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 |
| Wheeler v. Montana State Fund | Petitioner’s Motion To Strike | 8/12/26
|
| Jordan v. XL Specialty Ins. Co. | Respondent’s Motion to Compel Attendance at IME | 8/25/26 |
Upcoming Trials, Hearings & Conferences
| Date | Time | Place | Issue | Case |
| 9/9/26 | 10:00 am | Via Zoom | Perpetuation Deposition of Dr. Hyman
|
Krueger v. Clear Spring Prop. & Cas. Co.
|
| 9/30/26 | 10.00 am | Helena | Trial | 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 27, 2026)
PLAN 3
| Case Name | DOI | Body Part(s) | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Petitioner Attorney | Respondent Attorney |
| Crystal Campbell v. Montana State Fund | 8/13/25 | Left ankle; | Full and Final – Medicals Closed | $45,000.00 | Evans, Alex
Glacier Law Firm |
Meyer, Mark
Montana State Fund |
ESD Settlements Approved through August 21, 2026
PLAN 1
| Claimant Name | DOI | Body Part | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Attorney Name |
| Kasper, Nicholas | 8/28/24 | Low back; | Best Interests | $150,000.00 | Wallace, Lucas |
| Pinkney, Mackenzie | 7/6/23 | Multiple; | Best Interests | $7,500.00 | Murphy, Matthew |
| Ryan, Jolena | 2/4/26 | Low back; | Best Interests | $500.00 | Dalpiaz, Leslae |
| Williams, Aimee | 12/17/24 | Knee | Best Interests | $145,000.00 | Tourtlotte, Matthew |
PLAN 2
| Claimant Name | DOI | Body Part | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Attorney Name |
| Berman, Eric | 10/28/25 | Foot; | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Closed | $30,000.00 | Quale, Melissa |
| Brannan, Robyn | 1/24/24 | Upper arm; | Best Interests | $82,500.00 | Dalpiaz, Leslae |
| Netzloff, Rebekah | 3/16/26 | Low back; | Disputed Initial Compensability | $16,000.00 | Quale, Melissa |
| Ostermiller, Justin | 7/30/25 | Elbow; | Best Interests | $16,000.00 | Wallace, Lucas |
| Skelton, Jeffrey | 9/16/25 | Knee; | Best Interests | $125,000.00 | Helmer, Chris |
| Widdicombe, Anna | 8/6/24 | Upper back; | Petition for Settlement – Medicals Closed | $113,000.00 | Plath, Russell |
PLAN 3
| Claimant Name | DOI | Body Part | Settlement Type | Settlement Amount | Attorney Name |
| Albrecht, Teri | 3/13/25 | Soft tissue; | Best Interests | $27,500.00 | Dalpiaz, Miranda |
| Compton, Mitchell | 4/28/26 | Skull; | Disputed Initial Compensability | $500.00 | None |
| Failing, Isaac | 8/13/25 | Low back; | Best Interests | $10,000.00 | None |
| Gilligan, Kelly | 4/18/25 | Toes; | Best Interests | $94,000.00 | None |
| McArthur, Kelly | 12/17/25 | Facial bones; | Best Interests | $1,200.00 | Adam, Paul |
| Romero, Andrew | 4/18/26 | Upper back; | Disputed Initial Compensability | $450.00 | None |
| Williams, Angelic | 4/24/25 | Multiple upper extremities | Disputed Initial Compensability | $10,000.00 | Tempel-St. John, Stacy |
Key Insights for Montana Work Comp Professionals
- The settlement market reflected in the ESD data is relatively modest, with a few larger claims driving the dollars. The 17 listed ESD settlements total approximately $829,150, with amounts ranging from $450 to $150,000. Only four settlements exceed $100,000.
- “Best interests” settlements are the dominant settlement mechanism. Eleven of the 17 ESD settlements are identified as “Best Interests,” totaling approximately $659,200—about 80% of all reported ESD settlement dollars. This suggests that accepted claims resolved through negotiated best-interests settlements account for most settlement value in this reporting period.
- Disputed initial compensability dramatically suppresses settlement value. Four claims expressly identified as involving disputed initial compensability settled for only $26,950 combined—$16,000, $500, $450, and $10,000. For practitioners evaluating disputed-liability cases, this snapshot illustrates the substantial economic discount associated with unresolved compensability.
- Summary judgment is currently the dominant procedural vehicle before the Workers’ Compensation Court. Nine of the 13 submitted matters involve summary judgment or partial summary judgment. The docket includes competing motions in Rutledge, Crisler, and Wheeler, demonstrating how frequently Montana workers’ compensation disputes are being positioned for resolution on legal issues rather than trial testimony.
- The active trial calendar is concentrated in very few cases. Five of the six upcoming proceedings involve Krueger v. Clear Spring, including three medical perpetuation depositions and multiple trial settings. This illustrates the scheduling and cost implications of preserving expert medical testimony in a heavily contested claim.
