Justia Civil Rights Opinion Summaries

Defendant was charged with DUI, fourth or subsequent offense. The information provided that Defendant was previously convicted of qualifying DUI offenses in 2009, 1999, and 1992. Defendant filed a motion to dismiss due to invalidity of prior DUI convictions, challenging his 1992 DUI conviction on the basis of constitutional infirmity. The district court denied Defendant's motion, concluding that Defendant failed to meet his burden to come forward with affirmative evidence establishing that his 1992 conviction was obtained in violation of the Constitution. Defendant subsequently entered a no contest plea to the DUI charge, reserving his right to appeal the denial of his motion. On appeal, the Supreme Court affirmed the district court's order denying Defendant's motion to dismiss, holding that the court correctly concluded that Defendant failed to meet his burden to persuade the court that his 1992 conviction was constitutionally infirm. View "State v. Nixon" on Justia Law

Defendant pled guilty to one count of sexual abuse of children pursuant to a plea agreement. The district court sentenced Defendant to the Department of Corrections (DOC) for seven years, with two years suspended upon several terms and conditions. The district court later revoked Defendant's suspended sentence after an evidentiary hearing at which it found Defendant in violation of the conditions of his sentence. The court then imposed a two-year commitment to the DOC and ordered that Defendant be designated a Level 3 sexual offender. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the district court did not err by elevating Defendant's sexual offender level designation from Level 1 to Level 3 upon revocation. View "State v. Claassen" on Justia Law

This appeal was the third in the course of this litigation. Plaintiffs were a group of landowners with properties on the shores of Flathead Lake and a portion of the upper Flathead River. Plaintiffs commenced this action in 1999 against Montana Power Company (MPC) and MPC's successor, PPL Montana, LLC, asserting claims of trespass, nuisance, a taking of property, and breach of easements. In Mattson II, Plaintiffs filed motions to certify the lawsuit as a class action. The district court granted the motions as to both Defendants. The Supreme Court vacated the district court's orders concerning class certification. On remand, the district court denied Plaintiffs' renewed motion for class certification. The Supreme Court reversed, holding (1) the district court erred in its application of Mattson II to the class-certification question under Mont. R. Civ. P. 23; and (2) the six criteria for certification of a class action under Rule 23 were satisfied in this case. Remanded with instructions to certify the class. View "Mattson v. Mont. Power Co." on Justia Law

After a jury trial, Defendant was found guilty of incest and attempted incest involving his daughter, incest and sexual intercourse without consent involving his step-daughter, and sexual intercourse without consent involving his sister-in-law. The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's convictions and sentences, holding (1) the district court did not abuse its discretion when it did not conduct a hearing on Defendant's posttrial allegation that some jurors slept through critical portions of the trial testimony; (2) Defendant was not subjected to double jeopardy when he was convicted of both incest and attempted incest, as the State charged and proved two separate and distinct transactions between Defendant and his daughter; and (3) the district court did not commit structural error when it failed to arraign Defendant on the amended charge of attempted sexual intercourse without consent. View "State v. Geren" on Justia Law

After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of driving under the influence. Defendant appealed, arguing that the district court abused its discretion by partially denying his motion in limine to exclude video footage depicting administration of the Preliminary Alcohol Screening Test (PAST) administration without sound over Defendant's objection. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that the admission of the PAST evidence by video was prejudicial error, as (1) the video was impermissibly used as substantive evidence of Defendant's intoxication without the State satisfying the requirement of State v. Damon and Mont. R. Evid. 702 to call an expert to testify regarding the reliability and accuracy of the PAST; (2) the potential of unfair prejudice in admitting the evidence outweighed its probative value, as it prompted the inference that Defendant failed the PAST; and (3) the error was not harmless. View "State v. Lozon" on Justia Law

After an agent with the Tri-Agency Safe Trails Task Force purchased quantities of marijuana from Defendants in excess of what was legal under the Medical Marijuana Act, law enforcement arrested Defendants. Officers executed search warrants for Defendants' vehicles, their residence, and the garage Defendants frequented, retrieving four times the amount of marijuana Defendants were allowed to possess as caregivers and patients under the Act. Defendants were charged with several drug-related counts. Defendants filed a joint motion to suppress and dismiss, arguing that the state engaged in "outrageous government conduct" by obtaining evidence against them in violation of their federal due process rights. The district court granted the motion because the agent broke numerous laws under the banner of law enforcement. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that because the agent's conduct stopped short of violating the fundamental fairness shocking to the universal sense of justice mandated by the due process clause, the district court erred in dismissing Defendants' charges based on the outrageous government conduct defense. View "State v. Fitzpatrick" on Justia Law

Mike Alexander was one of two former employees of Bozeman Motors who filed suit against Bozeman Motors and its president and managers, alleging negligence, battery, and negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress. Plaintiffs claimed long-term physical and emotional injuries resulting from exposure to carbon monoxide and propane. Alexander died after filing suit. Bozeman Motors moved for summary judgment on the basis that the claims against it were barred by the exclusive remedy provision of Montana's Workers' Compensation Act. The district court granted Bozeman Motors' motion, holding that the conduct of Defendants did not rise to the level of deliberate intent to cause specific harm, and that Mont. Code Ann. 39-71-413, which provides an exception to the exclusive remedy provision of the Act, was constitutional. The Supreme Court reversed and remanded with respect to Alexander's claims. On remand, the jury returned a verdict for Defendants on all claims. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) section 39-71-413(2) does not create an impermissible class of employees in violation of equal protection; (2) the district court did not err in instructing the jury; and (3) the court did not err in denying Plaintiffs' motion to exclude Alexander's cause of death. View "Alexander v. Bozeman Motors, Inc." on Justia Law

After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of attempted theft and sentenced to ten years imprisonment. Defendant appealed, arguing that the district court abused its discretion in finding a sufficient chain of custody for the admission of latent fingerprint evidence and forensic analysis. At issue was two fingerprint cards used to take the prints. In specific, in contention was discrepancies between dates written on the back of the cards and their storage in a law enforcement officer's patrol car and office. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that because the State adequately established the chain of custody of the prints cards, the district court did not abuse its discretion by admitting the latent print evidence. View "State v. McCoy" on Justia Law

Plaintiffs in this case were individuals who were in committed same-sex relationships. Plaintiffs sued the State, contending that there was a statutory structure in Montana law that prohibited them from enjoying significant relationships and family protections and obligations provided to similarly-situated different-sex couples who marry. Plaintiffs expressly did not challenge Montana law's restriction of marriage to heterosexual couples and did not seek the opportunity to marry. Instead, Plaintiffs sought a declaration that the State's failure to provide them access to the statutory scheme available to different-sex couples denied them the rights guaranteed by Mont. Const. art II. The district court granted the State's motion to dismiss, noting that Plaintiffs did not seek the declaration of the unconstitutionality of a specific statute but rather a direction to the legislature to enact a statutory arrangement, which was unprecedented in Montana law. The Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed and remanded in part, holding (1) the district court did not err in finding Plaintiffs' requested relief exceeded the bounds of a justiciable controversy; but (2) Plaintiffs should be afforded the opportunity to amend their complaint. View "Donaldson v. State" on Justia Law

After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent and one count of sexual assault. Defendant appealed. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) under the circumstances presented here, the district court's application of Montana's rape shield statute did not violate Defendant's right to a fair trial under the Montana and United States Constitutions; and (2) the district court did not err in refusing to dismiss Counts I and IV on grounds that the State failed to prove venue, as the State showed that the only rational conclusion to be drawn from the facts and testimony was that the crime was committed in the county alleged. View "State v. Patterson" on Justia Law