Montana Workers’ Compensation Court
No decisions this reporting 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 |
| Crisler v. Zurich Am. Ins. Co.
|
Respondent’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment | 5/11/26 |
| Crisler v. Zurich Am. Ins. Co.
|
Respondent’s Motion in Limine | 5/11/26 |
| Parker / Leggitt v. Safeway
|
Respondent’s Motion for Summary Judgment | 5/12/26 |
| Guitron v. UEF | UEF’s Motion for Summary Judgment | 5/15/26
|
| Guitron v. UEF | Villegas Del Villar’s Motion for Summary Judgment | 5/20/26
|
| Crisler v. Zurich Am. Ins. Co.
|
Petitioner’s Counter-Motion for Summary Judgment | 5/21/26
|
| Parker / Leggit v. Safeway | Petitioner’s Objection to Overbroad Discovery / Respondent’s Motion to Compel | 6/16/26 |
|
Wheeler v. Montana State Fund |
Respondent’s Motion for Summary Judgment |
6/16/26 |
Upcoming Trials, Hearings & Conferences
| Date | Time | Place | Issue | Case |
| 8/5/26 | 10:30 am | Helena | Hearing | Stringer v. Montana State Fund |
| 8/19/26 | 10:30 am | Helena | Trial | Krueger v. Clear Spring Prop. & Cas. Co. |
| 9/9/26 | 10:00 am | Via Zoom | Perpetuation Deposition of Dr. Hyman
|
Krueger v. Clear Spring Prop. & Cas. Co. |
| 10/20/26 | 9:00 am | Missoula | Perpetuation Deposition of Dr. Layton | Krueger v. Clear Spring Prop. & Cas. Co. |
| 11/4/26 | 10:00 am | Zoom / WA | Perpetuation Deposition of Dr. Corey | Krueger v. Clear Spring Prop. & Cas. Co. |
| 11/6/26 | 8:30 am | Missoula | Trial | Wheeler v. Montana State Fund |
| Week of
11/16/26 |
9:00 am | Butte | Trial | Krueger v. Clear Spring Prop. & Cas. Co. |
Montana Workers’ Compensation Stipulations Summary (through July 30, 2026)
PLAN 2
| Case Name | DOI | Body Part(s) | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Petitioner Attorney | Respondent Attorney |
| Chris Davis v. Victory Ins. Co. | 1/26/24 | Right eye | Full and Final – Medicals Closed | $20,000.00 | Kemmick, Hayley
Plath Kemmick Law |
Maynard, Joe
Crowley Fleck PLLP |
ESD Settlements Approved through July 24, 2026
PLAN 2
| Claimant Name | DOI | Body Part | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Attorney Name |
| Berweger, Sara | 5/6/26 | Lower leg | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Reserved | $8,000.00 | Blackaby, Dean |
| Finley, Elizabeth | 6/19/24 | Wrist | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Closed | $85,000.00 | Murphy, Tommy |
| Fussell, Tonya | 3/12/26 | Upper arm | Disputed Initial Compensability | $10,000.00 | Dalpiaz, Leslae |
PLAN 3
| Claimant Name | DOI | Body Part | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Attorney Name |
| Clemons, Josh | 9/4/25 | Upper back | Best Interests | $85,000.00 | Dalpiaz, Leslae |
| Daw, Coley | 5/29/26 | Lower back | Disputed Initial Compensability | $4,500.00 | None |
| Dobyns, Shawn | 3/14/22 | Hand | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Closed | $55,000.00 | Murphy, Tommy |
| Hogue, David | 7/14/25 | Upper back | Best Interests | $3,500.00 | None |
| Nicolson, Richard | 12/13/25 | Upper back | Disputed Initial Compensability | $75,500.00 | Murphy, Matthew |
| Richardson, James | 1/28/26 | Ankle | Best Interests | $3,500.00 | None |
| Rowe, Sr., Steven | 11/16/25 | Upper back | Best Interests | $16,000.00 | None |
| Snyder, Theresa | 3/15/24 | Low back | Best Interests | $100,000.00 | Moore, Kraig |
| Warren, Audrey | 3/8/26 | Multiple lower extremities | Disputed Initial Compensability | $1,750.00 | None |
Key Insights for Montana Work Comp Professionals
- The Workers’ Compensation Court remains quiet on published decisions due to parties not proceeding to trial, but a significant motions pipeline is developing.
Few cases are proceeding to trial, so no new decisions were issued during this reporting period. Yet multiple summary judgment motions and dispositive motions remain under submission. This suggests practitioners should anticipate several potentially important rulings in the coming months on issues that could shape Montana workers’ compensation practice. - Summary judgment continues to be an increasingly important litigation tool.
The pending docket reflects numerous cross-motions and respondent summary judgment motions in cases such as Rutledge, Crisler, Parker/Leggitt, Guitron, and Wheeler. The volume of dispositive motions indicates parties are aggressively seeking resolution of legal issues before trial rather than relying solely on evidentiary hearings. - The Court’s upcoming calendar highlights several cases worth monitoring.
The docket includes multiple hearings, trials, and perpetuation depositions extending into November, with the Krueger v. Clear Spring Property & Casualty litigation involving several expert depositions before trial. These proceedings are likely to generate future guidance on disputed medical issues and trial practice. - Settlement values continue to vary dramatically based on claim characteristics.
Recent ESD-approved settlements range from $1,750 for a disputed compensability claim to $100,000 for a Best Interests settlement, illustrating the substantial impact that liability disputes, medical exposure, and settlement structure have on claim valuation. - Disputed initial compensability remains a recurring settlement theme.
Several recent Plan 3 settlements resolved disputed initial compensability issues involving injuries to the lower back, upper back, and multiple lower extremities. The continued appearance of these settlements suggests that compensability disputes remain a common mechanism for early claim resolution in Montana’s workers’ compensation system.
