MONTANA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COURT
Published Opinions (No decisions reported during this period)
Submitted Matters
Motions & Miscellaneous Matters
| Case | Pleading | Date Submitted |
| Rutledge v. Technology Ins. Co. | Petitioner’s Cross-Motion for Summary Judgement | 2/11/26 |
| Rutledge v. Technology Ins. Co. | Respondent’s Motion for Summary Judgment | 2/17/26 |
| Glover v. Montana State Fund | Petitioner’s Motion to Stay IME and Motion for Discovery Sanctions | 4/3/26 |
| Munn v. Montana State Fund | Petitioner’s Motion for Summary Judgment | 4/13/26 |
| DesRosier v. MMIA | Respondent’s Motion for Summary Judgment | 5/4/26 |
Montana Workers’ Compensation Stipulations Summary (through May 7, 2026)
PLAN 2
| Case Name | DOI | Body Part(s) | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Petitioner Attorney | Respondent Attorney |
| Randi Blake v. Sagamore Ins. Co. | 6/30/23 | Low back | Full and Final – Medicals Closed | $60,000.00 | Braukmann, Matt
Rimrock Law PLLC |
Potts, Adrianna
Potts Law PLLC |
| Davian Konshur v. Technology Ins. Co. | 2/1/23 | Head, neck, back, vision and psychological injury | Full and Final – Medicals Closed | $125,000.00 | Tempel-St. John, Stacy
FairClaim Law |
Maynard, Joe
Crowley Fleck PLLP |
| Jeffrey Schellet v. Victory Ins. Co. | 4/30/24 | Shoulder | Full and Final – Medicals Closed | $24,382.00
Inclusive of $7,739.52 MSA |
Duckworth, Kiel
Duckworth Law Office |
Maynard, Joe
Crowley Fleck PLLP |
| Elijah Stinson v. Sentinel Ins. Co. Ltd. | 2/23/24 | Head, neck, thoracic and lumbar spine | Full and Final – Medicals Closed | $40,000.00 | Tempel-St. John
FairClaim Law |
Maynard, Joe
Crowley Fleck, PLLP |
ESD Settlements Approved through May 1, 2026
PLAN 1
| Claimant Name | DOI | Body Part | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Attorney Name |
| Killingsworth, Dennis | 10/15/10 | Lungs | Disputed Initial Compensability | $5,000.00 | Blackaby, Dean |
| Shanley, Jason | 5/31/24 | Low back | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Closed | $75,000.00 | Braukmann, Matt |
PLAN 2
| Claimant Name | DOI | Body Part | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Attorney Name |
| Handran, William | 5/7/02 | Multiple head | Best Interest | $287,583.35 | Murphy, Tom |
| Leach, Jayme | 8/30/24 | Shoulder(s) | Best Interest | $12,500.00 | Wallace, Lucas |
| Mee, Michelle | 9/12/14 | Lower leg | Best Interest | $100,000.00 | Miller, Megan |
| Woods, Hollie | 7/12/24 | Knee | Best Interest | $17,500.00 | Murphy, Matthew |
PLAN 3
| Claimant Name | DOI | Body Part | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Attorney Name |
| Adkins, Dana | 12/1/25 | Upper Arm | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Reserved | $1,448.88 | None |
| Bales, James | 3/7/25 | Low back | Best Interest | $62,100.00 | None |
| Burgess, Tabitha | 5/3/25 | Low back | Best Interest | $3,800.00 | None |
| Clark, Ian | 1/29/25 | Upper back | Best Interest | $1,050.00 | None |
| Hafele, Matt | 3/4/26 | Foot | Disputed Initial Compensability | $3,700.00 | None |
| Kratsch, Amber | 8/15/25 | Internal organs | Disputed Initial Compensability | $10,500.00 | Murphy, Tommy |
| Lantz, Les | 12/4/23 | Knee | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Reserved | $75,000.00 | None |
| McWilliams, Richard | 1/19/24 | Low back | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Reserved | $62,000.00 | Murphy, Matthew |
| Rice, Danial | 9/15/25 | Upper back | Best Interest | $2,575.00 | None |
| Theriault, Tyler | 3/23/26 | Ankle | Best Interest | $485.00 | None |
| Thomson, Josh | 2/15/24 | Wrist | Best Interest | $45,000.00 | None |
| Wynn, Dustin | 5/6/25 | Wrist | Disputed Initial Compensability | $2,500.00 | None |
Key Insights for Montana Work Comp Professionals
- Low back claims continue to drive higher settlement exposure.
Multiple of the larger settlements involved lumbar spine conditions, including:
- $125,000 involving head, neck, back, vision, and psychological injury;
- $75,000 low back settlement in the ESD Plan 1 data;
- $62,100 and $62,000 Plan 3 low back settlements; and
- several additional low back “medicals closed” resolutions.
The data reinforces the continuing trend that lumbar spine claims remain among the most expensive and litigated categories in Montana workers’ compensation.
- Psychological and multi-system injury allegations materially increase claim value.
The highest reported Plan 2 WCC stipulation during this reporting period was the $125,000 settlement involving head, neck, back, vision, and psychological injury. This reflects the substantial value escalation that often occurs when psychological injury components or multi-system complaints become part of the compensability or exposure analysis.
- Crowley Fleck and FairClaim Law remain highly visible in higher-value litigated claims.
The stipulation summaries show repeated appearances by:
- Respondent counsel from Crowley Fleck PLLP; and
- Petitioner counsel associated with FairClaim Law/FairClaim Attorneys.
This suggests those firms continue to play a substantial role in litigated or settlement-sensitive Montana workers’ compensation matters, particularly in Plan 2 insurer disputes.
- Many Plan 3 settlements resolve for comparatively modest amounts and frequently without attorney involvement.
Numerous Plan 3 ESD settlements involved:
- disputed initial compensability claims;
- relatively recent dates of injury; and
- settlement amounts under $5,000.
Many of these cases listed “None” under attorney representation. This suggests that smaller-value Plan 3 disputes continue to resolve administratively and early, often without extensive litigation or retained counsel.
- The Workers’ Compensation Court currently appears heavily motion-driven despite the absence of published opinions.
The reporting period reflects:
- no published decisions;
- multiple pending summary judgment motions; and
- discovery and IME-related disputes.
This may indicate that many disputes are resolving before final published adjudication, while procedural and legal threshold issues—particularly summary judgment practice—remain highly active in the Montana Workers’ Compensation Court.
