Court: Settlements to Release 'Unknown' Claims Aren't Enforceable

The Montana Workers’ Compensation Court ruled that settlement language purporting to release “unknown” claims is not enforceable. Case: Sundheim v. Montana Health Network, No. 2024-00347, 03/04/2024, published. Facts and procedural history: Stephany Sundheim agreed with the Montana Health Network to settle her workers’ compensation claim. The agreement provided that Sundheim was agreeing to release all claims, “known or unknown,” that she may have against her employer. The parties then presented the settlement to the Workers’ Compensation Court for ...