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Address
111 N. Higgins, Suite 600, P.O. Box 4747
Missoula, Montana 59806 (Missoula Co.)
Average Client Review Rating
Rating not available
Average Peer Review Rating
4.5
out of 5
 Accepts Credit Cards (Main Office) Worden Thane P.C. is a full service law firm that has been representing individuals and businesses throughout the state of Montana for over 83 years. In addition to maintaining a strong litigation practice we provide counsel and representation to a diverse clientele on a wide variety of legal matters. With offices located in the historic Florence Hotel in Missoula, we are dedicated to providing our clients with high quality legal services effectively, efficiently and at a reasonable cost. As a member of Meritas, an affiliation of 180 independent law firms located worldwide, we are able to provide our clients with counsel on matters not only in Montana but virtually anywhere in the world. Statement of PracticeGeneral Trial Practice, Federal, State and Tribal Courts and Administrative Agencies; Estate Planning, Probate and Tax Law; Business Organizations, Banking and Bankruptcy Law and Collections; Labor and Employment, Hospitals and Health Care, Schools, Construction, Oil and Gas and Transportation Law; Real Estate, Water and Environmental Law; Insurance Defense, Commercial, Medical/Professional Malpractice Defense, Products Liability and Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation. Year Established: 1924
Firm Size: 16
ClientsCOUNSEL FOR: Employers Association of Western Montana
General Motors Corp.
First Security Bank
Sammons Trucking
First Interstate Bank
Honda North America, Inc.
St. Patrick Hospital
First National Bank of Montana
Triple W Equipment, Inc.
WGM Group (Engineering)
Missoula County Public Schools
Zip Beverage
Zions First National Bank
Providence Surgery Center
Sirius Construction, Inc.
R.H. Grover (Industrial HVAC)
Missoula Independent (Publishing)
Northstar Air Express
Neptune Aviation, Inc.
Big Sky Development Group, LLC (Real Estate Development)
Bridger Peaks, LLC (Shopping Centers)
Erck Hotels Corp.
3M Mining and Manufacturing
Professional Consultants, Inc. (Land Use Planning).
INSURANCE CLIENTS: Employers Reinsurance Corp.
Physicians Insurance
The St. Paul Companies
Mountain States Healthcare Reciprocal Risk Retention Group.
Rate InformationFixed Hourly Rates
Accepts Major Credit Cards
Address111 N. Higgins, Suite 600 P.O. Box 4747
Missoula, MT 59806, (Missoula Co.)
PhonePhone: 406-721-3400
Fax: 406-721-6985
Website
http://www.wthlaw.net
Office HoursMonday: 08:30 AM - 05:00 PM
Tuesday: 08:30 AM - 05:00 PM
Wednesday: 08:30 AM - 05:00 PM
Thursday: 08:30 AM - 05:00 PM
Friday: 08:30 AM - 05:00 PM
Donovan Worden (1893-1968).
Donovan Worden, Jr. (1918-2001).
