Dean Blackaby – Attorney at Law
With over 30 years of experience in workers’ compensation law, Dean Blackaby is recognized as one of Montana’s leading advocates for injured workers. Dean’s distinguished career includes more than eight years as a staff attorney for Montana State Fund, the state’s largest workers’ compensation insurer. This unique background provides him with invaluable insight into how insurers handle claims, allowing him to effectively represent clients and anticipate insurer strategies.
Mr. Blackaby is also active in the communities where his clients live. He is a Director on the Board of Directors for the North Valley Food Bank in Whitefish, Montana. As part of the firm’s commitment to the local communities its serves, the firm provides college scholarships to local area high school seniors and makes monthly donations to local charities with an emphasis on food insecurity.
Professional Distinctions
Fellow, College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
Dean is honored as a Fellow in the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers, a distinction reserved for attorneys who have demonstrated the highest professional qualifications, ethical standards, and leadership in the field. He was the second attorney from Montana to be inducted and currently serves on the College’s selection committee.
Active Member, Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group (WILG)
Dean is an active participant in WILG, a national non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for the rights of injured workers and their families. In 2024, he received the Rising Star Award in recognition of his commitment and contributions to the group’s mission.
Expertise
Workers’ Compensation Law
Dean has handled a broad range of workers’ compensation cases, representing clients through every stage of the claims process.
Medicare Secondary Payer Act Law
He is a recognized authority on Medicare Secondary Payer compliance, having authored several comprehensive publications and manuals on the subject, including:
- oE-Manual: BASIC Medicare Secondary Payer Act & Introduction to Medicare Set-Aside (AAACEUs.com, 2011)
- oSeminar Manual: Pirates at the Settlement Conference (2009–2014)
- oSeminar Manual: The Medicare Set-Aside Toolbox Manual (2011)
National Speaker & Educator
Dean is a sought-after lecturer, sharing his knowledge at conferences and seminars nationwide. His recent and notable presentations include:
| Year | Event | Topic | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Montana State Fund Medical Conference | Ethical Communication with Treating Providers: Liberty Northwest v. Malcomson Ten Years Later | Whitefish, MT |
| 2025 | Montana School Groups Insurance Authority – In Service Training | Ethical Communication with Treating Providers: Liberty Northwest v. Malcomson Ten Years Later | Helena, MT |
| 2024 | WILG Annual National Convention | National COVID Update | Santa Barbara, CA |
| 2024 | WILG Northwest Regional Conference | Social Security Offsets and Workers’ Compensation | Whitefish, MT |
| 2017 | WILG Northwest Regional Conference | Ethics in Medicare Set-Asides | Whitefish, MT |
| 2016 | MACO Defense CLE | Settlement and Medicare Secondary Payer | Helena, MT |
| 2015 | Montana Governor’s Conference on Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Health & Safety | Communicating with Claimant’s Attorneys | Missoula, MT |
| 2015 | Montana State Bar CLE Institute | Case Evaluation, Settlement & Mediation | Helena, MT |
| 2014 | Montana Governor’s Conference on Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Health & Safety | Ethics Panel | Big Sky, MT |
| 2014 | Montana Municipal Interlocal Authority | Current Medicare Secondary Payer Compliance Trends and Tools | Helena, MT |
| 2012 | State Bar of Montana CLE Institute | Medicare Secondary Payer Act and Mandatory Insurer Reporting | Great Falls, MT |
| 2012 | Arizona Association for Justice / Arizona Trial Lawyers Association | Medicare Secondary Payer | Phoenix, AZ |
| 2011 | CHRISTUS Health Annual Risk Management Conference | Medicare Secondary Payer Act and Mandatory Insurer Reporting | San Antonio, TX |
| 2011 | The Medicare Set-Aside Toolbox Training | ICHCC Certified Two-Day Certification for MSCC Candidates | Phoenix, AZ |
| 2011 | CHRISTUS Health In-House Webinar | Medicare Secondary Payer Act and Mandatory Insurer Reporting | San Antonio, TX |
| 2011 | Lindsay Hart Neil + Weigler LLP In Service Training | Medicare Secondary Payer Act and Mandatory Insurer Reporting | Portland, OR |
| 2011 | Arizona Association for Justice / Arizona Trial Lawyers Association | Medicare Secondary Payer | Phoenix, AZ |
| 2009–14 | Pirates at the Settlement Conference | Settling Cases and Complying with the Medicare Secondary Payer Act | Multiple Locations |
| 2008 | Independent Insurance Agents of Montana | Montana Workers’ Compensation Law Update | Missoula, MT |
| 2005 | The Survey’s Montana Advanced Workers’ Compensation Conference | Montana Workers’ Compensation | Helena, MT |
| 2004 | The Survey’s Montana Advanced Workers’ Compensation Conference | Montana Workers’ Compensation | Helena, MT |
| 2004 | California Applicants’ Attorneys Association | Use of AMA Guides to Impairments | Squaw Valley, CA |
| 2003 | Montana Trial Lawyers Association | Remedies for Montana’s Injured Workers | Bozeman, MT |
