Bellamah v. Datsopoulas, PC

DA 24-0688 ·Direct Appeal ·Civil ·Closed
Docket DA 24-0688
Type Direct Appeal — Negligence
Classification Civil
Outcome Reversed
Lower court case DV-32-2023-301
Lower court judge Hon. John W. Larson

Key dates

Closed Jun 25, 2026
Classified Feb 11, 2026
Appeal filed Nov 26, 2024
Record filed Jan 6, 2025
Briefing ended Nov 20, 2025
Opinion issued Jun 9, 2026
Briefing started Feb 3, 2025
Transcript filed Feb 3, 2025
Sent to the court Nov 20, 2025
Submitted for decision Nov 20, 2025
Appellant Reply Brief Filed Nov 20, 2025
Appellant Opening Brief Filed Jun 5, 2025
Appellee Response Brief Filed Oct 6, 2025

Calculated

from the docket dates
Appeal filed to briefing start 69
Briefing days 289
Briefing start to opening brief filed 121
Classified to Opinion 118
Close of briefing to sent to court 0
Filing date to Opinion 560
Filing date to closed 576
Opening to response 123
Opinion to closed 15
Response to reply 44
Sent to court to classified 82
Submitted for decision to Opinion 201

Tags

Closed En Banc Published opinion Reversed Subject to Mediation

Parties

Appellant
David H. Bellamah
Represented by Mary-Elizabeth Marguerite Sampsel
Appellee
Datsopoulos, MacDonald & Lind, P.C.
Represented by Trevor L. Uffelman
Appellee
Dennis E. Lind
Represented by Trevor L. Uffelman
Appellee
Matthew Anthony McKeon
Represented by Trevor L. Uffelman
Appellee
Molly K. Howard
Represented by Trevor L. Uffelman

Opinion

Bellamah v. Datsopoulas, PC, 2026 MT 124

Reversed on June 9, 2026, in a 6 to 0 published opinion.

Events

most recent first
Opinion - Published - Justice Gustafson - Reversed and Remanded Jun 9, 2026 2:30 PM Opinion
Order - Recusal - Justice Baker gives notice of her recusal in this matter Jun 3, 2026 1:51 PM Order - Other
Order - Classified - En Banc Feb 11, 2026 10:04 AM Classifying Notice
Event - Case Sent to Court Nov 20, 2025 11:09 AM Classifying Notice
Notice - Outgoing - Appellant's Reply Brief Filed Nov 20, 2025 11:09 AM Notice - Outgoing
Brief - Appellant Reply Nov 19, 2025 11:43 PM Appellant Reply Brief
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including November 19, 2025, within which to file his Reply Brief. No further extensions will be granted Oct 8, 2025 8:35 AM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Extension of Time - Appellant's Reply Brief - (First 30 days) Oct 7, 2025 7:45 PM Motion
AMENDED Notice - Outgoing - Brief Filed Oct 7, 2025 1:41 PM Other
Notice - Outgoing - Brief Filed Oct 6, 2025 4:53 PM Notice - Outgoing
Brief - Appellee's Response Oct 6, 2025 3:27 PM Appellee Response Brief
Notice - Incoming - Appearance - Trevor L. Uffelman for the Appellees Oct 6, 2025 11:02 AM Notice - Incoming
Order - Appellees shall have up to and including October 6, 2025 to file their Answer Brief Aug 28, 2025 3:59 PM Order - Other
Motion - Unopposed - Extension of Time - Appellee's Response Brief Aug 28, 2025 3:40 PM Motion
Order - Defendants/Appellees shall have up to and including September 5, 2025 to file their Answer Brief Jul 31, 2025 12:12 PM Order - Other
Motion - Unopposed - Appellee's Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension Jul 31, 2025 11:02 AM Motion
Grant - Appellees shall have up to and including August 6, 2025 to file their Answer Brief Jun 26, 2025 12:14 PM Other
Motion - Unopposed - Appellee's Extension of Time - Brief (First Request 30 Days) Jun 26, 2025 11:30 AM Motion
Notice - Outgoing - Brief Filed Jun 5, 2025 10:18 AM Notice - Outgoing
Brief - Appellant's Opening Jun 4, 2025 6:14 PM Appellant Opening Brief
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including June 4, 2025, within which to file his Opening Brief Apr 30, 2025 12:23 PM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Appellant's Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension Apr 30, 2025 11:11 AM Motion
Notice - Incoming - PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that Defendants/Appellees, Dennis Lind, Molly Howard, Matthew McKeon, and Datsopoulous, MacDonald & Lind, P.C., hereby consent to the withdrawal of Scott Gratton and Erik Anderson of Brown Law Firm, P.C., as their counsel of record in this matter, and to the substitution of Fred Simpson and Ryan C. Addis of HALL & EVANS, LLC as their counsel of record Apr 2, 2025 4:53 PM Notice - Incoming
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including May 5, 2025, within which to file his Opening Brief Mar 21, 2025 10:35 AM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension - Appellant's Opening Brief Mar 21, 2025 9:50 AM Motion
Grant - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including April 4, 2025, within which to file the Appellant's opening brief Feb 25, 2025 11:40 AM Other
Motion - Unopposed - Appellant's Motion for an Extension of Time - Brief (First Request 30 Days) Feb 25, 2025 9:48 AM Motion
Mediation - Mediator's Report - Case Not Settled Feb 10, 2025 3:14 PM Mediation
Notice - Outgoing - Transcript Filed Feb 3, 2025 4:14 PM Transcript
Electronic Transcript Filed of September 25, 2024 hearing Feb 3, 2025 4:03 PM Other
Notice - Outgoing - District Court Record Filed Jan 6, 2025 9:36 AM Record
Record - Electronic DC Record Filed for Cause No. DV-23-301 consisting of documents 1-47 and the case register report Jan 6, 2025 9:32 AM Record
Notice - Outgoing - Other Dec 31, 2024 2:33 PM Notice - Outgoing
Rulings - IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Jennifer Wells is granted an extension of time until February 14 , 2025, within which to submit the transcripts on appeal Dec 31, 2024 2:12 PM Ruling
Mediation - Selection of Mediator - MIKEL MOORE Dec 11, 2024 1:17 PM Mediation
Mediation - Case Subject to Mediation Nov 26, 2024 1:29 PM Mediation
Notice - Outgoing - Appeal Notice Nov 26, 2024 1:21 PM Notice - Outgoing
Fees - Filing Fee Paid (E-Filing) Nov 26, 2024 11:59 AM Fees
Notice - Incoming - Notice of Appeal Filed Nov 26, 2024 11:59 AM Notice - Incoming