Ronald A. Bender (Partner) born Butte, Montana, September 29, 1946; admitted to bar, 1971, Montana. Education: Carroll College (B.A., with honors, 1968); University of Montana (J.D., with honors, 1971). Phi Delta Phi. Recipient, Distinguished Service Award, State Bar of Montana, 1999. Listed: Who's Who in American Law, 1994; Best Lawyers in America Banking, Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Labor and Employment, Product Liability and Real Estate; Super Lawyers, 2008. Author: "Survey on Good Faith and Fair Dealing in Real Estate Transactions," International Council of Shopping Centers, Inc., 1999; "Repossession and Sale of Personal Property," Lorman Business Center, Inc., 1989; "Employee Handbooks," National Business Institute, Inc. 1991. Associate Editor, Montana Law Review, 1970-1971. Author: "Liability of the Manufacturer to the Ultimate Consumer," Montana Law Review, 1969; "Rights to Kill Wild Animals in Defense of Person or Property," Montana Law Review, 1970; "Title VII: Seven Years After," Montana Law Review, 1971. Law Clerk to the Honorable Russell E. Smith, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Montana, 1971-1973. Member, Montana Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 1987-1999. Chairman, Business Law Continuing Legal Education Seminar, 1987-1999. Member: Western Montana and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana; The Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Montana Defense Trial Lawyers; Defense Research Institute; American Board of Trial Advocates (Associate); Society Human Resource Management. Special Agencies: NLRB, Montana Human Rights Commission, EEOC. Reported Cases: Polar Bear Productions, Inc. v. Timex Corp. 384 F.3d 700 (9th Cir. 2004), amended October 25, 2004 WL 2376507, reversal and set aside of substantial jury verdict for indirect profits and reduction of loss of profits involving copyright, trademark, breach of contract, unjust enrichment, bad faith, and unfair competition relative to a kayaking video; Tripp v. Jeld-Wen, Inc., 327 Mont. 146, 112 P.3d 1018, 2002 MT 121 (2005), defense verdict in product liability claim of COMPLY flooring material; Travelers Casualty & Surety Co. v. Ribi Immunochem Research, Inc., 326 Mont. 174, 108 P.3d 469, 2005 MT 50 (2005), prosecution of declaratory action that pollution exclusion bars coverage for intentional dumping of hazardous waste into landfill; no duty to defend; and recovery of defense costs allowed; Yarbro, Ltd. v. Missoula Federal Credit Union, 310 Mont. 346, 48 UCC Rep.Serv.2d 1077, 50 P.3d 158, 2002 MT 152 (2002)(defense of transfer warranty and conversion of negotiable instruments); Chalmers v. General Motors, CV-80-64-M (United States District Court, D. Mont. Oct. 1982), successful jury verdict defense of automobile gas tank case involving a deceased driver and passenger with extensive burns; Ward v. Feist Watson Enterprises, Inc. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., et al., CV-85-203-M-CCL (United States District Court, D. Mont. Sept. 1987), successful in obtaining order preempting common law claims based upon cigarette labeling act in tobacco litigation action involving a death; Jacobson v. Western Montana Production Credit Association, CV 84-242-M (United States District Court, D. Mont. Sept. 1986), 643 Supp. 391, summary judgment on RICO, fraud, bad faith claims in lender liability case; Dobbins, Deguire & Tucker, P.C. v. Rutherford, MacDonald & Olson, 708 P. 2d 577 (1985), Annotated Case 52 ALR 4th 131, involving enforcement of covenants to reimburse for former employer for lost business. Practice Areas: Litigation; Corporate Law; Products Liability; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Labor and Employment; Banking Law; Insurance Defense; Real Estate; Mergers and Acquisitions; Energy.Email: Ronald A. Bender
