August 19 2008
offices. 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Petitioners shall have 30 days following the close of 

the public comment period in which to respond to any comments received. Copies of this 

Order will be sent to the State Bar of Montana, John C. Shulte, President and the Fee 

Arbitration Committee, Jim Lewis, Chair. 

DATED this \qkday of August, 2008. 

1" Justices 
July 10 2008
describes the history of the Rules on Arbitration of Fee Disputes. The fourth 

section is a summary of the major changes sought by this Petition. 

n. PROCEDURAL HISTORY LEADING TO REQUEST FOR 

RULE CHANGES 

The current Rules on Arbitration of Fee Disputes were last amended 

by this Court in July 1998. Since that time the Fee Arbitration Committee of 

the State Bar of Montana has met to monitor the effectiveness of the Fee 

Arbitration process, propose new rules and revise existing rules. The 

proposed changes were recommended by the Fee Arbitration Committee in 

response to issues arising from the decade's arbitration proceedings, as well 

as changes needed for consistency in language and grammar. 

The attached revisions were presented by the Fee Arbitration 

Committee to the State Bar Board of Trustees at their regular meeting on 

April 4,2008. The State Bar Board of Trustees approved the revisions. The 

next step in the process is this petition to the Court for amendment approval. 

111. COURT'S AUTEIORITY TO AlMEND RULES 

The Court has the exclusive authority to establish rules governing the 

arbitration of fee disputes. Article VII, Section 2(3) of the 1972 Montana 

Constitution gave the Supreme Court the authority to make rules governing 

the conduct of the members of the State Bar. 

PETITION AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF THE REVISION OF THE 2 

RULES ON FEE ARBITRATION 
The Supreme Court and the State Bar of Montana have enjoyed a 

history of cooperation and innovation in the development and 

implementation of rules and programs that carry out the purposes of the 

organization. Those purposes are described in the Court's Order unifying 

the Bar: 

The purposes of the Unified Bar of Montana shall be to aid the courts 

in maintaining and improving the administration of justice; to foster 

and maintain on the part of those engaged in the practice of law high 

standards of integrity, learning, competence, public service, and 

conduct; to safeguard proper professional interests of members of the 

bar; to encourage the formation, maintenance and activities of local 

bar associations; to provide a forum for the discussion of and effective 

action concerning subjects pertaining to the practice of law, the 

science and jurisprudence and law reform and relations of the bar to 

the public; and to ensure that the responsibilities of the legal 

profession to the public are more effectively discharged. 

In In re Petition of the State Bar of Montana for a Dues Increase, 7 20, 

53 P.3d at 857 the Court stated "the State Bar of Montana must continue to 

address the Court's and the legal profession's responsibilities to the public 

through such programs as Lawyers Helping Lawyers, Lawyers Fund for 

Client Protection; and arbitration of fee disputes." 

IV. HISTORY OF THE RULES ON ARBITRATION OF FEE 

DISPUTES 

The Fee Arbitration Committee is a Standing Committee of the State 

Bar of Montana. The committee is comprised of attorney, judicial and lay 

members from across the state. The objectives of the committee are to: 

PETITION AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF THE REVISION OF THE 3 

RULES ON FEE ARBITRATION 
1. Review rules and recommend changes. 

2. Encourage Bar support through participation in the program and as 

panel members. 

3. Monitor program for continued improvement. 

After the July 1998 amendments were adopted, the committee met to 

receive feedback on arbitrations conducted regarding fee disputes between 

clients and attorneys, and to propose changes to the rules as a result of that 

feedback. The committee met on the following dates: April 2,2001; 

October 19,200 1 ; January 28,2002; November 2 1,2003; March 12,2004; 

October 2,2007 and January 2008. Proposed changes were submitted to the 

State Bar Board of Trustees on April 4,2008 and were approved. 

V. SUMMARY OF REQUESTED RULE CHANGES 

Set forth below is a summary of the major changes sought by this 

Petition. 

Rule I - Purpose. 

The committee unanimously agreed that this program should not be 

used to settle attorneylattorney fee disputes, but that arbitration is meant to 

settle disputes between clients and attorneys. Language was added to Rule 

1.1 to clarifL this distinction. 

The committee recommended adding language to Rule 1.3(c) to 

preclude petitions being filed for fee disputes on matters that are currently in 

process with courts or administrative panels. There have been instances 

PETITION AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF THE REVISION OF THE 4 

RULES ON FEE ARBITRATION 
when a petition for fee arbitration was filed while the matter was in 

litigation, and where the fee issue was within a court's jurisdiction. The 

addition of Rule 1.3(c) prevents these petitions from being filed, deferring to 

the court's jurisdiction. 

The committee proposed new Rule 1.5 which prevents an attorney 

from filing a lawsuit over fees after a client has initiated resolution through 

the fee arbitration process. There have been instances when an attorney filed 

a formal lawsuit after the client sought resolution through arbitration. The 

addition of Rule 1.5 ensures that clients may seek resolution of fee disputes 

by the less formal arbitration process before being subject to a full court 

proceeding. 

Rule III - Administrative Matters - Setting Up Panels. 

Changes to Rule 3.1 are proposed which allow either party to 

participate in a fee arbitration hearing by telephone conference call (at their 

own expense) if the physical location of the hearing is one hundred (1 00) or 

more miles away. Current rules provide for telephone conference calls only 

if both parties agree to the telephone conference. Additional changes to 

Rule 3.1 deal with appointments of fee arbitration panelists by the State Bar, 

keeping in mind the goal of seating panelists of attorneys and lay persons 

from throughout the state of Montana. 

PETITION AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF THE REVISION OF THE 5 

RULES ON FEE ARBITRATION 
Rule V - Initiation of Proceedings. 

The committee recommended the addition of Rule 5.7 which outlines 

procedures for obtaining a binding arbitration decision. Both parties must 

agree to binding arbitration for it to take place. If binding arbitration is not 

selected, each party will have thirty (30) days from the date the decision is 

mailed to file suit before the decision will bind each party. The committee 

notes that there are many questions from participants on this point, and new 

Rule 5.7 should clarifj the procedures on how to obtain binding arbitration. 

