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 |
| Wheeler v. Montana State Fund
|
Petitioner’s Motion for Summary Judgment | 7/31/26 |
Upcoming Trials, Hearings & Conferences
| Date | Time | Place | Issue | Case |
| 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 (week ending August 13, 2026)
PLAN 1
| Case Name | DOI | Body Part(s) | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Petitioner Attorney | Respondent Attorney |
| Anthony Garza v. United Parcel Service, Inc. | 12/9/25 | Right foot; | Full and Final – Disputed Initial Compensability | $2,500.00 | Quale, Melissa
Dalpiaz & Associates |
Harrington, Thomas
Laird Cowley, PLLC |
ESD Settlements Approved through August 7, 2026
PLAN 1
| Claimant Name | DOI | Body Part | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Attorney Name |
| McCoy, James | 6/1/26 | Low back; | Disputed Initial Compensability | $30,000.00 | None |
PLAN 2
| Claimant Name | DOI | Body Part | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Attorney Name |
| Beard, Frances | 2/16/26 | Upper arm; | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Closed | $50,000.00 | Tempel-St. John, Stacy |
| Boggess, Wanda | 3/16/26 | Shoulder(s); | Disputed Initial Compensability | $5,000.00 | Dalpiaz, Leslae |
| Cole, Richard | 2/4/22 | Knee; | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Closed | $122,000.00 | Murphy, Tommy |
| Frederick, Noel | 5/14/26 | Multiple body parts; | Disputed Initial Compensability | $450,000.00 | Evans, Alex |
| Hannon, Donal | 1/3/23 | Multiple body parts; | Disputed Initial Compensability | $15,323.00 | None |
| Hegg, Terri | 4/4/22 | Soft tissue; | Best Interests | $7,500.00 | Plath, Russ |
| Lee, Melody | 3/1/25 | Low back; | Best Interests | $10,000.00 | Adam, Paul |
| Poindexter, Nicole | 6/4/25 | Low back; | Best Interests | $85,000.00 | None |
PLAN 3
| Claimant Name | DOI | Body Part | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Attorney Name |
| Alvarez, Skyler | 11/12/24 | Facial bones; | Best Interests | $3,200.00 | None |
| Jordan, Trey | 4/22/24 | Foot; | Disputed Initial Compensability | $250.00 | Murphy, Matthew |
| Klin, Dorothy | 1/17/96 | Knee; | Best Interests | $9,600.00 | Seaman, Garry (as reported) |
| Nelson, Nichole | 7/13/23 | Facial bones; | Best Interests | $3,500.00 | None |
| Neuman, Wendah | 2/17/23 | Low back; | Best Interests | $100,000.00 | Helmer, Chris |
| Saunders, Ronnie | 10/15/21 | Hand; | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Reserved | $39,656.68 | MacKay, Thomas |
| Schaufler-McCaulou, Kristy | 1/28/25 | Upper back; | Best Interests | $26,000.00 | None |
| Spurlock, Dan | 8/31/22 | Upper back; | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Reserved | $51,600.00 | None |
| Thiel, Anna | 4/17/24 | Upper back; | Best Interests | $22,500.00 | Dalpiaz, Leslae |
| Totty, Stewart | 1/3/25 | Upper back; | Best Interests | $650.00 | None |
| Wing, Jeremiah | 4/23/26 | Knee; | Petition for Settlement – Single Issue | $4,600.00 | None |
| Wolcott, Corey | 4/16/25 | Upper arm; | Disputed Initial Compensability | $5,500.00 | Wallace, Lucas |
| Wolcott,
Corey |
7/21/25 | Hand; | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Closed | $9,500.00 | Wallace, Lucas |
Key Insights for Montana Work Comp Professionals
- Settlement values remain extraordinarily case-specific. The reported settlements range from only $250 to $450,000, reinforcing that body part alone is a poor predictor of settlement value. Compensability posture, medical exposure, disability exposure, and the nature of the settlement appear to drive substantial variation.
- Disputed compensability claims can still carry substantial settlement exposure. Several settlements involved disputed initial compensability, including $30,000 for a low-back claim and a striking $450,000 for a multiple-body-part claim. The latter is a useful reminder that denial of liability does not necessarily translate into low settlement value when the downside risk of an adverse compensability determination is significant.
- Low-back claims continue to generate meaningful settlement values. Three reported low-back settlements were $30,000, $10,000, and $85,000, while another Plan 3 low-back claim settled for $100,000. Although the settlement structures differ, the numbers demonstrate the continuing financial significance of lumbar claims.
- Open medical liability continues to have identifiable settlement value. Two Plan 3 claims resolved with medicals reserved for $39,656.68 and $51,600. These settlements illustrate that parties may monetize indemnity or other exposure without requiring complete closure of future medical benefits—an important option where future treatment remains uncertain or difficult to price.
- Summary judgment practice is dominating the current Workers’ Compensation Court docket. Although there were no new decisions during the reporting period, seven of the ten listed submitted matters involve motions or cross-motions for summary judgment. Several cases have competing motions, including Rutledge and Wheeler. For practitioners, the current docket suggests that significant disputes are being presented for legal resolution without trial, making careful development of undisputed material facts particularly important.