Patrick G. Frank (Partner) born Great Falls, Montana, October 4, 1949; admitted to bar, 1980, Montana. Education: Eastern Montana College (B.A., 1977); University of Montana (J.D., 1980). Member, Order of Barristers. Lecturer in Law, University of Montana, 1983-1985. Member: State Bar of Montana; Western Montana and American Bar Associations. Reported Cases: In re Bergeson, 112 F.R.D. 692 (D. Mont. 1986); State of Montana ex rel, Boyne USA, Inc., v. District Court of the Fifth Judicial District, 742 P.2d 464 (Mont. 1987). Home Interiors, Inc. v. Hendrickson, 692 P.2d 1229 (Mont. 1984). Farmers Ins. Ex. v. Portage La Prairie Mut. Ins. Co., 907 F.2d 911 (9th Cir. 1990); Hall and Hall v. Bessenyey, 870 P.2d 1362 (Mont. 1994); Caekaert v. State Fund, 885 P.2d 495 (Mont. 1994); Zuazua v. Tibbles, 335 Mont. 181, 150 P.3d 361 (2006); Bitterroot International Systems, Ltd. v. Western Star Trucks, Inc., 336 Mont. 145, 153 P.3d 627 (2007). Practice Areas: Business Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Insurance Litigation; Personal Injury; Products Liability; Professional Liability; Wrongful Death.Email: Patrick G. Frank
Martin S. King (Partner) born Portland, Oregon, October 3, 1958; admitted to bar, 1984, Montana. Education: University of Oregon (B.S., 1980); Willamette University College of Law (J. D., 1984). Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Montana School of Law, 2008. Member: Western Montana and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana. Reported Cases: Legal Resource Agency, LLC v. Armstrong, 191 P.3d 368 (Mont. 2008); Meadow Lake Estates v. Shoemaker, 178 P.3d 81 (Mont. 2008); Yockey v. Kearns, 106 P.3d 1185 (Mont. 2005); Kullick v. Skyline Homeowners Ass'n, Inc., 69 P.3d 225 (Mont. 2003); WYMO v. Luggie, 953 P.2d 171 (Mont. 1998); Estate of Firebaugh, 897 P.2d 1088 (Mont. 1995); R.H Grover v. Flynn, 777 P. 2d 338 (Mont. 1989); Sterrett v. Milk River Production Credit Association, 764 P.2d 467 (Mont. 1988); Federal Land Bank v. Stiles, 700 F.Supp. 1060 (D.Mont.1988); In re Plummer, 20 Mont. B.R. 468 (Bankr. Mont.). Practice Areas: Business and Commercial Law and Litigation; Tort Litigation; Bankruptcy; Banking Law; Collections; Foreclosures; Real Estate; Easement Litigation; Zoning, Planning and Land Use; Appellate Practice; Civil Practice; Trial Practice.Email: Martin S. King
Patrick D. Dougherty (Partner) born Great Falls, Montana, May 17, 1950; admitted to bar, 1986, Montana. Education: Montana State University (B.S., 1973); University of Montana (B.S., 1977; J.D., with honors, 1986). Phi Delta Phi. Certified Public Accountant, Montana, 1981. Member: Western Montana and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana (Member, Business, Estates and Trusts, Taxation and Real Estate Section). Practice Areas: Taxation; Real Estate; Business Law; Corporate Law; Partnership Law; Contracts; Commercial Transactions; Employee Benefits; Elder Law; Wills; Trusts and Estates; Probate; Mergers and Acquisitions.Email: Patrick D. Dougherty
W. Carl Mendenhall (Partner) born Cut Bank, Montana, 1960; admitted to bar, 1987, Montana. Education: Montana State University (B.S., 1984); University of Montana (J.D., with high honors, 1987). Member, 1992 and Chair, 2001-2006, Lawyers Fund for Client Protection Board. Member: Western Montana and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana; Montana Defense Trial Lawyers; Defense Research Institute. Reported Cases: Isern v. Summerfield, 956 P.2d 28 (Mont. 1998); Wills Cattle Co. v. Shaw, 2007 MT 191, 167 P.3d 397. Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice Defense; Insurance Defense; Civil Litigation; Business, Corporate and Commercial Law; Health Care; Workers Compensation; Water Rights; Real Estate; School Law.Email: W. Carl Mendenhall
Shane A. Vannatta (Partner) born Williston, North Dakota, May 5, 1968; admitted to bar, 1993, Montana. Education: University of Montana (B.A. with high honors, 1990; J.D. with honors, 1993). Phi Delta Phi. Member, Montana Law Review, Business Manager, 1992-1993. Author: "Recognizing Parental Consortium: Montana Follows a Trend in Pence v. Fox," 54 Mont. L. Rev. 149 (1993). Acting Justice of the Peace, Department II, Missoula County. Member: Western Montana (Past-President) and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana (Board Chair). Reported Cases: Our Lady of the Rockies, Inc. v. Peterson, 181 P.3d 631 (Mont. 2008). Practice Areas: Business Law; Copyrights; Trademarks; Intellectual Property; Commercial Litigation; Commercial Law; Corporate Law; Contracts; Real Estate; Landlord and Tenant Law.Email: Shane A. Vannatta