Rule VI - Selection of Arbitrators. 

Rules 6.2 and 6.3 have been revised to clari@ how each party may 

strike an arbitrator fi-om the list provided by the State Bar. Currently under 

Rule 6.2, the State Bar mails each party a numbered list of names, addresses 

and occupations of seven (7) members of the panel who are eligible to 

arbitrate the dispute. The members on the panel are assigned consecutive 

numbers, alternating between attorney and lay members. The list also 

contains two (2) choices, "Hearing Requested" or "Hearing Waived". 

Proposed Rule 6.2 deletes descriptions of how the list is formed. It 

still provides for a numbered list of eligible arbitrators to be mailed to each 

party from the State Bar, and retains the two (2) choices of "Hearing 

Requested" and "Hearing Waived". 

PETITION AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF THE REVISION OF THE 6 

RULES ON FEE ARBITRATION 
Current Rule 6.3 mandated that within 10 (ten) days of receipt of the 

list each party eliminate one attorney and one layperson, and return the 

document to the State Bar. The final panel would then be selected from the 

non-eliminated members on the list, and be composed of the three (3) 

remaining panelists with the lowest assigned numbers, guaranteeing one 

attorney and one lay member on the panel. 

Proposed Rule 6.3 would allow the parties to eliminate a list member, 

but does not mandate the elimination of any names. It also outlines 

procedures for eliminating more than two (2) persons from the list. 

Proposed changes to Rule 6.6 detail how alternate arbitrators will be 

selected in the event a panelist is struck from the list. 

Rule 6.7 is deleted for redundancy. 

Rule VII - Arbitration Hearing. 

Proposed changes within Rule 7 clarifL procedural issues regularly 

confronted by the arbiters. Proposed Rule 7.2 identifies venue, allows 

participation by phone and extends the notice of hearing date to be issued 

twenty (20) days before the date of hearing, rather than the current ten (1 0) 

days. 

Proposed new Rule 7.3 requires the parties to distribute documents 

and witness lists no less than ten (10) days before the date of hearing. It also 

PETITION AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF THE REVISION OF THE 7 

RULES ON FEE ARBITRATION 
provides that documents not timely submitted shall be excluded absent a 

showing of good cause as determined by the Chair. 

Rule VIII - Arbitration Decision. 

Existing Rule 8.1 addresses the timeframes in which decisions will be 

rendered, how outcomes will be relayed to the parties and procedures to be 

followed in the event the arbitration panel is unable to reach a decision. 

Proposed Rule 8.1 incorporates the entire text of Montana Rule of 

Professional Conduct 1.5 on fees, providing the relevant factors to the 

arbitrator's determination. 

Rule IX - Confidentially and Immunity. 

The committee recommends that Rule 9.1 be revised to permit 

coordination of efforts with Montana Supreme Court's Office of 

Disciplinary Counsel, to prevent unnecessary duplication of efforts. The 

Rule remains unchanged in asserting that arbitrations are confidential and 

closed to the public unless ordered otherwise by a Court or another authority 

with the appropriate jurisdiction. 

VI. CONCLUSION 

The petitioners believe that amendments to the rules are 

necessary to make the rules clearer and more useful to both clients and 

attorneys. The Board of Trustees of the State Bar of Montana and the Fee 

PETITION AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF THE REVISION OF THE 8 

RULES ON FEE ARBITRATION 
Arbitration Committee request the Court adopt the proposed changes to the 

Rules on Arbitration of Fee Disputes. 

Petitioners request that the Court provide a period of comment before 

taking action on this petition. We request that the Court direct publication of 

this petition and the proposed rule changes in The Montana Lawyer and on 

the State Bar's website and solicit comments and a response from the Bar 

nle1120eush;p anb pubiic beiu~t. iu~~sidciing the rcyucsr fur anicl~cirrlen~. 

Petitioners request that they be given the opportunity to respond to the 

comments from the public and the bar. After the comment period has 

passed, the Petitioners request that the Court adopt the proposed changes to 

the Rules on Arbitration of Fee Disputes. 

Respectfully submitted this 3 day of June, 2008. 

STATE BAR OF MONTANA FEE ARBITRATION COMMITTEE 

(-- 

Jim Lewis, Chair 

PETITION AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF THE REVISION OF THE 9 

RULES ON FEE ARBITRATION 
EXHIBIT "A" 
STATE BAR OF MONTANA 

RULES ON ARBlTRATlON OF FEE DlSPUTES 

PROPOSED REVISIONS - 2004-2008 (Draft-1/25/08) 

Approved by Board of Trustees -April 4,2008 

I. PURPOSE 

1.1 It is the policy of the Supreme Court of Montana to encourage the informal 

resolution of fee disputes between attomeys who practice law in Montana and their 

clients. In the event such informal resolution cannot be achieved, the Supreme Court of 

Montana hereby establishes through adoption of these rules, a program and procedures 

for the arbitration of disputes concerning any and all fees and/or costs paid, charged, or 

claimed for professional services by attorneys. These rules do not apply to disputes 

between attomeys with respect to sharing of fees. 

Comment: The subcommittee unanimously agreed that this program should not be used 

to settle attorneylattorney fee disputes, as in fee-splitting cases. 

1.2 In lieu of these remedies for arbitration of fee disputes, the parties may wish 

to pursue binding arbitration under the provisions of the Uniform Arbitration Act, 

Sections 27-5-111 through 27-5-324, MCA. To do so, the parties must enter into a 

binding arbitration agreement as required under applicable state or federal law. 

1.3 The following disputes are exempt from the operation of these rules: 

(a) disputes which are subject to a valid arbitration agreement under 

applicable state or federal law; and 

(b) disputes which are the subject of litigation filed prior to actual receipt of 

-r 

the Petition by the State Bar of Montana. An attorney's lien shall not exempt the 

II ' ' . I, 

[c) disputes recarding fees pending or determined by a court or 

administrative panel, including but not limited to bankruptcy, worker's compensation 

and probate cases. 

