Opinion ID: 883727
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: This Court's standard of review on a grant of summary judgment is identical to that of the trial court. Johnson v. Nyhart (Mont. 1995), 889 P.2d 1170, 1173, 52 St.Rep. 37, 39; Cooper v. Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth (1994), 265 Mont. 205, 207, 875 P.2d 352, 353. Summary judgment is proper only when no genuine issue of material fact exists and the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Rule 56(c), M.R.Civ.P.; Spain-Marrow Ranch, Inc. v. West (1994), 264 Mont. 441, 444, 872 P.2d 330, 331. In the case at hand, assuming, arguendo, that there is an outstanding debt, there are no genuine issues of material fact and, thus, the matter is ripe for a summary ruling on the issue of law, that is, Does the running of the statute of limitations against the principal exonerate or discharge the guarantor?