Title: IN THE MATTER OF THE MONTANA RULES
Citation: 2007 MT 334
Docket Number: AF 07-0157
State: Montana
Issuer: Montana Supreme Court
Date: September 16, 2014

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA No. AF 07-0157 IN THE MATTER OF THE MONTANA RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE ORDER SEP 16 2014 Ea rSmitfi !IRK CF THE SUPREME COURT S1A1E OF MONTANA On July 1, 2014, this Court opened a 60 -day public comment period on an amendment to Rule 23 of the Montana Rules of Civil Procedure proposed by the Montana Access to Justice Commission, regarding the disposition of residual funds in class action cases. The Court, having reviewed the comments submitted and having considered the same at a public meeting held September 16, 2014, now adopts the following amendment to M. R. Civ. P. 23, effective January 1, 2015: (i) Disposition of Residual Funds. (1) "Residual Funds" are funds that remain after the payment of all approved class member claims, expenses, litigation costs, attorneys' fees and other court -approved disbursements. This rule does not prohibit the trial court from approving a settlement that does not create residual funds. (2) "Access to Justice Organization" means a Montana non-profit entity whose purpose is to support activities and programs that promote access to the Montana civil justice system. (3) Any order entering a judgment or approving a proposed compromise of a class action certified under this rule that establishes a process for identifying and compensating members of the class shall provide for disbursement of residual funds. In matters where the claims process has been exhausted and residual funds remain, not less than fifty percent (50%) of the residual funds shall be disbursed to an Access to Justice Organization to support activities and programs that promote access to the Montana civil justice system. The court may disburse the balance of any residual funds beyond the minimum percentage to an Access to Justice Organization or to another non-profit entity for purposes that have a direct or indirect relationship to the objectives of the underlying litigation or otherwise promote the substantive or procedural interests of members of the certified class. September 16 2014 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Order shall be published on the Montana Supreme Court website and that notice of this Order shall be posted on the website of the State Bar of Montana and in the next available issue of the Montana Lawyer. The Clerk is directed to provide copies of this Order to the Montana State Law Library and the State Bar of Montana. The Clerk is further directed to provide copies of this Order to the Chairs of the Montana Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission and the Uniform District Court Rules Commission and to the Directors of the Montana Trial Lawyers Association and the Montana Defense Trial Lawyers Association. DATED this lo day of September, 2014. Chief Justice Ig4tddli ,A4/1), Justices 2