Verdict . News

Jan 13, 2026•4 min read

•Montana Supreme Court decided Estate of Athy v. Edgewood on January 13, 2026, involving claims against multiple senior living entities

Montana Supreme Court Rules on Athy Estate Case Against Senior Living Chain

The Montana Supreme Court issued a decision in Estate of Athy v. Edgewood on January 13, 2026, addressing an appeal by Alex Athy on behalf of his deceased mother's estate against multiple Edgewood senior living facilities. The case centers on whether the district court properly dismissed civil claims with prejudice.

•Case centered on whether district court properly dismissed civil claims with prejudice and characterized them as medical malpractice claims

Jan 6, 2026•4 min read

•Montana Supreme Court granted writ of supervisory control over district court's denial of judicial substitution motion

Montana Supreme Court Grants Supervisory Writ Over Judge Substitution Denial

The Montana Supreme Court issued a writ of supervisory control on January 6, 2026, in a criminal case involving a 16-year-old defendant who challenged a district court's denial of her motion to substitute judges. The high court stayed the underlying proceedings while considering the petition.

•16-year-old defendant S.L. faces serious criminal charges including aggravated burglary and assault on peace officer

Jan 6, 2026•4 min read

•Montana Supreme Court ruled on TEI's challenge to Attorney General's rejection of Ballot Issue 4

Montana Supreme Court Reviews Election Transparency Initiative Challenge

The Montana Supreme Court issued a ruling on January 6, 2026, in Transparent Election Initiative v. Knudsen, addressing a petition challenging the Attorney General's rejection of Ballot Issue 4. The case centers on whether the initiative violates Montana's constitutional separate vote requirement.

•Attorney General determined the initiative violated Montana's constitutional separate vote requirement

Dec 31, 2025•4 min read

•Montana Supreme Court dismissed ethics case against Attorney General Austin Knudsen stemming from 2021 judicial appointment dispute

Montana Supreme Court Dismisses Ethics Case Against AG Austin Knudsen

The Montana Supreme Court dismissed disciplinary proceedings against Attorney General Austin Knudsen, who faced 41 counts of professional misconduct for allegedly making inappropriate accusations against Supreme Court justices during a 2021 legislative dispute over judicial appointments.

•Knudsen faced 41 counts of professional misconduct for allegedly making inappropriate accusations against Supreme Court justices

Dec 30, 2025•4 min read

•Montana Supreme Court affirmed 40-year prison sentence for Francisco Padilla-Canales in domestic violence stabbing case

Montana Supreme Court Affirms 40-Year Prison Sentence in Stabbing Case

The Montana Supreme Court affirmed a 40-year prison sentence for Francisco Padilla-Canales, who was convicted of stabbing his estranged wife's romantic partner after breaking into a home in July 2022. The court rejected his claim that his guilty plea was involuntary due to inadequate advisement.

•Padilla-Canales broke into home and stabbed his estranged wife's romantic partner with pocketknife in July 2022

Dec 29, 2025•4 min read

•Montana Supreme Court affirmed guardianship of three children to state department after infant suffered suspicious arm fracture

Montana Supreme Court Affirms Child Guardianship in Abuse Case

The Montana Supreme Court affirmed a district court's decision granting the Department of Public Health and Human Services guardianship of three children after finding evidence of child abuse. The December 29 ruling rejected the mother's appeal challenging the state's custody determination.

•Mother's appeal challenged court findings on reasonable reunification efforts and parental fitness standards

Dec 23, 2025•4 min read

•Montana Supreme Court affirmed denial of Mark Kapps's postconviction relief petition

Montana Supreme Court Denies Postconviction Relief in Kapps Case

The Montana Supreme Court affirmed a Fallon County District Court's denial of Mark Kapps's petition for postconviction relief, rejecting his claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. Justice Ingrid Gustafson delivered the court's opinion on December 23, 2025.

•Kapps claimed ineffective assistance of counsel in his underlying criminal case

Dec 23, 2025•4 min read

•Montana Supreme Court affirmed Asia Carl Soapes's conviction for sexual assault and sexual intercourse without consent

Montana Supreme Court Affirms Sexual Assault Conviction in State v. Soapes

The Montana Supreme Court affirmed the sexual assault conviction of Asia Carl Soapes on December 23, 2025, following his appeal of a 2023 jury trial verdict. The high court rejected claims of ineffective assistance of counsel and procedural errors in the case.

•Court rejected claims of ineffective assistance of counsel and procedural errors under plain error doctrine

Dec 23, 2025•4 min read

•Montana Supreme Court decided appeal challenging Public Service Commission authority over waste disposal

Montana Supreme Court Rules in Noland v. State PSC Authority Case

The Montana Supreme Court issued a decision Monday in *Noland v. State*, a case challenging the Montana Public Service Commission's regulatory authority. Parker Noland, represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation, appealed a district court ruling involving the commission and waste disposal company Evergreen Disposal, Inc.

•Pacific Legal Foundation represented appellant Parker Noland against state agencies and commissioners