Comment: We have processed Petitions only to learn from the attorney the matter is in 

bankruptcy, a worker's compensation or probate case, wherein the fees will be or have 

already been reviewed and approved by a court. A court of law has jurisdiction over 

these cases. The goal of adding (c) is to preclude those cases from being filed in the first 

place. 

1.4 Nothing in these rules is intended to interfere with or supersede the powers 

and authority of the Commission on Practice or applicable statutes of limitation. 
1.5 Once a Petition for Arbitration is filed with the State Bar, a lawsuit cannot be 

prosecuted by any party, until this - process has been completed bv the issuance of a 

written decision, dismissal or withdrawal. 

Comment: The intent of the 1998 revision was to preclude an attorneyfiom being able 

to file a lawsuit after a client filed a Petition. While that was the intent, no where in 

the rules was that clearly stated.. Consequently, we have attorneys who "ignore" the 

filing of the Petition for Arbitration by filing suit for collection of the fees. In some of 

those cases, both processes have proceeded simu2taneously. In one instance the Court 

dismissed the court action citing these Rules. Adding 1.5 allows the petitioner to go 

through this process first, with the goal of less formal resolution, without having to go 

to court. 

11. DEFINITIONS 

"&my&' "Attomey" means a person admitted to the practice of law in Montana, 

or any other person who appears, participates or otherwise engages in the practice of 

law in Montana, regardless of the status of his or her license. In these rules, the term 

"Attomey" includes an attorney's assignee. 

Comment: These proposed rules consistently replace "lawyer" with "attorney". 

"Board" means the three (3) persons chosen from a judicial district panel or 

statewide panel to act as arbitrators in a particular dispute and will consist of at least 

one attomey and one lay member. 

"Client" means a person or entity who directly or through an authorized 

representative consults, retains or secures legal service or advice from an attomey in the 

attorney's professional capacity 

"Panel" means &weh+X+-wthe entire list of attomeys and lay 

persons who make up the fee arbitration "panel" for each judicial district. 

"Statewide Panel" means all attorneys and lay persons currently serving on each 

judicial district panel who have actually acted as an arbitrator under these rules or the 

preceding "Rules on Voluntary Arbitration of Fee Disputes". 

111. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS - SETTING UP PANELS 

3.1 The State Bar shall administer this program through its Executive Director. 

The State Bar will appoint members 

to the arbitration panel in each various judicial districts composed 

of attomeys and lay persons who reside in the district. The State Bar may seek the 

advice and recommendation of the local bar president in making the appointments. The 

initial term of appointment shall be three (3) years and such appointment may be 

renewed for a successive term or terms. In cases where there are an insufficient number 

of attorneys and/or lav persons for a panel, the matter will be reviewed by a panel in a 

judicial district chosen bv the State Bar, based on availabilitv of panelists. In such cases, 
either party may participate by telephone conference call at their own expense if 

requested A if the location of the hearing requires them to travel 100 miles or more. 

Comment: We have some districts where no panel exists. We have been referring those 

cases to the closest district we have available, but in some cases this means a party 

may have to travel a great distance for the hearing. We don't have the resources to pay 

the arbitrators to travel and since they are already donating their time, we don't feel 

we should require them to travel as well. Current rules only allow telephone 

participation if BOTH parties agree. 

3.2 The term of any panel member which ends for any reason while an 

arbitration is pending before an arbitration board of which he or she is a member shall 

be extended until such arbitration is concluded, but such extension shall not interfere 

with the State Bar's power to appoint a successor to the judicial district panel. 

3.3 The panel members in each judicial district shall be appointed from as broad 

a spectrum of the practicing Bar and general public as possible. 

3.4 Each person appointed to a panel as provided in 3.1 shall also be a member 

of the statewide fee arbitration panel once that person has actually served as an 

arbitrator on a local board. Such statewide appointment shall be for the duration of 

their term on the local panel. Members of the statewide panel may be called upon in the 

event panelists are not available in a certain judicial district. 

IV. AMOUNTS IN DISPUTE WHICH MAY BE ARBITRATED UNDER THESE 

RULES 

Any "disputed amount" (delete quotes) of $500.00 or more may be arbitrated. The 

"disputed amount" (delete quotes) may include fees and costs paid, charged, or claimed 

for professional services by attorneys. If only a portion of a fee and/or costs is disputed, 

that portion must be at least $500.00. 

V. INITIATION OF PROCEEDINGS 

5.1 The forms required to initiate arbitration may be obtained from the State Bar 

of Montana, P.O. Box 577, Helena, MT 59624, (406) 442-7660, or from the Bar's website: 

www.montanabar.org. The petitioner shall file an oriRinal and one copy of eeqdek 

the Petition and supporting documents and sign two (2) Arbitration Agreements and 

file those documents with the State Bar. All documents may be filed electronicallv, by 

fax (406)442-7763, or by U.S. Postal Service. 

5.2 Upon receipt of the duly executed documents from Petitioner, the State Bar 

shall promptly forward, by certified mail, a copy of the Petition and an original and one 

copy of the Arbitration Agreement to the opposing party0 named in the Petition. 

5.3 Upon receipt of a copy of the signed Petition and Arbitration Agreement, the 

Respondent has the following Qeptions: 
. . (a) participate in hbinding arbitration a-t--&e 

(b) participate in non-binding arbitration &&e&set, 

or 

(c) not participate in the arbitration. 

5.4 If Qeptions (a) or (b) are @ chosen, the Respondent shall sign the Arbitration 

Agreement and return it to the State Bar within twenty (20) days of receipt thereof. 

5.5 If the Respondent is the attorney and chooses Qeption (c) or fails 

to return the signed agreement within the time specified above, the client will be 

notified that arbitration will take place without the attorney's participation. If the 

attomey chooses not to participate, h&&e the attomey will be sent a copy of the 

written arbitration decision when it is rendered. The decision will become binding 

unless action is taken by either party pursuant to Rule 8.4 herein. 

