Verdict . News

•Montana Supreme Court affirmed summary judgment for City of Livingston against property owners Christopher and Jennifer Atkinson

Montana Supreme Court Affirms Summary Judgment for Livingston in Property Case

The Montana Supreme Court affirmed a district court's summary judgment in favor of the City of Livingston against property owners Christopher and Jennifer Atkinson. The court held that the Atkinsons' negligence and negligent misrepresentation claims were barred by Montana's statute of repose.

•Court held that Montana's statute of repose barred the Atkinsons' negligence and negligent misrepresentation claims

•Montana Supreme Court ruled on Henderson's appeal of felony theft conviction involving disputed text message evidence

Montana Supreme Court Rules on Henderson Theft Conviction Appeal

The Montana Supreme Court issued a ruling on February 10, 2026, in State v. Billie Jo Henderson, addressing an appeal from a felony theft conviction. Henderson challenged the admission of text message evidence, arguing the District Court abused its discretion in allowing inadmissible hearsay testimony.

•State conceded the text messages were inadmissible hearsay but argued any error was harmless

•Montana Supreme Court affirmed termination of father's parental rights to two children on February 10, 2026

Montana Supreme Court Affirms Parental Rights Termination

The Montana Supreme Court affirmed a district court's decision to terminate a father's parental rights to two children in a case involving domestic violence and drug abuse. The court rejected the father's appeal and his attempt to assert tribal preference claims on February 10, 2026.

•Case involved domestic violence, drug abuse, and child welfare concerns dating back to 2018 on Rocky Boy Reservation

•Montana Supreme Court affirmed district court's approval of adoption as permanency plan for M.L.O.-L.

Montana Supreme Court Affirms Child Welfare Decision in Placement Case

The Montana Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's decision to approve adoption as the permanency plan for a youth in need of care while denying the maternal grandmother's request for placement. The case involved M.L.O.-L., who was removed from parental care in 2023 along with two siblings.

•Court denied maternal grandmother's request for placement of the youth in need of care

•Montana Supreme Court ruled in case involving citizen arrested for filming police officers from public sidewalk

Montana High Court Rules on Police Filming Rights in Kalispell Case

The Montana Supreme Court issued a decision February 10, 2026, in City of Kalispell v. Sean Michael Doman, a case involving a man arrested for filming police officers during a traffic stop while standing on a public sidewalk. The case drew intervention from the American Civil Liberties Union, highlighting its constitutional significance.

•American Civil Liberties Union organizations intervened as amici curiae, highlighting constitutional significance

•Montana Supreme Court affirmed jury's defamation award to Lori Collins against Whitefish Housing Authority

Montana Court Upholds Defamation Award Against Housing Authority

The Montana Supreme Court affirmed a jury's defamation award to Lori Collins against the Whitefish Housing Authority in a February 10, 2026 decision. The court rejected the housing authority's appeal challenging evidence admission and damage cap applications while also denying Collins' request for attorney fees.

•Court rejected housing authority's challenges to evidence admission and statutory damage caps

2w ago•4 min read

•Montana Supreme Court affirmed Grant Alan West's conviction for armed pharmacy robbery in Columbia Falls

Montana Supreme Court Upholds Pharmacy Robbery Conviction

The Montana Supreme Court affirmed the conviction of Grant Alan West for robbing a Columbia Falls pharmacy at gunpoint. West was found guilty of demanding Percocet from employees before forcing them to hide in a bathroom during his escape.

•West demanded Percocet from Good Medicine Pharmacy employees and forced them to hide in bathroom during escape

2w ago•4 min read

•Montana Supreme Court affirmed Lorenzo Harris's deliberate homicide conviction in the shooting death of James Williams

Montana Supreme Court Affirms Harris Murder Conviction in Bench Trial

The Montana Supreme Court affirmed Lorenzo James Harris's deliberate homicide conviction, rejecting his argument that the trial court violated due process by failing to consider a lesser charge of mitigated deliberate homicide. The court ruled Harris failed to preserve his claims and did not demonstrate plain error.

•Harris argued the trial court violated due process by not considering mitigated deliberate homicide as a lesser charge

3w ago•4 min read

•Montana Supreme Court ruled in environmental challenge to Lincoln County's RV park development approval

Montana Supreme Court Hears Environmental Challenge to RV Park Approval

The Montana Supreme Court issued a ruling in Thompson Chain of Lakes Stewardship Coalition v. Lincoln County, a case where an environmental nonprofit challenged Lincoln County commissioners' approval of an RV park development. The high court's decision addresses whether the county properly followed environmental review procedures.

•Thompson Chain of Lakes Stewardship Coalition argued county failed to follow proper environmental review procedures