High Court Justice Seeking Re-Election Attacked for 'Liberal' Decision in Comp Case

Montana Supreme Court Justice Mike Wheat three years ago questioned whether a $3,000 payment to nondependent survivors of a worker killed on the job was sufficient to invoke the exclusive remedy protections of the workers' compensation system that shield an employer from civil actions. That decision shows his proclivity to side with the trial bar, according to Lawrence VanDyke, who is hoping to dash Wheat's efforts to be reelected next month. VanDyke told the Billings Gazette that the problem with Wheat is "not that he's a liberal Democrat," but rather the fact that he ...