In the News

Article about lawsuit filed by Quentin Rhoades

12/14/2020

Lawsuit Filed to Block Governor Steve Bullock’s COVID Mandates

Peter Christian
Published: December 14, 2020

A group in Bozeman working with an attorney in Missoula filed a lawsuit in Helena District Court on Monday to block Governor Steve Bullock’s COVID 19 mandates regarding masks and that forced bars, taverns and restaurants to limit capacity and hours.

Missoula attorney Quentin Rhoades is representing Stand Up Montana, Baker Engineering and Structures, Liberty Fellowship, The Filling Station and one individual, Jane Rectenwald.

Rhoades described the lawsuit to KGVO News.

Attorney educates residents on self-defense legalities

11/13/2020

By Henry Netherland
Pathfinder
November 12, 2020

SWAN VALLEY - Missoula Attorney Quentin Rhoades showed Condon residents how they can legally defend themselves and their property during the second Neighborhood Watch meeting on Thursday, Nov. 5 in the Swan Valley Community Hall.

Photo by Henry Netherland, Pathfinder

[...] Rhoades said in cases of self-defense, there is a "100%" chance of a civil suit being brought forward. Even if the use of force is considered justified, a jury could still find said force negligent and would have the shooter relinquish their assets to satisfy the claim. He said there are three ways to prevent this relinquishment.
The first step is having homeowners and liability insurance, which would cover negligence. How much one should carry would depend on his or her home replacement value. On top of that, residents can get an umbrella policy, which Rhoades said "are usually pretty cheap," that would not only cover penalties covered by homeowners insurance, but also in cases where excess judgment occurs.

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Hunters join claims in 2018 Roosevelt Fire

9/15/2020

Buckrail.com Sep 11, 2020

WYOMING — The family of two hunters injured in the 2018 Roosevelt Fire near Bondurant, Wyoming are filing a personal injury claim against the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The men allege that Forest Service officials did not take appropriate action to fight the fire that started September 15, the opening day of deer season.
[...]
Quentin Rhoades of Rhoades Siefert & Erickson said he and his partners are representing the Knezovich’s of Rock Springs, Wyoming in the personal injury claim. Rhoades said the Forest Service knew, or should have known, the fire was human-caused and should have taken swift action to fight it. Forest Service policy and practice requires the agency to aggressively fight human-caused fires. “It’s the standard of care for human-caused fires,” Rhoades said.
Lightning strike records available at the time from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) severe weather web site showed the last lightning strike in the area was August 28. Firefighters were available who were just leaving a nearby fire that same day.
Rhoades is representing the Knezovich’s and most of 30 more claimants who are filing tort claims against the Forest Service under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) said Frank Carroll, managing partner at Professional Forest Management, a wildfire consultancy assisting with the Roosevelt fire claims.

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Article about Quentin Rhoades representing NBC Montana

11/11/2019

Judge lifts stay in case over spending on water company condemnation

by NBC Montana Staff
Wednesday, November 6th 2019
Read Full Article Here: https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/judge-lifts-stay-in-case-over-spending-on-water-company-condemnation

MISSOULA, Mont. — New information in our fight to track how our local government spends your money.
We’ve never been able to give you a detailed accounting of over $9 million taxpayers spent on attorney fees to take over Missoula’s privately owned water company from its former owner, the Carlyle Group. The city says it’s confidential information.
Now a Missoula County District Court judge has ruled Quentin Rhoades, a Missoula attorney representing NBC Montana in this case, can finally argue it in court.
Last year, the same judge put a hold on our case until Judge Karen Townsend ruled on attorney’s fees and the city’s claims the Carlyle Group charged too much. She did in August.

In September, attorney Quentin Rhoades filed another motion asking the judge to let our case be heard in court.
Wednesday, Judge Dusty Deschamps lifted his stay. In his order he writes, “the controversy before this Court involves a constitutional right of the public to know how its tax dollars are being spent.”
The mayor said initially he thought the bill to condemn Mountain Water would be about $400,000.
Throughout the entire condemnation process we asked for invoices, billing statements and expert witness fees paid by taxpayers to private law firms hired by the city. The city denied our requests.
Attorneys for the city and for NBC Montana will now schedule hearings and proceed with the litigation.
We will continue to work for you and let you know what happens next.

Article about Quentin Rhoades representing former Undersheriff

9/23/2019

Former undersheriff sues Missoula County for internal documents

BY: SEABORN LARSON
Sep 17, 2019

Former Missoula County Undersheriff Josh Clark, who has long had a contentious relationship with the current Sheriff T.J. McDermott — including twice unsuccessfully opposing him for the sheriff's job — has sued the county for the release of internal documents related to a captain's off-duty conduct.
Clark's lawsuit, dated Aug. 22, seeks the release of all emails, text messages and written communications between county officials regarding Missoula Sheriff's Captain of Training Bill Burt, the use of alcohol and county vehicles. The lawsuit does not detail specific events.

"He's got a special interest in the integrity of the the police in general, and the sheriff's office in particular," said attorney Quentin Rhoades, who represents Clark.

Read Full Article Here: https://missoulian.com/news/local/former-undersheriff-sues-missoula-county-for-internal-documents/article_7fd70416-6d21-551c-8ff1-1b92b8d17c9a.html

Article about Quentin Rhoades Representing the Republican legislators in regards to Montana Legislative Referendum 130

8/22/2019

Effort to strip Missoula’s authority to regulate firearms hits language debate

BY MARTIN KIDSTON
A number of Republican lawmakers from across the state are pushing to preserve a ballot statement prepared by Montana Attorney General Tim Fox explaining a contentious referendum heading to voters next year.
But opponents believe the statement fails to inform voters of the full impacts of the measure, known as Legislative Referendum 130, which would strip a local government’s authority to regulate the carry and possession of firearms under most circumstances.
As proposed, the referendum would prevent local governments from closing loopholes in the federal background check system. It would also strip a city of its ability to prevent “convicted felons, illegal aliens, adjudicated mental incompetents and minors” from possessing a gun.
It would also prevent cities and towns from regulating firearms at public assemblies, parks and schools, though the latter may be open for interpretation and lies at the heart of the debate.
“These opponents are asking the court to alter the attorney general’s ballot statement,” said Quentin Rhoades, a Missoula attorney representing the Republican legislators. “They’re afraid it’s going to pass, and they want to include the idea that this referendum will prevent schools from being able to regulate firearms on their campus.”

Read Full Article Here: https://www.missoulacurrent.com/government/2019/08/gop-firearms-debate/

Article about University of Montana faculty member being represented by Quentin Rhoades.

2/4/2019

University of Montana faculty member sues union for discrimination; investigation shows lack of evidence

KEILA SZPALLER keila.szpaller@missoulian.com Dec 23, 2018

A longtime lecturer at the University of Montana has sued the faculty union, alleging discrimination based on his Arabic ethnicity and Islamic faith . . .
Samir Bitar, who has worked at UM in various capacities, filed the complaint against the University Faculty Association, a labor organization representing UM faculty members.
The Montana Human Rights Bureau investigated the complaint before it was filed in Missoula County District Court and found "the allegations of the complaint were not supported by a preponderance of the evidence," according to its final report. The report also said Bitar did not produce evidence to support his claims.
The documents filed in Missoula County District Court show the dispute is related to the faculty's collective bargaining agreement with UM.
. . .
Bitar's lawyer, Quentin Rhoades of Rhoades, Siefert and Erickson, could not be reached by press time about the precise status of Bitar's current employment with the university. UM's human resources office also could not be reached late last week about his status.

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