disputed Initial Compensability | $250.00 | None |
| Layman, Jonathan | 6/21/22 | Knee | Best Interests | $110,000.00 | Tourtlotte, Matthew |
| McCann, Deanna | 9/20/24 | Knee | Disputed Initial Compensability | $53,000.00 | Moore, Kraig |
| McLaughlin, Robert | 11/8/18 | Knee | Disputed Perm Total – Medicals Reserved | $63,462.34 | Haynes, Michael |
| Neira Parco, Arianna | 1/8/23 | Upper back | Best Interests | $92,000.00 | None |
| Neira Parco, Arianna | 12/30/22 | Upper back | Disputed Initial Compensability | $500.00 | None |
| Nelson, Keith | 1/2/26 | Foot | Disputed Initial Compensability | $28,495.00 | None |
| Nixon, Stephanie | 6/15/22 | Multiple upper extremities | Disputed Initial Compensability | $1,500.00 | Stover, Shelby |
| Samuels, Christine | 1/23/25 | Nose | Best Interests | $3,000.00 | None |
| Zurbuchen, Jeremy | 12/22/25 | Skull | Disputed Initial Compensability | $2,605.00 | None |
5 Key Insights for Montana Work Comp Professionals
- Absence of New Workers’ Compensation Court Decisions
The report specifically notes that no new enumerated decisions were issued by the Montana Workers’ Compensation Court during this reporting period. This indicates that recent dispute resolution activity is occurring primarily through stipulations and administrative settlements rather than litigated court rulings.
Implication: Practitioners should expect limited new case law guidance and continued reliance on negotiated settlements.
- Medical Closure Remains the Dominant Settlement Structure
Many of the settlements—particularly in Plan 2 and Plan 3 matters—closed medical benefits, often through a Petition for Settlement – Medicals Closed. Examples include:
- $45,000 settlement for head/neck/low back injuries
- $80,000 settlement for a low back claim
Both resolved with medicals closed as part of the lump sum agreement.
Implication: Carriers continue to push for full finality, likely driven by rising long-term medical exposure.
- Large Variation in Settlement Values for Disputed Compensability
Settlements involving disputed initial compensability show a very wide valuation range, including:
- $250 (ankle claim)
- $1,700 (upper back claim)
- $28,495 (foot claim)
- $53,000 (knee claim)
Implication: Settlement value appears heavily influenced by litigation risk and medical proof rather than injury type alone, with some claims resolving essentially for nuisance value.
- Knee and Back Injuries Continue to Drive Higher Settlement Values
Among the higher-value settlements in the dataset are knee and spinal injuries, including:
- $110,000 knee settlement
- $80,000 low back settlement
- $63,462 settlement involving disputed permanent total disability
Implication: These injuries remain among the most financially significant claims in Montana’s workers’ compensation system, consistent with national claim-severity patterns.
- Many Lower-Value Settlements Occur Without Attorney Representation
A notable number of settlements—particularly smaller Plan 3 disputed compensability claims—show no claimant attorney involvement, including settlements for:
- $250
- $500
- $1,700
- $2,605
Implication: Unrepresented claimants appear more common in low-value settlements, suggesting these matters may resolve quickly through administrative negotiation rather than litigation.
✅ Bottom Line for Practitioners:
Recent Montana workers’ compensation activity shows heavy reliance on settlements, strong carrier preference for closing medical benefits, wide valuation swings in compensability disputes, and continuing severity in knee and spine claims.
