Opinion ID: 889504
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: ¶ 4 Robert Cooper filed a defamation action against House Representative William Glaser in July 2009, claiming Glaser defamed him in March 2009 when he was speaking to the House of Representatives during a legislative session about a letter Cooper had sent to the Legislature. Cooper contended that Glaser had lied when he said Cooper had spent time in prison for threatening an officer while in the military, had threatened his neighbors, had spent time in the Montana State Hospital at Warm Springs, and was a kook and not an ordinary member of society. Glaser made these statements under a Point of Personal Privilege, which is a procedure that allows a legislator to make personal comments on any subject while the legislature is in session. ¶ 5 Glaser filed a motion to dismiss under M.R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), asserting he was immune from litigation under Article V, Section 8 of the Montana Constitution because he was a legislator making statements on the floor of the House during a legislative session. Cooper argued that the privilege only extends to acts considered legislative and that Glaser's statements were personal and did not relate to legislative business. The District Court dismissed the action, concluding the plain language of Article V, Section 8 gives absolute immunity to any statements made by a legislator during legislative proceedings. Cooper appeals.