Montana Workers’ Compensation Court
(No decisions reported during this period)
Montana Workers’ Compensation Stipulations Summary (through April 23, 2026)
PLAN 1
| Case Name | DOI | Body Part(s) | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Petitioner Attorney | Respondent Attorney |
| Christina Worley v. Providence Health & Services | 10/1/24 | Left shoulder | Full and Final – Medicals Closed | $62,000.00 | Lighthall, David
Carey Law Firm, P.C. |
Potts, Adrianna
Potts Law PLLC |
PLAN 2
| Case Name | DOI | Body Part(s) | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Petitioner Attorney | Respondent Attorney |
| Ryan Abbe v. Security National Ins. Co. | 5/31/24 | Low back, left knee | Full and Final – Medicals Closed | $25,000.00 | Carey, Steve
Carey Law Firm PC |
Smith, Charlie
Crowley Fleck PLLP |
| Marcus Marnne v. AIU Ins. Co. | 7/15/24 | Right lower extremity | Full and Final – Medicals Closed | $80,000.00 | Miller, Megan
Fairclaim Attorneys |
Potts, Adrianna
Potts Law PLLC |
| Joseph Regan v. Middlesex Ins. Co. | 2/20/25 | Low back | Full and Final – Medicals Closed | $67,500.00 | Wallace, Lucas
Odegaard Law Group |
Maynard, Joe
Crowley Fleck PLLP |
| Shane Steele v. Technology Ins. Co. Inc. | 2/25/23; 9/9/2025 | Right shoulder; bilateral wrists | Full and Final – Medicals Closed | $45,000.00 | Olson, Wayne
Glacier Law Firm |
Smith, Charlie
Crowley Fleck PLLP |
PLAN 3
| Case Name | DOI | Body Part(s) | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Petitioner Attorney | Respondent Attorney |
| Suzette Caltabiano v. Montana State Fund | 5/29/22 | Right shoulder | Full and Final- Medicals Closed | $86,460.00 | Dalpiaz, Leslae
Dalpiaz & Associates |
Meyer, Mark
Montana State Fund |
ESD Settlements Approved through April 17, 2026
PLAN 2
| Claimant Name | DOI | Body Part | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Attorney Name |
| Buttman, Dwight | 12/10/24 | Foot | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Closed | $70,000.00 | Murphy, Tommy |
| Doney, Christopher | 9/23/25 | Teeth | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Closed | $7,500.00 | None |
PLAN 3
| Claimant Name | DOI | Body Part | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Attorney Name |
| Banderas, Jospeh | 1/23/26 | Foot | Disputed Initial Compensability | $1,640.00 | None |
| Campbell-Zorn, Jordan | 6/10/21 | Ankle | Best Interest | $5,325.00 | None |
| Gill, Monica | 3/27/24 | Pelvis | Single Issue | $8,000.00 | None |
| Olson, Nissa | 2/27/26 | Skull | Disputed Initial Compensability | $10,000.00 | Dalpiaz, Leslae |
| Price, Patricia | 10/3/24 | Wrist | Best Interest | $70,000.00 | Carey, Steve |
| Suncin, Jose | 1/10/25 | Internal Organs | Best Interest | $2,000.00 | None |
| Vanostrand, Emily | 12/1/23 | Low back | Best Interest | $20,000.00 | Helmer, Chris |
- Key Insights for Montana Work Comp Professionals
- No reported WCC decisions in the covered period — The report expressly notes no Montana Workers’ Compensation Court decisions during this period, suggesting current activity is being driven more by settlements/stipulations than litigated appellate guidance.
- Full-and-final closures remain dominant in represented cases — Nearly every WCC stipulation listed is a “Full and Final – Medicals Closed” settlement, indicating continued insurer and claimant preference for global claim closure rather than leaving future medical exposure open.
- Shoulder and low-back claims continue to generate meaningful value — Settlements involving shoulders and lumbar injuries appear repeatedly, with examples such as $62,000 (left shoulder), $86,460 (right shoulder), and $67,500 (low back), reinforcing these body parts as common higher-value drivers in Montana claims.
- Montana State Fund, as the largest insurer, remains the most active but often targeting non-represented claims for resolution — Montana State Fund, highlighting its status as Montana’s largest insurer, is frequently the most active in terms of settlement. But a large number of these claims are resolved without attorney involvement for modest values.
- ESD approvals show a two-tier market: minor nuisance settlements and substantial closures — Employment Standards Division approvals range from very small disputed-compensability resolutions ($1,640; $2,000) to substantial best-interest settlements ($70,000), showing ESD continues to function as a venue for both low-dollar dispute cleanup and significant claim exits.
