Case Name: In the Matter of the PETITION OF STANLEY W. JOHNSON, to Perpetuate the Testimony of Wil Clark
Court: Montana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Montana
Decision Date: 1986-12-12
Citations: 224 Mont. 337
Docket Number: No. 86-427
Parties: In the Matter of the PETITION OF STANLEY W. JOHNSON, to Perpetuate the Testimony of Wil Clark.
Judges: MR. CHIEF JUSTICE TURNAGE and MR. JUSTICES GULBRANDSON and HUNT concur.
Reporter: Montana Reports
Volume: 224
Pages: 337–339

Head Matter:
In the Matter of the PETITION OF STANLEY W. JOHNSON, to Perpetuate the Testimony of Wil Clark.
No. 86-427.
Submitted on Briefs Oct. 30, 1986.
Decided Dec. 12, 1986.
728 P.2d 1354.
Robert L. Johnson, Lewistown, for appellant.
Herndon, Harper & Munro, Rodney T. Hartman, Billings, for respondent.

Opinion:
MR. JUSTICE HARRISON
delivered the Opinion of the Court.
This appeal arises from the Eighth Judicial District in and for the County of Cascade. The District Court denied appellant's petition to perpetuate the testimony of a witness. We affirm.
Appellant, Stanley Johnson, was injured in an automobile accident on November 11, 1985, allegedly due to the negligence of one Ross Butcher. Mr. Butcher is insured by National Farmers Union Property and Casualty Company (National). The claims adjuster for National who is handling appellant's claim is Wil Clark.
The underlying personal injury action has yet to be resolved. Appellant has not filed a complaint and the claim has not been settled, though offers and counter-offers have apparently been exchanged. Once this personal injury issue has been resolved, and liability affixed, appellant then intends to pursue a bad faith action against National. But because he fears that the underlying determination of liability "may take years," appellant seeks to preserve the testimony of Wil Clark for use in the bad faith action.
To this end, appellant filed a petition to perpetuate the testimony through deposition of Mr. Clark pursuant to Rule 27, M.R.Civ.P. He further sought a subpoena duces tecum to require Mr. Clark to bring his claim file with him to the deposition.
The District Court denied the petition on the ground that it was prohibited under this Court's recent decision of Fode v. Farmers Insurance Exchange (Mont. 1986), [221 Mont. 282,] 719 P.2d 414, 43 St.Rep. 814. We agree.
In Fode, we held that all proceedings in a bad faith insurance case, alleging violations of the code which require a showing that issues of liability be reasonably clear, must be suspended until the liability issues have been determined. The bad faith case may be filed, but no discovery may be engaged. Fode, 719 P.2d at 417.
Initially, we note that before a petition such as the one at issue may be filed, Rule 27(a) requires a petitioner to show that he is unable to bring his action or cause it to be brought. This rule states:
"A person who desires to perpetuate [the testimony of another] . . . may file a verified petition in the district court . . . The petition . . . shall show: 1, that the petitioner expects to be a party to an action . . . but is presently unable to bring it or cause it to be brought, . . ."
Appellant has failed to satisfy this element. As noted, Fode allows a party to file a bad faith action before the liability issues are resolved. So long as appellant is entitled to file a complaint, he is able to bring an action.
Moreover, consistent with our opinion in Fode, we require that such a petitioner make a proper showing to the district court that the testimony sought to be perpetuated is separate and distinct from the testimony likely to be sought in discovery of a contemplated bad faith action.
We hold that the District Court's denial of appellant's petition was not in error.
Affirmed.
MR. CHIEF JUSTICE TURNAGE and MR. JUSTICES GULBRANDSON and HUNT concur.