In 2024, our attorneys at Hoyt & Blewett PLLC secured a $6.5 million settlement in a wrongful death case — the highest reported single-plaintiff settlement in Montana that year.
The case, Williams v. North Park Transportation, Inc., was handled by Partners Zander Blewett, Anders Blewett, and Drew Blewett.
About the Case
Our client’s husband, a 60-year-old motorcyclist, was traveling through downtown Great Falls when a semi-truck driver working for North Park Transportation attempted an illegal left turn from the right lane of Second Avenue North. This maneuver directly violated Montana traffic statutes and caused the semi-truck to collide with our client’s husband as he lawfully passed on his motorcycle.
The crash left him with multiple catastrophic injuries, including an open-book pelvic fracture, severe vascular damage, and knee trauma. After multiple surgeries and nearly two weeks in the hospital, he tragically died from a pulmonary embolism the day before his scheduled discharge. His surviving wife brought claims for wrongful death and survivorship.
Litigation and Legal Strategy
North Park Transportation disputed liability and attempted to assert a comparative negligence defense, claiming the motorcyclist was speeding. Witness testimony, however, confirmed that he had not been speeding and could not have avoided the collision.
As the case progressed, our legal team prevailed on several procedural battles. The court set a deadline for simultaneous expert disclosures, which our client met. North Park Transportation, however, attempted to disclose an expert witness weeks later. Our attorneys moved to strike the late expert disclosure, and in January 2024, the court granted that motion.
On February 2, 2024, the court granted summary judgment in favor of our client, finding the defendants liable for the crash, for the resulting injuries, and rejecting the comparative negligence defense. This ruling cleared the way for trial on damages only.
The Resolution
Following court orders that struck the defense expert and established liability, the case was mediated in March 2024 in Great Falls. The parties reached a $6.5 million settlement. As part of the agreement, North Park Transportation also adopted a written directive prohibiting its drivers from making left turns at the intersection where the collision occurred.
This settlement stands as the highest reported single-plaintiff recovery in Montana for 2024.
This outcome reflects both the gravity of the loss suffered by our client’s family and the diligence of our attorneys in overcoming liability defenses and procedural challenges. At Hoyt & Blewett PLLC, we are proud to have secured accountability in this wrongful death case and remain dedicated to fighting for families who suffer life-changing losses due to negligence.
If you have questions about a potential case and how our award-winning team can help, call (406) 233-1302 or contact us online.