Comment: Grammatical revisions and clarification that an attorney who either 

chooses Option (c) does not return the signed agreement is barred from participating 

in the process. 

5.6 If the Respondent is the client wke chooses Qeption (c), or the client fails 

to return the signed agreement within the time specified above, the State Bar will notify 

the attomey of client's choice not to participate and the matter will be deemed closed for 

purposes of arbitration, pursuant to these Rules. 

Comment: Grammatical and to make it consistent with 5.5. 

5.7 Both parties must sim under Option (a) in order for binding; - arbitration to 

take place. If one par@ sims under Option (a) and the other sims under Option (b), the 

arbitration will be nonbinding. Either party will have thirty (30) days from the date of 

mailing; the decision to the parties to file suit if they wish to do so, before the arbitration 

decision under Rule 8 becomes binding. 

Comment: Clarification for clients as we get questions about this all the time. 

5.78 No party may withdraw from these arbitration proceedings without written 

consent of the opposing party once the Arbitration Agreement has been signed by both 

parties and returned to the State Bar. 

VI. SELECTION OF ARBITRATORS 

6.1 The panel having jurisdiction over a dispute shall be the panel appointed for 

affp. judicial district in which the attorney to the dispute maintains his or her 

primary a law office, unless: 

(a) the parties agree that the matter should be referred to a statewide panel 

or, 
(b) the State Bar determines there are an insufficient number of qualified 

arbitrators available in the appropriate judicial district, in which case the State Bar 

may appoint such additional arbitrators as may be required from an adjacent 

judicial district or from the statewide panel, or 

(c) the attorney does not maintain an office in Montana, in which case, the 

jurisdiction shall be the one in which the Client resides or has its primary office, or 

(d) if none of the above apply, the State Bar will determine which 

jurisdiction(s) the arbitrators will come from, taking into account availability of 

arbitrators and other considerations. 

6.2 The State Bar shall mail to each party a numbered list of 

eligible arbitrators. 

... -. The list will also 

contain two choices: "Hearing Requested" or "Hearing Waived" (see paragraphs 7.1 

and 7.2). 

. . 6.3 Each party ) 

. . 1- 

ef may eliminate one attorney and one lay person from the list and mav 

request a hearing. - Eliminations and requests for a hearing must be made in writing and 

filed with the State Bar electronicallv, bv fax or by regular mail, within ten (10) days of 

receipt of the list. 

StateBe If either partv wishes to eliminate 

more than two (2) persons from the list, they must send a written request within ten (10) 

days of receipt of the list, stating the reasons for the request. The State Bar will rule on 

such request. No party may disqualify lw+&Aw& more than three (3) beas4 rrteffteers 

arbitrators in anv single dispute. (Last sentence was moved from 6.5 with minor 

changes) The arbitration Board shall consist of the remaining three members having the 

lowest assigned numbers. Notice of the names of the Board members thus selected shall 

be given by the State Bar to the parties and to the selected arbitrators. 

Comment: The last proposed revision deleted a "numbered list. However, 1 believe 

this makes it easier to determine which people sene and lets the parties know that we 

aren't just "randomly" choosingpeople as was suggested in the last revision. 

6.4 The State Bar will appoint a Chair. 

6.5 A Board member may decline to act as an arbitrator in a particular dispute . . for good cause shown. 
(Last sentence moved to 6.3, with minor 

changes.) 

6.6 If a disqualified arbitrator is an attorney, the e+seme& 

alternate arbitrator shall be the attorney on the list sent to the parties with the 

next lowest number. If the arbitrator disqualified is a lay person, the 

alternate shall be the lay person on the list sent to the parties with the next 

lowest number. The State Bar shall immediately advise the parties of the name of the 

alternate arbitrator to replace the disqualified arbitrator. If 

there are no ephema4 alternates is available from the initial list of proposed 

arbitrators submitted to the parties, the State Bar will submit a new numbered list of 

three (3) names of either all attorneys or all lay persons, whichever is to be replaced. 

Within ten (10) days of receipt of the list, each party will cross off the name of one 

person and return the list to the State Bar. The membx alternate will be 

the person remaining on the list with the lowest number. 

Comment: In an effort to cut down on conflicts, it has been suggested we send the 

ENTIXE list of possible arbitrators to the parties at the outset. This gives a broader 

pool to pick from, hopefully reducing the need to pick more names later, if the first list 

doesn't work out. All disqualifications must be made at the outset, giving the parties 

up to three challenges. Current rule allows parties to challenge after the initial board is 

chosen, creating inefficiencies and time delays. 

Comment: 6.7 is redundant. These rules state throughout that documents are to be filed 

with the State Bar. Some documents may be returned if not properly completed, but in 

most cases, they are processed and filed per the rules. 

VII. ARBITRATION HEARING 

7.1 If both parties agree to waive a hearing, the arbitrators shall decide the 

dispute upon written statements of position, signed under oath or affirmation and 

notarized ad&med, along with any supporting documents submitted by each party, 

without personal attendance at an arbitration hearing. 

7.2 If a hearing is requested by either party, it shall be held in the judicial district 

from which the board is chosen, within ninety (90) days after the final arbitration Board 

has been selected, subject to postponement or continuance as provided in 7.4 5. The 

Chair shall determine a convenient time and place for the hearing and cause written 

notice to be mailed to the parties and other arbitrators not less than 

twentv (20) ten+W&days before the hearing. Appearance by a party at a scheduled 

hearing shall constitute waiver by said party of any deficiency with respect to the notice 

of hearing. Either pa* or an arbitrator may appear by telephone, for ~ood cause 

shown, at the discretion of the State Bar. 
7.3 The parties shall submit copies of additional documents to be reviewed, 

along - with a list of witnesses, to each arbitrator, and to the opposing par@ no less than 

ten (10) days before the date of the hearing. Documents not timely submitted shall be 

excluded absent a showing - of - good cause as determined by the Chair. 

