Montana Chamber Releases 2010 MT Supreme Court Review of Impact on Economic Development in the State.

The Montana Chamber of Commerce is pleased to release its biennial review of the Montana Supreme Court. The review analyzes cases from 2008-09 that had an impact on economic development in the state. Fifty-five cases were selected in the study and each justice received a rating based on the justice’s position in each case.

“The Montana Chamber is one of the few organizations that examine the performance of the Montana Supreme Court,” said Webb Brown, President and CEO of the Montana Chamber. “As the third branch of our state government, it’s just as important to watch the activity of the judiciary as it is to monitor the legislative and executive branches.”

Overall, the Court received a 45% rating for its decisions in crucial business cases. Receiving the highest individual rating was Justice Jim Rice at 79% (lifetime score of 81%). Other ratings of Court members include a 48% for former Chief Justice Karla Gray (71% lifetime), 34% for Justice Jim Nelson (40% lifetime), 32% for Justice Bill Leaphart (39% lifetime), 33% for Justice Pat Cotter (28% lifetime), 57% for Justice John Warner (60% lifetime), 42% for Justice Brian Morris (45% lifetime). Newly elected Chief Justice Mike McGrath, who participated in just fifteen cases because he was elected to the Court half-way through the study, received a 60% rating.

Over the past two years, the Court has made some important decisions – both good and bad. One case, Satterlee v. Lumberman’s Mutual, where the Montana Chamber filed as an amicus, the Court upheld a statute that prevents a person from collecting both retirement income and permanent total disability payments through workers’ compensation. In the same time period, the Court also handed down decisions that eroded private property rights, changed contract law, and opened the door to more workers’ compensation abuses.

The Chamber also conducts a review of the Workers’ Compensation Court cases every two years. That review will be released before the end of March.

For more information on the review, please contact Jon Bennion, Gov’t Relations Director of the Montana Chamber at (406) 442-2405, ext. 104, or [email protected].

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Mark Your Calendar – Legal Reform Conference, March 22&23, 2010 – Billings

Webb Scott Brown, CAE, President/CEO

Montana Chamber of Commerce – your business advocate

incl.: MT Chamber Foundation (Governors’ Cup and High School Business Challenge)

MT Justice Coalition, MT Manufacturing Council, and MT Assn. of Chamber Executives

900 Gibbon St / PO Box 1730

Helena, Montana 59624-1730

406-442-2405 ext. 101 / 406-442-2409 fax / 406-431-9508 cell

http;//www.MontanaChamber.com / [email protected]

also:

Montana Chamber Choices health insurance http://www.ChamberChoices.com

Montana Chamber blog http://www.MontanaMainStreetBlog.typepad.com

http://www.MontanaSafetyChoices.com (work comp program)