Peter S. Dayton (Partner) born Princeton, New Jersey, January 11, 1954; admitted to bar, 1981, Illinois; 1983, Montana. Education: Montana State University (B.A., 1974); University of Pennsylvania (J.D., 1981). Presented continuing legal education seminars on the following: Montana Easement Law; Montana Public Road Law; Commercial Leasing; Subordination, Attornment, and Non-Disturbance Agreements; Structuring Complex Real Estate and Business Transactions; Preparing Closing Instruction Letters; Handling Transactions Which Involve Stacked Contracts for Deed; Developing Forms for Real Estate and Business Transactions; Drafting Easement Agreements; Lead-Based Paint Regulations. Member: State Bar of Montana; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Real Estate; Commercial Real Estate; Leases and Leasing; Business Law; Corporate Law; Nonprofit and Charitable Organizations.Email: Peter S. Dayton
Sean Michael Morris (Partner) born Provo, Utah, August 5, 1971; admitted to bar, 1996, Montana. Education: Montana State University (B.S.Ch.E., with honors, 1993); University of Montana (J.D., 1996). Order of Engineer. Tau Beta Pi. Member: State Bar of Montana; Western Montana Bar Association; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice; Commercial Litigation; Commercial Law; Litigation; Bankruptcy.Email: Sean Michael Morris
Gail M. Haviland (Partner) born Missoula, Montana, October 17, 1953; admitted to bar, 1988, Montana. Education: University of Montana (B.A., with honors, 1975; J.D., with honors, 1988). Member: State Bar of Montana; Western Montana and American Bar Associations; National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Practice Areas: Business Law; Contracts; Elder Law; Real Estate; Estate Administration; Estate Planning.
Matthew J. Cuffe (Partner) born Bellingham, Washington, June 17, 1970; admitted to bar, 1996, Montana. Education: University of Montana (B.A., 1993; J.D., 1996). National Golden Key Honors Society. Member: Montana Defense Trial Lawyer Association; American Bar Association; State Bar of Montana; Western Montana Bar Association; Missoula New Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Insurance; Insurance Defense; Personal Injury; Commercial Litigation; Employment Law; Real Estate.Email: Matthew J. Cuffe
Colleen M. Dowdall (Partner) born Anaconda, Montana, December 27, 1955; admitted to bar, 1981, Montana. Education: University of Montana (B.A., with honors, 1978; J.D., 1981). Lecturer, Public Road Law, Western Seminars, 1989-1992. Bank Counsel, Division of Montana Banker's Association, 1984-1988. Member, Western Montana Bar Association. President, 20th Judicial, 1993. Member: State Bar of Montana (Member, Ethics Committee, 1984-1987; Member, CLE Institute, 1990-2006). Practice Areas: Civil Practice; Trial Practice; Real Estate; Commercial Law; County Government Law; Boundary Disputes; Condominium Law; Easements; Quiet Title; Real Estate Development; Real Estate Litigation; Right of Way Easements.Email: Colleen M. Dowdall
——————————Reid J. Perkins (Associate) born Billings, Montana, August 29, 1974; admitted to bar, 2001, Montana. Education: University of Montana (B.A., Political Science, with honors, 1998; B.A., Psychology, with honors, 1998; J.D., with honors, 2001). Member: State Bar of Montana; Western Montana Bar Association. Practice Areas: Litigation; Labor and Employment; Business Law; Commercial Law; Property; Corporations; Contracts; Collections; Commercial Collections; Garnishments; Post Judgment Collections; Professional Collections; Retail Collections; Secured Collections; Unsecured Collections.Email: Reid J. Perkins
William Emmett McCarthy (Associate) born Butte, Montana, November 3, 1974; admitted to bar, 2002, Montana; 2003, U.S. Tax Court; 2006, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Education: Montana Tech of the University of Montana (A.A., 1995); University of Montana (B.A., 1997); University of Montana School of Law (J.D., 2002). Member, Western Montana Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. Member: State Bar of Montana (Member, Business, Estates, Trust, Tax and Real Estate (BETTR) Section); Western Montana Bar Association (Director); American Bar Association; National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Practice Areas: Estate Planning; Probate; Real Estate; Taxation; Business Organization; Commercial Transactions; Trust Administration.Email: William Emmett McCarthy