Comment: New 7.3 will give arbitrators time to review the documents before the 

hearing, rather than having documents submitted at the time of the hearing. It also 

relieves State Bar stafi of having to make four or more copies of documents that are 

sometimes hundreds of pages if filed with the Petition. 

7.34 The Chair shall preside at the hearing. The chair shall be the judge of the 

relevance of the evidence offered and shall rule on questions of procedure. The chair 

shall exercise all powers relating to the conduct of the hearing, and conformity to 

Federal or Montana Rules of Evidence shall not be required. 

7.4 5 The hearing may be postponed or continued from time to time by the chair. 

7.56 The parties to the arbitration are entitled to be heard, present evidence and 

cross-examine the other paw or witnesses appearing at the hearing. Any party to an 

arbitration has the right to be represented by an attorney, at the party's own expense, 

during all stages of the arbitration. 

7.4 2 The testimony of witnesses shall be given under oath or affirmation. The 

chair shall administer such oaths. 

7.7 6 If any party to an arbitration who has been duly notified fails to appear at the 

hearing, the Chair may either proceed with the hearing and determine the controversy 

upon the evidence produced or reschedule the hearing for a later date. 

7.8 Either party may, at their expense, have the entire proceeding recorded by a 

court reporter or by mechanical means. In such event, the other party shall be entitled 

to a copy of the transcript or recording at their own expense. 

VIII. ARBITRATION DECISION 

8.1 The arbitrators shall consider all relevant factors, including the Montana 

Rules of Professional Conduct (with particular attention to Rule 1.5) in determining 

whether the fees are iustified: 

"Rule 1.5 - Fees 

[a) A lawyer shall not make an agreement for, charge - or collect an 

unreasonable fee or an unreasonable amount for expenses. The factors to be 

considered in determining the reasonableness of a fee include the following: - 

(1) the time and labor required, the novelty and difficulty of the 

questions involved and the skill requisite to perform the legal service 

properly; 

(2) the likelihood, if apparent to the client, that the acceptance of the 

particular empl ent will preclude other employment by the lawyer; 
(3) the fee customarily charged in the locality for similar legal - 

services; 

(4) the amount involved and the results obtained; 

(5) the time limitations imposed bv the client or by the 

circumstances;" 

(6) the nature and lennth of the professional relationship with the 

client; 

(7) the experience, reputation and ability of the lawer or lawyers 

performing the services; and 

(8) whether the fee is fixed or contingent. 

(b) The scope of the representation and the basis or rate of the fee and 

expenses for which the client will be responsible shall be communicated to 

the client in writing, before or within a reasonable time after commencing the 

representation, except when the lawver will charge a redarlv - represented 

client on the same basis or rate. Any changes in the basis or rate of the fee or 

expenses shall also be communicated in writing. This paramaph does not 

apply in any matter in which it is reasonably foreseeable that total cost to a 

client, including attorney fees, will be $500 or less. 

(c) A fee mav be contingent on the outcome of the matter for which the 

service is rendered, except in a matter in which a contingent fee is prohibited 

raph (d) or other law. A contingent fee apreement shall be in a 

writing si-ped by the client and shall state the method bv which the fee is to 

be determined, including the percentage or percentages that shall accrue to 

the lawyer in the event of settlement, trial or appeal; liti~ation and other 

expenses to be deducted from the recoverv; and whether such expenses are 

to be deducted before or after the contingent fee is calculated. The 

agreement must clearly notify the client of any expenses for which the client 

will be liable whether or not the client is the prevailing pa 

conclusion of a contingent fee matter, the lawyer shall provide the client with 

a written statement stating the outcome of the matter and, if there is a 

recovery, showin? the remittance to the client and the method of its 

determination. 

/d) A lawver shall not enter into an arrangement for, charge or collect: 

(1) anv fee in a domestic relations matter, the pavment or amount of 

which is contingent upon the securing of a divorce or upon the amount of 

maintenance or support or property settlement in lieu thereof; or 

(2) a contingent fee for representing a defendant in a criminal case. 

/e) A division of a fee between lawyers who are not in the same firm mav 

be made only if: 

(1) the division is in proportion to the services performed by each 

lawver or each lawyer assumes joint responsibility for the representation; 

(2) the client agrees to the arranpement, including the share each 

lawver will receive, and the a~reement is confirmed in writins and 

(3) the total fee is reasonable. 

8.2 ate A written decision of the arbitrators shall be rendered 

days after the matter has been submitted for decision. To enhance the efficiency of this 

process, the arbitrators shall attempt to issue their ruling within twenty (20) days of the 

hearing. The arbitration decision shall be made and signed by at least two (2) of the 
arbitrators. It shall state the amount of fees and costs awarded, if any, the terms of 

payment, if applicable, and to whom any payment shall be made. 

8.3 The Chair shall forward the decision to the State Bar of Montana, which shall 

mail a copy of the decision to each party to the arbitration. 

8.4 If at least two (2) of the arbitrators cannot agree on a decision, the matter 

shall be submitted to a new arbitration board within thirty (30) days of the failure of at 

least two (2) of the arbitrators to agree. 

. . . . 

- 8.5 -- ,, t Be arbitration decision shall become binding . . thirty (30) 

days from the date it is mailed to the parties, unless an action is filed im-x&m in a court 

of law-. 

IX. CONFIDENTIALITY AND IMMUNITY 

9.1 All records, documents, files, proceedings and hearings pertaining to the 

arbitration of any dispute under these rules shall be confidential, except as ordered bv a 

Court or bv a disciplinaw authority with juridsdiction, or as necessary to enforce these 

Rules, and will be closed to the public. 

9.2 Parties and witnesses shall have such immunity as is applicable in a civil 

action in the jurisdiction. Committee members, arbitrators, panels and staff shall be 

immune from suit for any conduct in the course and scope of their official duties. 

