Seminar Co-Chairs:
Paul D. Odegaard, Billings
Alex Rate, Livingston

April 12, 2013 
Billings Hotel and
Convention Center

6 CLE Credits

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Drew Blewett earned his law degree from University of Montana School of Law in2007 and his bachelor of science degree in political science from Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts. He is an associate at Hoyt & Blewett in Great Falls. Drew has been a member of Montana Trial Lawyers Association since 2007.

Joseph Cook practices in Billings as an associate at the Law Firm of Edmiston and Colton. Prior to joining Edmiston & Colton, he served as a Judicial Clerk to the Hon. Sam E. Haddon. At the UM School of Law, Mr. Cook was awarded the International Academy of Trial Lawyers Student Advocacy Award and competed on the AAJ Trial Team. Mr. Cook’s practice is exclusively dedicated to plaintiff’s litigation.

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Domenic A. Cossi represents people and property owners against insurance companies and corporate polluters. He has worked on car accidents, products liability cases, health and disability insurance claim denials, insurance class actions, oil spills, and civil rights cases. Domenic graduated from the University of Montana School of Law in 2010 and then clerked for the Hon. Randy Smith, United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Cossi serves as Secretary of the Federal Bar Association of Montana. He is a member of MTLA, where he serves on the Outreach Committee.

Colette B. Davies is the principal of Davies Law and has practiced in Billings since 1997. She focuses on civil plaintiff’s trial work with an emphasis on personal injury and insurance law. Ms. Davies served for six years as a municipal judge in Billings and has also taught as an adjunct professor at MSU-Billings in the Sociology/Criminology Department since 2007. She regularly lectures on constitutional criminal rights at Rocky Mountain College.

Donald L. Harris earned his law degree from the University of Montana School of Law, with high honors. Mr. Harris practices in Billings with the firm of Harris & Warren. His field of practice includes commercial litigation, professional negligence, insurance coverage/bad faith, plaintiff personal injury, nursing home negligence/abuse, and wrongful death. Don is a member of MTLA’s Board of Directors and serves on the Commission on Practice. He has been honored with the State Bar’s Distinguished Service Award and the Montana Civil Rights Protection and Advocacy System’s Courage Award. Harris is a member of AAJ and ABOTA.

Jacquelyn M. Hughes earned her undergraduate degree from Montana State University, Bozeman. She graduated with honors from the University of Montana School of Law in 2005. After practicing personal injury defense for Hedger Friend, Ms. Hughes opened Hughes Law on June 1, 2010. Jacqui currently handles numerous types of cases, including automobile accidents, wrongful termination, consumer protection actions and negligent construction.

Hon. Mary Jane McCalla Knisely, 13th Judicial District Court Judge, graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology before attending law school at the University of Montana. After receiving her Juris Doctorate, she returned to Billings to clerk for the Hon. Russell K. Fillner, District Court Judge, 13th Judicial District before becoming a Deputy City Attorney for the City of Billings. During the more than seven years she worked as a prosecutor, she worked on criminal cases, including traffic, domestic violence, drug-related cases and DUI’s. In 1997, she was elected as Billings Municipal Court Judge, a position in which she served for more than 13 years before election to her current position.

Joseph M. Raffiani practices in Billings and is Chair of Yellowstone County Democratic Central Committee. He also serves as Associate Appellate Court Justice in the Fort Peck Tribal Court. His past experience includes Assistant Montana Attorney General and Fort Peck Tribal Court General Counsel and Special Prosecutor. Mr. Raffiani earned his law degree from University of Montana School of Law.

Guy W. Rogers has over 25 years experience in trial practice with emphasis on personal injury defense and insurance law. He has been practicing with the Brown Law Firm since 1986. Guy has been a director and officer for the Montana Defense Trial Lawyers Association and president of the organization in 2008 and 2009. He has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America and Mountain States Super Lawyers. Guy graduated with a B.A. from the University of Montana in 1981 and a J.D. from the University of Montana School of Law in 1985.

Ben Sather is a Havre native and has practiced law in Billings with the law firm of Christensen Fulton & Filz, since 2007. Prior to entering private practice, Ben was a law clerk for the Montana Supreme Court. Ben is a 2006 graduate of the UM School of Law. Ben’s practice focuses on personal injury litigation, insurance law and commercial litigation.

Al Smith, a graduate of the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, has been the Executive Director and principal lobbyist for MTLA since September 1997. Prior to his work with MTLA, he represented persons confined at the Montana State Hospital and Montana Developmental Center for 10 years, and served 2 years as the director of MAP, now Disability Rights Montana. Al is a recipient of MTLA’s Public Service Award and AAJ’s Partnership Award.

Justin P. Stalpes is a partner at Beck and Amsden in Bozeman, Montana. He is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Law, where he served on the Montana Law Review. While in law school, Justin interned with Magistrate Judge Lynch. At Beck and Amsden, Justin has successfully litigated complex product liability and medical malpractice cases as well as motor vehicle accidents and insurance issues.

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Pay Online With Credit Card
PDF Registration Form (mail in with check)
Brochure
Schedule