Jane Elizabeth Cowley (Associate) born San Francisco, California, October 15, 1971; admitted to bar, 2002, Montana. Education: University of Puget Sound (B.A., Politics and Government, 1994); University of Connecticut (M.S.W., 2001; J.D., 2002). Member: State Bar of Montana; Western Montana and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Real Estate; Litigation; Business Transactions; Family Law; Civil Practice.Email: Jane Elizabeth Cowley
Amy M. Scott Smith (Associate) born Helena, Montana, September 25, 1978; admitted to bar, 2008, Montana. Education: University of Montana (B.A., Anthropology, 2003; M.P.A., 2005; J.D., 2008). Member: State Bar of Montana, Western Montana and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Real Estate; Civil Practice; Litigation; Family Law; Business Transactions.Email: Amy M. Scott Smith
Jeremy G. Thane (Associate) born Missoula, Montana, May 4, 1927; admitted to bar, 1951, Montana; 1965, U.S. Supreme Court; 1969, U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit. Education: University of Montana (LL.B., 1951). Phi Alpha Delta. Lecturer in Law, University of Montana School of Law, 1967-1978. Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Labor and Employment Law and Health Care Law, Medical Malpractice Law, Personal Injury Litigation and Product Liability Litigation. Deputy County Attorney, 1953. City Attorney, 1958-1959. Chairman, Montana State Welfare Board, 1961-1969. Member, State Board of Health and Environmental Sciences, 1991-1995. Member: State Bar of Montana; Western Montana (Secretary, 1959-1962; President, 1968) and American Bar Associations; Association of Defense Trial Lawyers; Montana Defense Trial Lawyers; Defense Research Institute. Fellow: American College of Trial Lawyers. Special Agencies: National Labor Relations Board; Montana Human Rights Commission. Practice Areas: Management Employment Law; Management Labor Law; Medical Malpractice Defense.Email: Jeremy G. Thane
Benjamin M. Williams (Associate) born Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana; admitted to bar, 2009, Montana. Education: Abilene Christian University (B.A., magna cum laude, 2005); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 2008). Member: Western Montana and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana. Practice Areas: Civil Practice; Civil Litigation; Construction Law; Insurance Defense; Guardianship and Conservatorship; Health Care; Hospital Law.Email: Benjamin M. Williams
OF COUNSELMolly R. Shepherd (Of Counsel) born Woodland, California, November 17, 1942; admitted to bar, 1979, Montana. Education: Swarthmore College (B.A., 1964); Smith College (M.A., in Amer. Hist., 1970); University of Montana (J.D., 1979). Member, Order of Barristers. Recipient: William J. Jameson Award, highest award given by the State Bar of Montana, 2004; Distinguished Alumna Award, University of Montana School of Law, 2003; Outstanding Attorney Award, Western Montana Bar Association, 1998. Member, Supreme Court Equal Justice Task Force, 2001-2008. Member: State Bar of Montana (President, 2000-2001; Trustee, 1993-2002; Chair, Ad Hoc Discipline Committee, 2000-2002; Member: State Bar Law School Law Relations Committee, 1994-1997; Annual Meeting Committee, 2000-2001; Access to Justice Committee, 1998-2007); Montana Justice Foundation (Co-President, 2002-2005; Director, 1992); Western Montana Bar Association. Fellow: American Bar Foundation.Email: Molly R. Shepherd
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The following firm members have been rated by their peersDisclaimer: No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. The testimonial or endorsement does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. Any result that the endorsed lawyer or law firm may achieve on behalf of one client in one matter does not necessarily indicate that similar results can be obtained for other clients. Past success cannot be an assurance of future success because each case must be decided on its own merits. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Martindale-Hubbell® does not undertake to develop a Client Review Rating or Peer Review Rating for all firms and/or lawyers. Therefore, the fact that a firm or lawyer has not been reviewed should not be construed as unfavorable. Martindale-Hubbell accepts no responsibility for and will not be liable for the content and accuracy of the individual Reviews and the aggregated Reviews.
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