7:30-8:25

Registration & Breakfast

8:25-8:30

Introduction & Welcome – John Morrison, Helena

8:30-9:30

9:30-10:30

10:30-10:45

BREAK

10:45-11:45

11:45-12:15

Resources in the Insurance Commissioner's Office

12:15-1:45

LUNCH (on your own)

1:45-2:45

Lawrence A. Anderson, Great Falls

2:45-3:45

Prof. Greg Munro, Missoula

3:45-4:00

BREAK

4:00-5:00

5:00

John L. Amsden is a 1988 honors graduate of Georgetown University Law School, where he served as administrative Editor of the Georgetown Law Journal. Beginning in 1988, John practiced law in Los Angeles, California, where his practice concentrated on litigation and trial of complex business disputes. John has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in large, complex partnership disputes, federal and state securities litigation, accountant malpractice, insurance coverage and several complex matters. In2001, John moved to Bozeman and joined the law firm of Monte D. Beck. John’s current practice is limited to representing plaintiffs in cases involving lost employee retirement due to breaches of fiduciary duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, hospital liability, medical malpractice, automobile crash worthiness, product liability, and general personal injury matters.

Lawrence A. Anderson earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1974. Mr. Anderson practices in Great Falls concentrating in the areas of complex torts, insurance claims practices and class litigation. Larry is a sustaining member of MTLA and a member of AAJ’s Leader’s Forum. He represents Montana on AAJ’s Board of Governors. Mr. Anderson has served on MTLA’s Board of Directors since 1997 and has served as its President. He is a recipient of the MTLA Appellate Advocacy Award and has chaired MTLA’s Amicus Committee since 2000. 

Joe Bottomly was born and raised in Great Falls. He earned his BS in psychology and political science from the University of Oregon and his JD from Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, OR. Joe has practiced in Montana since 1980. He has tried many civil jury cases including product liability, professional malpractice, business torts, auto accident as well as other personal injury matters. He is a sustaining member of MTLA, a past president, a recipient of the 2000 Trial Lawyer of the Year award and a member of ABOTA.

William L. Davies is a Montana native who joined the wealth and asset management team at U.S. Bank in Billings, Montana in 2006. He specializes in trust, conservatorship and IRA management, with an emphasis on helping clients manage resources to achieve their goals. Prior to joining U.S. Bank, Bill practiced law for 10 years in Billings with the firms of Felt, Martin, Frazier & Jacobs, P.C. and Crowley, Haughey, Hanson, Toole & Dietrich, P.L.L.P. His practice focused on the areas of real estate, finance, trust and estate planning, and probate. Bill graduated from the University of Wyoming with honors in1993 and attended Law School at the University of Montana, where he graduated in 1996.

Jim Hunt was born in Missoula when his dad was attending the University of Montana School of Law. Many years later, he also graduated from the UM School of Law. He has spent his entire legal career as an advocate for individuals against corporations, insurance companies, and government. He is lead counsel on two cases currently on appeal: Standard v. Morrison, a case involving discretionary clauses and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana v. Commissioner of Insurance, a case involving exclusionary language that attempts to allow Blue Cross to avoid paying health insurance benefits to personal injury victims until all automobile coverage is exhausted. Jim received the 2004 Montana Trial Lawyer of the Year award. He currently serves on the Governor’s Council on Traumatic Brain Injury and is the past Chairperson of the Council.

Kathleen M. Magone is a trust officer with U.S. Bank in Missoula, where she provides advice to clients and prospective clients in the areas of personal trust, private banking, and investments, with an emphasis on helping clients manage resources to achieve their goals. Prior to joining U.S. Bank, Kathleen was Chief Legal Counsel for the Montana Office of Public Instruction, an assistant professor at the University of Montana School of Law and Gonzaga School of Law, and practiced in Great Falls with Church, Harris, Johnson and Williams, P.C. Kathleen graduated from UM School of Law in 1989.

Jonathan McDonald has practiced law in Helena since his admission to the State Bar of Montana in 2006. He is a partner at the firm of Dix, Hunt & McDonald and his practice focuses on personal injury litigation, insurance law and workers’ compensation. He worked as a newspaper reporter for five years before attending law school and graduating with honors from the University of Montana School of Law in 2006. Born and raised in Nebraska, Jonathan moved to Montana in 2002 with his wife, Jennifer, a fourth-generation Montanan.

John Mudd serves as the Executive Counsel and Policy Advisor for the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance at the Office of State Auditor. He also serves as a Special Assistant Attorney General, litigating securities fraud claims. John helped direct the office’s 2009 legislative effort. Prior to joining the office in January, John was in private practice in Missoula, where he maintained a diverse practice, with an emphasis in commercial litigation. He served as co-lead counsel in one of the largest natural gas royalty owner class actions in state history and also has served as campaign counsel for U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester. Mr. Mudd is a graduate of the UM School of Law, where he was an articles editor of the Montana Law Review and a member of the school’s national champion moot court team.

Prof. Greg Munro teaches Trial Practice, Insurance Law and Pretrial Advocacy at the University of Montana School of Law where he is a Professor and Director of Professional Skills. He has also taught Torts and Remedies and co-coached the law school’s national championship Trial Team from 1989 until 1999. He regularly teaches CLE for organizations of lawyers, judges and law professors. Munro is a past president and board member of MTLA. He regularly researches and writes the quarterly Insurance Consumer Counsel’s Column for Trial Trends. Prof. Munro has published articles, a book and book chapters on topics of insurance, torts, medical-legal and legal education. He serves on the Montana Federal Local Rules Committee and the Montana State Uniform District Court Rules Committee. He practiced plaintiff’s civil litigation in Billings for13 years before joining the UM School of Law in 1988.