X. ENFORCEMENT 

If, within 60 days of the mailing of the Board's decision bv the State Bar to the 

parties, an attorney against whom an arbitration decision is rendered has not filed an 

action in accordance with Rule 8.5 and has failed to comply with the Board's decision, 

the Supreme Court shall issue an order to show cause why the attorney should not be 

suspended from the practice of law. If good cause is not shown, the Supreme Court 

shall suspend the attorney from the practice of law. 

Nothing in this Rule allows parties who have b#h agreed to binding arbitration to 

bring an action in a court of law. 

Upon compliance with the Board's decision, the attorney shall provide proof of 

compliance to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court may then issue an order of 

reinstatement to the attorney. 

XI. DECISION ENTERED AS AN ORDER OF COURT 

If no action is filed in a court of law within thirty (30) days as referred to in 8.5 

above, the arbitration decision may be entered and filed as an order of court pursuant to 

the Uniform Arbitration Act, MCA 27-5-301, et seq. 
EXHIBIT "B" 
STATE BAR OF MONTANA 

RULES ON ARBITRAl7ON OF FEE DISPUTES 

Effective 

I. PURPOSE 

1.1 

resolution 

clients. In 

It is the policy of the Supreme Court of Montana to encourage the informal 

of fee disputes between attorneys who practice law in Montana and their 

the event such informal resolution cannot be achieved, the Supreme Court of 

Montana hereby establishes through adoption of these rules, a program and procedures 

for the arbitration of disputes concerning any and all fees and/or costs paid, charged, or 

claimed for professional services by attorneys. These rules do not apply to disputes 

between attorneys with respect to sharing of fees. 

1.2 In lieu of these remedies for arbitration of fee disputes, the parties may wish 

to pursue binding arbitration under the provisions of the Uniform Arbitration Act, 

Sections 27-5-111 through 27-5-324, MCA. To do so, the parties must enter into a 

binding arbitration agreement as required under applicable state or federal law. 

1.3 The following disputes are exempt from the operation of these rules: 

(a) disputes which are subject to a valid arbitration agreement under 

applicable state or federal law; and 

(b) disputes which are the subject of litigation filed prior to actual receipt of 

the Petition by the State Bar of Montana. An attorney's lien shall not exempt the 

dispute from these rules. 

(c) disputes regarding fees established by law, a court or administrative 

panel, including but not limited to bankmptcy cases and worker's compensation cases. 

1.4 Nothing in these rules is intended to interfere with or supersede the powers 

and authority of the Commission on Practice or applicable statutes of limitation. 

1.5 Once a Petition for Arbitration is filed with the State Bar, a lawsuit cannot be 

commenced by any party, until this process has been completed by the issuance of a 

written decision, dismissal or withdrawal. 

11. DEFINITIONS 

"Attorney" means a person admitted to the practice of law in Montana, or any 

other person who appears, participates or otherwise engages in the practice of law in 

Montana, regardless of the status of his or her license. In these rules, the term 

"Attorney" includes an attorney's assignee. 

"Board" means the three (3) persons chosen from a judicial district panel or 

statewide panel to act as arbitrators in a particular dispute and will consist of at least 

one attorney and one lay member. 
"Client" means a person or entity who directly or through an authorized 

representative consults, retains or secures legal service or advice from an attorney in the 

attorney's professional capacity 

"Panel" means the entire list of attorneys and lay persons who make up the fee 

arbitration "panel" for each judicial district. 

"Statewide Panel" means all attorneys and lay persons currently serving on each 

judicial district panel who have actually acted as an arbitrator under these rules or the 

preceding "Rules on Voluntary Arbitration of Fee Disputes". 

111. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS - SETTING UP PANELS 

3.1 The State Bar shall administer this program through its Executive Director. 

The State Bar will appoint members to the arbitration panel in various-judicial districts, 

composed of an equal number of attorneys and lay persons who reside in the district. 

The initial term of appointment shall be three (3) years and such appointment may be 

renewed for a successive term or terms. In cases where there are an insufficient number 

of attorneys and/or lay persons for a panel, the matter will be reviewed by a panel in a 

judicial district chosen by the State Bar, based on availability of panelists. In such cases, 

either party may participate by telephone conference call at their own expense if 

requested if the location of the hearing requires them to travel 100 miles or more. 

3.2 The term of any board member which ends for any reason while an 

arbitration is pending shall be extended until such arbitration is concluded, but such 

extension shall not interfere with the State Bar's power to appoint a successor to the 

judicial district panel. 

3.3 The panel members in each judicial district shall be appointed from as broad 

a spectrum of the practicing Bar and general public as possible. 

3.4 Each person appointed to a panel as provided in 3.1 shall also be a member 

of the statewide fee arbitration panel once that person has actually served as an 

arbitrator on a local board. Such statewide appointment shall be for the duration of 

their term on the local panel. Members of the statewide panel may be called upon in the 

event panelists are not available in a certain judicial district. 

IV. AMOUNTS IN DISPUTE WHICH MAY BE ARBITRATED UNDER THESE 

RULES 

Any disputed amount of $500.00 or more may be arbitrated. The disputed amount 

may include fees and costs paid, charged, or claimed for professional services by 

attorneys. If only a portion of a fee and/or costs is disputed, that portion must be at 

least $500.00. 
V. INITIATION OF PROCEEDINGS 

5.1 The forms required to initiate arbitration may be obtained from the State Bar 

of Montana, P.O. Box 577, Helena, MT 59624, (406) 442-7660, or from the Bar's website: 

www.montanabar.org. The petitioner shall complete the Petition and sign two (2) 

Arbitration Agreements and file those documents with the State Bar. All documents 

may be filed electronically, by fax (406)442-7763, or by U.S. Postal Service. Supporting 

documents are not to be filed with the Petition, but will be required prior to any hearing 

or review. However, the parties will bear the burden of copying and mailing 

supporting documents to the arbitrators and opposing party. 

