Sims v. Vermace

DA 25-0613 ·Direct Appeal ·Domestic Relationship ·Closed
Docket DA 25-0613
Type Direct Appeal — Domestic Relations
Classification Domestic Relationship
Outcome Affirmed
Lower court case DR-2024-591
Lower court judge Hon. John W. Larson

Key dates

Closed Aug 27, 2026
Classified Jun 24, 2026
Appeal filed Aug 28, 2025
Record filed Oct 8, 2025
Briefing ended Apr 13, 2026
Opinion issued Aug 11, 2026
Briefing started Oct 8, 2025
Transcript filed Aug 29, 2025
Sent to the court Apr 13, 2026
Submitted for decision Apr 13, 2026
Appellant Reply Brief Filed Apr 13, 2026
Appellant Opening Brief Filed Dec 15, 2025
Appellee Response Brief Filed Mar 16, 2026

Calculated

from the docket dates
Appeal filed to briefing start 41
Briefing days 186
Briefing start to opening brief filed 67
Classified to Opinion 48
Close of briefing to sent to court 0
Filing date to Opinion 348
Filing date to closed 364
Opening to response 91
Opinion to closed 15
Response to reply 27
Sent to court to classified 71
Submitted for decision to Opinion 120

Tags

Affirmed Closed Five Justice Panel Non-cite opinion

Parties

Appellant
Justin Vermace
Represented by Bryan Charles Tipp Makayla Marceen White
Appellee
Lynnette Kathryn Sims
Represented by Carolyn Marlar Gibadlo

Opinion

Sims v. Vermace, 2026 MT 190N

Affirmed on August 11, 2026, in a 5 to 0 non-cite opinion.

Summary

This case grew out of a bitter property-line dispute between neighbors in rural Missoula County. Justin Vermace and Lynnette Sims disagreed over where their properties met, and the conflict escalated over time: Vermace installed a gate that turned out to encroach on Sims's land, confronted Sims and a surveyor, confronted a fencing crew, swore at and intimidated Sims and a friend while shining a flashlight at them, and was later caught on trail camera walking near the property line at night carry...

Experimental — generated by Claude, not part of the Court’s opinion.

Events

most recent first
Record - DC Record Returned to District Court Aug 27, 2026 9:04 AM Record
Event - Case Closed Aug 27, 2026 9:03 AM Closing Notice
Notice - Outgoing - Remittitur Issued Aug 27, 2026 9:01 AM Closing Notice
Opinion - Noncite/Memorandum - Justice McKinnon - AFFIRMED Aug 11, 2026 4:04 PM Opinion
Order - Classified - Five Justice Panel Jun 24, 2026 9:24 AM Classifying Notice
Event - Case Sent to Court Apr 13, 2026 3:40 PM Classifying Notice
Notice - Outgoing - Brief Filed Apr 13, 2026 3:39 PM Notice - Outgoing
Brief - Appellant Reply Apr 13, 2026 2:36 PM Appellant Reply Brief
Order - Appellant's reply to Appellee's Response Brief has been rescheduled to be filed by April 13, 2026. No further extensions will be granted Mar 23, 2026 2:18 PM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Extension of Time - Appellant Reply Brief Mar 23, 2026 11:20 AM Motion
Notice - Outgoing - Brief Filed Mar 16, 2026 4:06 PM Notice - Outgoing
Brief - Appellee's Response Mar 16, 2026 3:21 PM Appellee Response Brief
Order - Grant - Extension of Time - Appellee is granted an extension of time to and including March 16, 2026, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellee's response brief on appeal Feb 9, 2026 12:56 PM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Appellee's Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension Feb 9, 2026 11:06 AM Motion
Grant - Appellee is given an extension of time until February 16, 2026, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellee's response brief Jan 6, 2026 3:30 PM Other
Motion - Unopposed - Extension of Time - Appellee's Response Brief (First Request 30 Days) Jan 6, 2026 11:29 AM Motion
Notice - Outgoing - Appellant's Opening Brief Filed Dec 15, 2025 8:58 AM Notice - Outgoing
Brief - Appellant's Opening Dec 15, 2025 8:00 AM Appellant Opening Brief
Grant - Appellant's Opening Brief has been rescheduled to be filed by December 14, 2025 Nov 5, 2025 3:23 PM Other
Motion - Unopposed - Extension of Time - Appellant's Opening Brief (First Request 30 Days) Nov 5, 2025 11:38 AM Motion
Notice - Incoming - Appearance - Makayla M. White of Tipp Coburn Lockwood, P.C. respectfully notifies this Court that she has been retained by Appellant, Mr. Justin Vermace, to represent him as co-counsel in the above-captioned case Nov 4, 2025 3:28 PM Notice - Incoming
Notice - Outgoing - Exhibits Filed Oct 14, 2025 11:31 AM Notice - Outgoing
Record - Exhibits Filed for Cause No. DR-24-591 consisting of one (1) disc mailer with one (1) thumb drive Oct 14, 2025 11:28 AM Record
Notice - Outgoing - District Court Record Filed Oct 8, 2025 3:15 PM Record
Record - Electronic DC Record/Exhibits Filed for Cause DR 24-0591 consisting of 1-27, Exhibits, Sealed Documents, and Case Register Oct 8, 2025 3:10 PM Record
Notice - Outgoing - Transcript Filed Aug 29, 2025 3:29 PM Transcript
Record - Electronic Transcript Filed for Cause No. DR-24-591 of 03/28/2025 hearing Aug 29, 2025 2:49 PM Record
Notice - Incoming - Transcripts Deemed Necessary Aug 29, 2025 11:36 AM Notice - Incoming
Notice - Outgoing - Appeal Notice Aug 28, 2025 3:12 PM Notice - Outgoing
Notice of Appeal Filed Aug 28, 2025 2:49 PM Notice
Fees - Filing Fee Paid (E-Filing) Aug 28, 2025 2:49 PM Fees