Pengra v. State

¶1 Steve Pengra brought this action against the State of Montana contending that the State’s negligent acts and omissions led to the brutal rape and murder of his wife Tamara by a Montana prison probationer. Pengra and the State settled the suit before trial, and Pengra asked the court to seal the settlement agreement. Montana Law Week, the Helen&IndependentRecord, The Associated Press, the Billings Gazette, and the Missoulian (collectively, “the press”) were granted permission to intervene in opposition to Pengra’s request. The First Judicial District Court, Lewis and Clark County, later…