5.2 Upon receipt of the duly executed documents from Petitioner, the State Bar 

shall promptly forward, by certified mail, a copy of the Petition and an original and one 

copy of the Arbitration Agreement to the opposing party(ies) named in the Petition. 

5.3 Upon receipt of a copy of the signed Petition and Arbitration Agreement, the 

Respondent has the following Options: 

(a) participate in binding arbitration 

(b) participate in non-binding arbitration, or 

(c) not participate in the arbitration. 

5.4 If Options (a) or (b) are chosen, the Respondent shall sign the Arbitration 

Agreement and return it to the State Bar within twenty (20) days of receipt thereof. 

5.5 If the Respondent is the attorney and chooses Option (c) or fails to return the 

signed agreement within the time specified above, the client will be notified that 

arbitration will take place without the attorney's participation. If the attomey chooses 

not to participate, the attomey will be sent a copy of the written arbitration decision 

when it is rendered. The decision will become binding unless action is taken by either 

party pursuant to Rule 8.4 herein. 

5.6 If the Respondent is the client and chooses Option (c), or the client fails to 

return the signed agreement within the time specified above, the State Bar will notify 

the attomey of client's choice not to participate and the matter will be deemed closed for 

purposes of arbitration, pursuant to these Rules. 

5.7 Both parties must sign under Option (a) in order for binding arbitration to 

take place. If one party signs under Option (a) and the other signs under Option (b), the 

arbitration will be nonbinding., Either party will have thirty (30) days from the date of 

mailing the decision to the parties to file suit if they wish to do so, before the arbitration 

decision under Rule 8 becomes binding. 

5.8 No party may withdraw from these arbitration proceedings without written 

consent of the opposing party once the Arbitration Agreement has been signed by both 

parties and returned to the State Bar. 
VI. SELECTION OF ARBITRATORS 

6.1 The panel having jurisdiction over a dispute shall be the panel appointed for 

the judicial district in which the attorney to the dispute maintains his or her primary 

law office, unless: 

(a) the parties agree that the matter should be referred to a statewide panel 

or, 

(b) the State Bar determines there are an insufficient number of qualified 

arbitrators available in the appropriate judicial district, in which case the State Bar 

may appoint such additional arbitrators as may be required from an adjacent 

judicial district or from the statewide panel, 

(c) the attorney does not maintain an office in Montana, in which case, the 

jurisdiction shall be the one in which the Client resides or has its primary office, or 

(d) if none of the above apply, the State Bar will determine which 

jurisdiction(s) the arbitrators will come from, taking into account availability of 

arbitrators and other considerations. 

6.2 The State Bar shall mail to each party a numbered list of eligible arbitrators. 

The list will also contain two choices: "Hearing Requested" or "Hearing Waived" (see 

paragraphs 7.1 and 7.2). 

6.3 Each party may eliminate one attorney and one lay person from the list and 

may request a hearing. Eliminations and requests for a hearing must be made in 

writing and filed with the State Bar electronically, by fax or by regular mail, within ten 

(10) days of receipt of the list. If either party wishes to eliminate more than two (2) 

persons from the list, they must send a written request within ten (10) days of receipt of 

the list, stating the reasons for the request. The State Bar will rule on such request. No 

party may disqualify more than three (3) arbitrators in any single dispute. The 

arbitration Board shall consist of the remaining three members having the lowest 

assigned numbers. Notice of the names of the Board members thus selected shall be 

given by the State Bar to the parties and to the selected arbitrators. 

6.4 The State Bar will appoint a Chair. 

6.5 A Board member may decline to act as an arbitrator in a particular dispute 

for good cause shown. 

6.6 If a disqualified arbitrator is an attorney, the alternate arbitrator-shall be the 

attorney on the list sent to the parties with the next lowest number. If the arbitrator 

disqualified is a lay person, the alternate-shall be the lay person on the list sent to the 

parties with the next lowest number. The State Bar shall immediately advise the parties 

of the name of the alternate arbitrator-to replace the disqualified arbitrator. If there are 

no alternates available from the initial list of proposed arbitrators submitted to the 

parties, the State Bar will submit a new numbered list of three (3) names of either all 

attorneys or all lay persons, whichever is to be replaced. Within ten (10) days of receipt 
of the list, each party will cross off the name of one person and return the list to the State 

Bar. The alternate-will be the person remaining on the list with the lowest number. 

VII. ARBITRATION HEARING 

7.1 If both parties agree to waive a hearing, the arbitrators shall decide the 

dispute upon written statements of position, signed under oath or affirmation and 

notarized, along with any supporting documents submitted by each party, without 

personal attendance at an arbitration hearing. 

7.2 If a hearing is requested by either party, it shall be held in the judicial district 

from which the board is chosen, within ninety (90) days after the final arbitration Board 

has been selected, subject to postponement or continuance as provided in 7.4 5. The 

Chair shall determine a convenient time and place for the hearing and cause written 

notice to be mailed to the parties and other arbitrators not less than twenty (20) days 

before the hearing. Appearance by a party at a scheduled hearing shall constitute 

waiver by said party of any deficiency with respect to the notice of hearing. Either party 

or an arbitrator may appear by telephone, for good cause shown, at the discretion of the 

State Bar. 

7.3 The parties shall submit copies of all documents to be reviewed, along with a 

list of witnesses, to each arbitrator, and to the opposing party no less than ten (10) days 

before the date of the hearing. Documents not timely submitted shall be excluded 

absent a showing of good cause as determined by the Chair. 

7.4 The Chair shall preside at the hearing. The chair shall be the judge of the 

relevance of the evidence offered and shall rule on questions of procedure. The chair 

shall exercise all powers relating to the conduct of the hearing, and conformity to 

Federal or Montana Rules of Evidence shall not be required. 

7.5 The hearing may be postponed or continued from time to time by the chair. 

7.6 The parties to the arbitration are entitled to be heard, present evidence and 

cross-examine the other party or-witnesses appearing at the hearing. Any party to an 

arbitration has the right to be represented by an attorney, at the party's own expense, 

during all stages of the arbitration. 

