Buckman v. Montana Deaconess Hospital

Counsel for the claimant Buckman, Lloyd Hartford, brought two cases to this Court which were consolidated for oral argument in 1986. They were Buckman v. Montana Deaconess Hospital (Mont. 1986), [224 Mont. 318,] 730 P.2d 380, 43 St.Rep. 2216, and Stelling v. Rivercrest Ranches (Mont. 1986), [224 Mont. 313,] 730 P.2d 388, 43 St.Rep. 2212. Each of these cases had essentially one prime issue, that is whether the 1985 legislative amendment of § 39-71-741, MCA, could be applied retroactively.

Hartford was successful in Buckman, establishing that retroactivity was improper. He was unsuccessful in…