Opinion ID: 882030
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: defendant county

Text: The District Court ruled that Rouse's claims of assault against officers Martelli and Cutler were barred by § 27-2-204(3), MCA. Rouse argues that § 27-2-209, MCA, a three year statute of limitations concerning liability incurred by a sheriff, coroner, or constable, provides the applicable limitation period in this case. Rouse also argues that § 27-2-209, MCA, allows a plaintiff to file a lawsuit within six months after his claims are rejected by a county, and that because the county has yet to reject his claims, the six month statute has not begun to run against him. Actions against the state and political subdivisions are governed by Title 2, Chapter 9, Part 3, MCA. The statutes provide in pertinent part: 2-9-301. Filing of claims against state and political subdivisions  disposition by state agency as prerequisite. (1) All claims against the state arising under the provisions of parts 1 through 3 of this chapter must be presented in writing to the department of administration. (2) A complaint based on a claim subject to the provisions of subsection (1) may not be filed in district court unless the claimant has first presented the claim to the department of administration and the department has finally denied the claim. The department must grant or deny the claim in writing sent by certified mail within 120 days after the claim is presented to the department. The failure of the department to make final disposition of a claim within 120 days after it is presented to the department must be considered a final denial of the claim for purposes of this subsection. Upon the department's receipt of the claim, the statute of limitations on the claim is tolled for 120 days. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to claims that may be asserted under Title 25, chapter 20, by third-party complaint, cross-claim, or counterclaim. (3) All claims against a political subdivision arising under the provisions of parts 1 through 3 shall be presented to and filed with the clerk or secretary of the political subdivision. (Emphasis added.) Thus, the statutory requirements enacted by the legislature mandate a plaintiff asserting a cause of action against a governmental entity to first file a claim against that entity before filing an action in district court. The purpose of such statutes is the furtherance of the public policy to prevent needless litigation and to save unnecessary litigation expenses by affording an opportunity to amicably adjust and settle all claims before suit is brought. See 56 Am.Jur.2d, Municipal Corporations, § 686, p. 730 (1971). The statutes also provide a limitation period for such claims: 2-9-302. Time for filing  limitation of actions. A claim against the state or a political subdivision is subject to the limitation of actions provided by law. In this case, the parties dispute whether Rouse's causes of action are governed by a two year or a three year statute of limitation. See §§ 27-2-209(1), 27-2-204(1) and (3), MCA. We will discuss the applicability of these sections in greater detail with respect to the individual defendants later in this opinion. With respect to the County, Rouse filed a claim on August 15, 1986, approximately 22 months after the incident. Thus, regardless of whether a two or three year limitation period applies, Rouse's claim against the County was timely filed with the County within two years of the incident. The record indicates that no action was taken by the County in approving or denying the claim. With respect to causes of action filed on a claim against a county political subdivision, the statutes provide that [a]ctions for claims against a county which have been rejected by the county commissioners must be commenced within 6 months after the first rejection thereof by such board. Section 27-2-209(3), MCA. With respect to claims against the state, § 2-9-301, MCA, set forth above, provides that the department of administration must grant or deny a claim against the state within 120 days after presentation to the department. Expiration of the 120 day period with no final disposition of the claim is deemed a denial of the claim. The statute's title indicates that disposition of the claim by a state agency is a prerequisite to filing an action in district court. The statutes do not provide a shortened limitation period to file an action on a claim against the state once the claim is denied, as is the case with the six month period for actions on claims against a county. With respect to claims against political subdivisions, the statutes do not state that a final disposition of the claim before a local tribunal is a prerequisite to filing an action in district court. The statutes also do not provide an automatic denial period for claims made against a county or political subdivision similar to the 120 day period for claims against the state. Here, Rouse's claim against the County was subject to a six month limitation period after denial by the appropriate body, but no such denial occurred and the statutes do not provide an automatic denial period applicable in this case. Some jurisdictions have dealt with this problem by holding that the plaintiff must file his action within a reasonable time after presentation of the claim should the government entity fail to act upon the claim. See Annotation, Limitation period as affected by requirement of notice or presentation of claim against governmental body, 3 A.L.R.2d 711, § 10 (1949). We hesitate to legislate what a reasonable time would be after presentation of a claim before it should be deemed denied. Furthermore, we think that the reasoning of the Wisconsin Supreme Court in Gutter v. Seamandel (1981), 103 Wis.2d 1, 308 N.W.2d 403, applies to this case. In Gutter, the court discussed the applicability of a statute [Wis. Stat. 1975 § 62.25(1)(e)] providing a six month limitation period after rejection of a claim and requiring the tribunal to serve the claimant with a notice of disallowance. In holding that this statute applied rather than a statute providing a 90 day disallowance period when the council fails to act [Wis. Stat. 1975 § 345.05], the court stated: Our interpretation is also consistent with the public policy justifications for statutes of limitation. Statutes of limitation are imposed to ensure prompt litigation of valid claims and to protect a defendant from fraudulent or stale claims. Armes v. Kenosha County, 81 Wis.2d 309, 319-320, 260 N.W.2d 515 (1977). Interpreting sec. 62.25(1)(e) to apply does not unduly lengthen the period during which suit may be commenced. On the contrary, the length of the period is controlled by the council which has only to serve notice of disallowance in order to start the six month period within which the action must begin. In this respect, sec. 345.05, not requiring proof of service of notice of disallowance, does little to ensure prompt litigation; such a statute is more likely to deprive unwary plaintiffs of the opportunity to litigate. (Emphasis added.) Gutter, 308 N.W.2d at 414. Here, after Rouse filed his timely claim with the County, the County had notice of pending claims against it and also controlled the commencement of the six month limitation period. It would be inherently unfair to require Rouse to file a timely claim against the County before filing an action in District Court and then to penalize him for the County's failure to act, or stalling on the claim. We hold that under §§ 2-9-302 and 27-2-209(3), MCA, the initial period of limitation for claims against a county is tolled upon timely filing of the claim and the six month period of limitation for filing an action in district court does not begin to run until the claimant receives notice of the county board's first denial of the claim.