7.7 The testimony of witnesses may be given under oath or affirmation. The 

chair shall administer such oaths. 

7.8 If any party to an arbitration who has been duly notified fails to appear at the 

hearing, the Chair may either proceed with the hearing and determine the controversy 

upon the evidence produced or reschedule the hearing for a later date. 

7.9 Either party may, at their expense, have the entire proceeding recorded by a 

court reporter or by mechanical means. In such event, the other party shall be entitled 

to a copy of the transcript or recording at their own expense. 
VIII. ARBITRATION DECISION 

8.1 The arbitrators shall consider the following factors, taken from the Rules of 

Professional Conduct, in determining whether the fees are justified: 

"Rule 1.5 - Fees 

(a) A lawyer shall not make an agreement for, charge or collect an 

unreasonable fee or an unreasonable amount for expenses. The factors to be 

considered in determining the reasonableness of a fee include the following: 

(1) the time and labor required, the novelty and difficulty of the 

questions involved and the skill requisite to perform the legal service 

properly; 

(2) the likelihood, if apparent to the client, that the acceptance of the 

particular employment will preclude other employment by the lawyer; 

(3) the fee customarily charged in the locality for similar legal 

services; 

(4) the amount involved and the results obtained; 

(5) the time limitations imposed by the client or by the 

circumstances;" 

(6) the nature and length of the professional relationship with the 

client; 

(7) the experience, reputation and ability of the lawyer or lawyers 

performing the services; and 

(8) whether the fee is fixed or contingent. 

(b) The scope of the representation and the basis or rate of the fee and 

expenses for which the client will be responsible shall be communicated to 

the client in writing, before or within a reasonable time after commencing the 

representation, except when the lawyer will charge a regularly represented 

client on the same basis or rate. Any changes in the basis or rate of the fee or 

expenses shall also be communicated in writing. This paragraph does not 

apply in any matter in which it is reasonably foreseeable that total cost to a 

client, including attorney fees, will be $500 or less. 

(c) A fee may be contingent on the outcome of the matter for which the 

service is rendered, except in a matter in which a contingent fee is prohibited 

by paragraph (d) or other law. A contingent fee agreement shall be in a 

writing signed by the client and shall state the method by which the fee is to 

be determined, including the percentage or percentages that shall accrue to 

the lawyer in the event of settlement, trial or appeal; litigation and other 

expenses to be deducted from the recovery; and whether such expenses are 

to be deducted before or after the contingent fee is calculated. The 

agreement must clearly notify the client of any expenses for which the client 

will be liable whether or not the client is the prevailing party. Upon 

conclusion of a contingent fee matter, the lawyer shall provide the client with 

a written statement stating the outcome of the matter and, if there is a 

recovery, showing the remittance to the client and the method of its 

determination. 

(d) A lawyer shall not enter into an arrangement for, charge or collect: 
(1) any fee in a domestic relations matter, the payment or amount of 

which is contingent upon the securing of a divorce or upon the amount of 

maintenance or support or property settlement in lieu thereof; or 

(2) a contingent fee for representing a defendant in a criminal case. 

(e) A division of a fee between lawyers who are not in the same firm may 

be made only if: 

(1) the division is in proportion to the services performed by each 

lawyer or each lawyer assumes joint responsibility for the representation; 

(2) the client agrees to the arrangement, including the share each 

lawyer will receive, and the agreement is confirmed in writing; and 

(3) the total fee is reasonable. 

8.2 A written decision of the arbitrators shall be rendered after the matter has 

been submitted for decision. To enhance the efficiency of this process, the arbitrators 

shall attempt to issue their ruling within twenty (20) days of the hearing. The 

arbitration decision shall be made and signed by at least two (2) of the arbitrators. It 

shall state the amount of fees and costs awarded, if any, the terms of payment, if 

applicable, and to whom any payment shall be made. 

8.3 The Chair shall forward the decision to the State Bar of Montana, which shall 

mail a copy of the decision to each party to the arbitration. 

8.4 If at least two (2) of the arbitrators cannot agree on a decision, the matter 

shall be submitted to a new arbitration board within thirty (30) days of the failure of at 

least two (2) of the arbitrators to agree. 

8.5 The parties may agree to be bound by the decision of the arbitration board by 

signing under Rule 5.3, Option (a) in the Arbitration Agreement. Absent an Arbitration 

Agreement signed by both parties, the arbitration decision shall become binding thirty 

(30) days from the date it is mailed to the parties, unless an action is filed in a court of 

law to settle the dispute. 

IX. CONFIDENTIALITY AND IMMUNITY 

9.1 All records, documents, files, proceedings and hearings pertaining to the 

arbitration of any dispute under these rules shall be confidential, except as necessary to 

enforce these Rules, or coordinate efforts with the Montana Supreme Court's Office of 

Disciplinary Counsel,-and will be closed to the public. 

9.2 Parties and witnesses shall have such immunity as is applicable in a civil 

action in the jurisdiction. Committee members, arbitrators, panels and staff shall be 

immune from suit for any conduct in the course and scope of their official duties. 

X. ENFORCEMENT 

If, within sixty 60 days of the mailing of the-Board's decision, an attorney against 

whom an arbitration decision is rendered has not filed an action in accordance with 

Rule 8.5 and has failed to comply with the Board's decision, the Supreme Court shall 

issue an order to show cause why the attorney should not be suspended from the 
practice of law. If good cause is not shown, the Supreme Court shall suspend the 

attomey from the practice of law. 

Nothing in this Rule allows parties who have agreed to binding arbitration to 

bring an action in a court of law. 

Upon compliance with the Board's decision, the attorney shall provide proof of 

compliance to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court may then issue an order of 

reinstatement to the attorney. 

XI. DECISION ENTERED AS AN ORDER OF COURT 

If no action is filed in a court of law within thirty (30) days as referred to in 8.45 

above, the arbitration decision may be entered and filed as an order of court pursuant to 

the Uniform Arbitration Act, MCA 27-5-311, (1993).