NEGLIGENCE / INJURIES

2022 – A semi-truck jackknifed in the winter blocked both lanes of the interstate and multiple other cars came to a stop along the shoulder. A fire truck driving at high speed crashed into our client on the shoulder. Our client sustained a traumatic brain injury and other shoulder and back injuries. Before coming to our firm the truck drivers insurance companies disclaimed all liability. We worked to get the all medicals covered through workers compensation because our client was working at the time, and we pursued the negligent truck drivers and their insurance policies. All claims, including the workers compensation claims were settled for $875,000 in addition to the medicals paid by workers’ compensation.

2021 – A semi-truck driver was high on drugs and crossed over the median nearly killed our client. We pursued multiple avenues of insurance coverage due to the limited insurance for the truck company and driver. First, we collected the policy from the driver and the truck company for failure to properly train and vet driver and then went after the trailer company for failing to vet the negligent truck company, all claims settled for $2,000,000.

2018 – A child was severely bitten by a dog in the face, we pursued the homeowner’s insurance policy and collected $430,000.

2022 – A child was bitten in the nose by a dog in the common area of a trailer park. The dog owner did not have any homeowners insurance. We were able to pursue claims against the trailer park owner and the management company. Unfortunately due to bad Montana jurisprudence limiting liability of trailer park owners and managers it was an uphill battle, we fought the insurance carriers and were able to settle the claim for $50,000 in spite of the claim that no insurance applied. We also worked to negotiate down the substantial Medicaid lien to ensure our client was compensated for the harm.

2021 – Our client was outside a hotel when another hotel patron’s dog ran into her and she fell and broke her knee cap, the injury resulted in an emergency knee surgery. We were able to exhaust a renter’s insurance policy for the dog owner and discovered that the hotel knew of prior issues with the same dog on the premises. We pursued claims against the hotel for additional liability insurance. We guided our client through her medical care and negotiated down a substantial Medicare lien after a $150,000 settlement.

2022 – Our client was injured in a motorcycle crash and broke her ankle. The driver wasuninsured. Our client’s own insurance company denied there was coverage under her own policy. We got involved and made the appropriate legal demands and explained to the insurance company that Montana law requires she be covered under her own policy under her uninsured motorist coverage. The insurance company responded by immediately paying out the full $50,000 in UM coverage.

2021 – Our client was injured in a single car crash where his friend, who was uninsured, was driving. Our client came into our firm on another crash more than two years later. We discovered he had his own insurance that should have covered him for his injuries for the crash two years prior and immediately obtained a $50,000 settlement.

Failure to properly operate van ($1 million)

Failure to properly operate tractor trailer; uninsured motorist; ($1.85 million)

Negligence in gas pipeline swabbing project causing catastrophic burns ($2 million)

Motor vehicle crashes (multiple)

Improper supervision of trenching project leading to death ($4.3 million)

Traumatic brain injury (multiple)

Negligence involving motorcycle/automobile collision resulting in serious personal injuries ($1 million)

Negligence and Montana Residential Landlord Tenant Act violations resulting in carbon monoxide exposure ($1 million)

Premises liability negligence of municipality resulting in death

Negligent supervision and civil rights violations against government entity for improper investigation and harassment of innocent individual

Negligence of general contractor for injury to independent contractor resulting in significant personal injuries (workers compensation and personal injury)

WORKERS COMPENSATION

2018 – Our client suffered a spinal cord injury due to trip and fall at work resulting in total disability, the insurer tried to deny the extent of the disability after multiple years of paying for medical care. We stepped in to fight and point out the deficiencies in the defense medical opinions. The claim settled for $430,000.

2021 – Our client injured her back while at work and required back surgery, we continued to help guide medical care and treatment and get it paid by the insurer, and negotiate a settlement of $125,000.

2022 – Our client crushed his leg, foot and ankle in a workplace injury resulting in total disability. His medical were paid through workers’ compensation and we were able to establish his back pay and lost wages for the next two years and settled the claim for $700,000.

2022 – Our client injured his left knee over a decade before and required multiple surgeries which resulted in total disability. We worked to get his medicals and disability wages paid for the next ten years before finally settling the claim for $500,000.

2022 – Our client injured his low back after slipping and almost falling at work. The workers’ compensation insurer paid for a few medical appointments and then closed the claim. The client subsequently re-injured his back and approached our firm to represent him after the claim was denied. We were able to get his medicals re-opened and paid, including an expensive low-back surgery and months of follow up care. After he was at maximum medical improvement post-surgery the claim was settled for an additional $100,000 on top of the medicals and wage loss already paid.

Multiple workers compensation and personal injury claims

Failure to provide safe place to work (Montana Safety and Scaffolding Act).

Eldredge v. Asarco, Inc. 2011 MT 80: Ruling that corporate defendant failed to provide full retirement benefits following early termination.

Harrington v. Crystal Bar, Inc., 2013 MT 209: Ruling establishing tavern’s duties to exercise due care for benefit of patrons where an assault occurred just outside the bar.

Failure to properly formulate TPN feedingsFailure to properly formulate TPN feedings

* Due to settlement confidentiality clauses, more detailed descriptions cannot be made.