Montana

Montana Enacts New Comprehensive Data Privacy Law; California and FCC Strengthen Consumer Protections

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WASHINGTON — A sweeping series of new data privacy regulations and enforcement actions have recently taken effect across the United States, reflecting a growing emphasis on consumer and data protection at both the state and federal levels. These measures range from state-specific privacy laws and sweeping federal rules around cybersecurity and data dealings to penalties against corporations for lapses in safeguarding consumer information. The Montana Consumer Data Privacy Act, modeling after laws in Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia, and Utah, began on October 1, 2024. This regulation enhances protections for state residents, excluding those in commercial or … Read more

Montana Asbestos Clinic Faces New Legal Battle Over Alleged Malpractice and Misdiagnosis, Linking Opioid Prescriptions to Wrongful Death Claims

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LIBBY, Mont. – A local clinic reputed for treating asbestos-related diseases is again in the legal crosshairs, this time facing allegations of medical malpractice and wrongful death connected to opiate prescriptions and misdiagnoses. A lawsuit filed October 10 in Lincoln County District Court accuses Dr. Charles Brad Black, the Center for Asbestos Related Disease, and other associated medical personnel of serious errors in diagnosis and medication practices that purportedly led to disability and death among residents. The complaint, lodged by Thomas Steiger, a representative of the late Terry L. Steiger who died in 2015, and … Read more

Montana Towns Reassess Urban Camping Laws in Light of New Supreme Court Ruling

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Belgrade, Mont. — In the wake of a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision, cities across southwest Montana, including Belgrade, Manhattan, and Livingston, are poised to reassess their urban camping regulations. Recent judicial rulings have empowered municipalities to enforce laws against public camping, a move that could significantly impact the homeless population in the region. The Supreme Court’s 2024 judgement in Grants Pass v. Johnson has removed restrictions that previously made it illegal for cities to penalize homeless individuals for sleeping in public spaces when no shelters are available. This decision reverses an earlier ruling from … Read more

Montana Law School Grad Found Not Guilty of Attempted Rape But Convicted on Other Charges in High-Profile Case

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Missoula, MT — In a late Friday deliberation, a Missoula jury issued a mixed verdict in the trial of Cole Larson Levine, a 25-year-old former University of Montana law student. Levine was acquitted of attempted sexual intercourse without consent but was convicted on four other charges including aggravated assault. The accusations stemmed from an incident reported in downtown Missoula in August 2022. Along with the assault charges, Levine was found guilty of destruction or tampering with a communication device and unlawful restraint, a lesser charge related to allegations of attempted kidnapping. Additionally, Levine faced consequences … Read more