Justia Montana Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

The Supreme Court vacated the district court’s denial of Heather Remitz’s Mont. R. Civ. P. 60 motion for relief from judgment and remanded the matter to the district court to conduct limited discovery, holding that the Rule 60 motion should be decided on the merits.A standing master entered a final decree of dissolution dissolving the marriage of Heather and Rick Remitz. The district court ordered the parties’ business asset to be equally divided between Heather and Rick. Less than one month after the decree was finalized, Rick sold the business for allegedly ten times the district court’s valuation. Heather filed her Rule 60 motion alleging that the property terms of the divorce decree should be vacated and the matter reopened to allow inquiry into the sale process, the cause of the disparity between Rick’s valuation and the actual sale price, and whether it would be fair that Heather share in the increased value. The motion was deemed denied by the passage of time. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that, under the circumstances, the Rule 60 motion should be decided on the merits. View "In re Marriage of Remitz" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the district court order modifying Dennis Simpson’s and Larissa Simpson’s property settlement agreement and order awarding attorney fees, holding that the district court did not abuse its discretion.On appeal, Larissa argued that the district court abused its discretion when it modified the agreement, terminating monthly payments to her, and when it limited the amount of her attorney fees to those incurred during contempt proceedings. The Supreme Court disagreed, holding (1) the district court did not abuse its discretion in concluding that continued imposition and enforcement of the parties’ agreement was unconscionable; (2) the district court’s modification of the agreement based on the parties circumstances was appropriate; and (3) the court did not abuse its discretion in limiting Larissa’s attorney fees. View "In re Marriage of Simpson" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the order of the district court dissolving the marriage of Michele Hutchins and Michael Hutchins, holding that the parties’ premarital agreement was enforceable under Nevada law and that the district court did not abuse its discretion in its valuation or distribution of the parties’ marital estate.On appeal, Michele argued that the premarital agreement was unenforceable where she was presented with the agreement by attorneys she had never encountered before one week before the parties’ wedding date. The district court applied Montana law and enforced the agreement. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) Nevada law applied to determine whether the premarital agreement was enforceable, and under Nevada law, the parties’ premarital agreement was enforceable; (2) the district court equitably apportioned the marital estate; and (3) the district court did not abuse its discretion by valuing some of the parties’ assets at the time of separation instead of at the time of dissolution. View "In re Marriage of Hutchins" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the district court terminating Father’s parental rights to his biological child, I.K., holding that the district court did not abuse its discretion in determining that termination was in the best interests of I.K.The district court terminated Father’s parental rights to I.K. for failure to comply with an appropriate court-approved treatment plan and because Father had been incarcerated for more than one year. The Supreme Court affirmed the district court’s judgment, holding that the district court’s finding that termination was in I.K.’s best interests was supported by clear and convincing evidence and that the court did not abuse its discretion when it found that termination of Father’s parental rights was in I.K.’s best interests. View "In re I.K." on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the order of the district court terminating Mother’s parental rights to her biological child, X.M., holding that Mother was not denied due process in the termination proceedings and that the district court did not abuse its discretion in terminating Mother’s rights.Specifically, the Court held (1) clear and convincing evidence demonstrated that the termination process was fundamentally fair to Mother; and (2) where clear and convincing evidence demonstrated that Mother’s treatment plan adequately addressed her specific needs and that Mother did not complete the treatment plan, and where Mother’s condition was unlikely to change within a reasonable time, the district court did not abuse its discretion in terminating Mother’s parental rights. View "In re X.M." on Justia Law

The Supreme Court reversed the order of the district court terminating Mother’s parental rights to her two children, holding that the district court erred when it proceeded with termination of Mother’s parental rights before it had a conclusive determination of the children’s status in the Chippewa Cree Tribe and when it did not address whether the Department of Public Health and Human Services made “active efforts” to prevent the breakup of the Indian family and that those efforts were unsuccessful.Specifically, the Court held (1) where the district court had reason to believe that the children may be eligible for enrollment in the Chippewa Cree Tribe, the court failed to satisfy the threshold requirement of the Indian Child Welfare Act to verify the children’s eligibility; (2) the district court did not err when it did not address whether the Department provided “active efforts” pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 1912(d); and (3) Mother’s due process were not violated when the Department raised the issue of abandonment during closing arguments at the termination hearing and Mother’s counsel did not object. View "In re L.A.G." on Justia Law

The Supreme Court reversed the order of the district court setting forth a parenting plan which awarded maternal Grandmother primary residential custody of Child during the course of an ongoing child dependency proceeding, holding that Grandmother could not pursue a parental interest and parenting plan during the pendency of the child dependency proceeding.In a dependent neglect (DN) matter, the Department of Health and Human Services, Child and Family Services Division (Department) became formally involved with Mother. Thereafter, Father petitioned the district court for a parenting plan designating him as Child’s primary residential parent. Grandmother subsequently filed a petition to establish a parental interest as a separate action. The district court consolidated the two matters. While the DN case was pending, the district court awarded Grandmother primary residential custody of Child. The Supreme Court reversed and remanded the matter, holding that Montana law did not provide Grandmother the ability to pursue a parental interest during the pendency of the child dependency proceeding. View "Cromwell v. Schaefer" on Justia Law

In this dependent neglect proceeding, the Supreme Court reversed the district court’s order permanently placing A.J.C. in the primary care of his maternal grandmother and denying the motion filed by the Department of Health and Human Services, Child and Family Services Division to place A.J.C. with Father, holding that the district court violated Father’s constitutional fundamental right to parent.After the Department became formally involved with Mother, it placed A.J.C. in Grandmother’s care. The district court then adjudicated A.J.C. as a youth in need of care. After a hearing to determine a final parenting plan and a permanency plan for A.J.C., the court awarded Grandmother primary residential custody of A.J.C. The Department subsequently moved the court to approve an amended permanency plan in which the Department recommended placement of A.J.C. with Father. The district court denied the motion. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that once Father successfully completed his court-ordered treatment plan and the Department determined Father to be a safe and appropriate placement, the district court unconstitutionally violated Father’s fundamental right to parent by placing A.J.C. with Grandmother. View "In re A.J.C." on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the final parenting plan ordered by the district court, holding that substantial evidence supported the district court’s decision and that Appellant failed to demonstrate reversible error.The final parenting plan in this case provided that the parties’ child would reside with Appellee and that Appellant had visitation on alternating weekends. On appeal, Appellant claimed, among other things, that many of the district court’s findings of fact were clearly erroneous and that the court’s parenting decision was not based on the best interest of the child. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) in choosing where the child would primarily reside, the court properly considered and weighed the statutory factors; (2) the district court did not abuse its discretion in developing a final parenting plan for the child; and (3) Appellant received effective assistance of counsel. View "In re Marriage of Kesler" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the order of the district court modifying the property settlement agreement entered into by Dennis Simpson and Larissa Simpson and the subsequent order awarding attorney fees, holding that the district court did not abuse its discretion.The district court here modified the agreement by terminating maintenance payments to Larissa. The court then limited the amount of Larissa’s attorney fees to those incurred during contempt proceedings. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the district court (1) did not abuse its discretion in concluding that continued imposition and enforcement of the parties’ agreement was unconscionable; (2) appropriately modified the agreement based on the parties’ unique circumstances; and (3) did not abuse its discretion in limiting Larissa’s attorney fees. View "In re Marriage of Simpson" on Justia Law