Richard J. Martin, Retired

Richard Martin was born on April 12, 1953. He graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Montana in 1975. He received his law degree from the University of Montana in 1979.

 

Since 1985, Richard has limited his law practice to representing only injured workers and accident victims. He is regularly among the top 10 attorneys in Montana in terms of volume of workers’ compensation claims and dollar value of settlements according to the records of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. Richard was the president of the Cascade County Bar Association in 2006.  From 1989 to 2020, he was appointed Co-Chairman of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Montana Trials Lawyers Association.

 

Richard and his wife Toni have raised five children in Great Falls.  They enjoy spending time with their large family.

 

Richard has participated in numerous civic activities in Great Falls. He is Director of the Ursuline Center.  He served on the Holy Spirit Parish Council and has also served on its school board. He has been an officer in state and local centennial celebrations and has participated in many events involving the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

 

Richard was associated with his previous partners Wayne Linnell (retired) and Norman Newhall (retired) since 1979.  He has been associated with partner Kim Schulke since 1991, and partner Stacy Tempel-St. John since 2001. He is a member of the Cascade County Bar Association, the State Bar of Montana, the Montana Trial Lawyers Association, and the MTLA Workers’ Compensation Section.

Reported Cases

  • Bernard v. Liberty Northwest Ins. Corp.,(2008) 345 Mont. 81, 189 P.3d 1196
    (Lump sum conversion of Permanent Total Disability benefits)
  • Tinker v. Montana State Fund, (2009) 351 Mont. 305, 211 P.3d 194
    (Acceptance of liability for degenerative hip condition)
  • Preston v. Transportation Ins. Co., (2004) 324 Mont. 225, 102 P.3d 527
    (Tolling of statue of limitations during mediation)
  • Olszweski v. BMC West Corp., (2004) 322 Mont. 192. 94 P.3d 7393
    (Attempt to obtain tort remedy for unsafe working conditions)
  • Martin v. The Hartford,(2004) 320 Mont. 206, 86 P.3d 569
    (Lump sum conversion)
  • Thoreson v. Uninsured Employers’ Fund, (2002) 309 Mont. 529, 43 P.3d 983
    (Marijuana usage by worker did not preclude benefits)
  • Paterson v. Montana Contractor Compensation Fund,(1999) 295 Mont. 120. 983, P.2d 300
    (Subsequent non-work injury)
  • Wunderlich v. Lumbermens Mut. Cas. Co,(1995) 270 Mont. 404, 892 P.2d 563
    (Workers’ comp claim; claim for penalty and attorney fees)
  • Eastman v. Transport Ins. Co.,(1992) 255 Mont. 262, 843 P.2d 300
    (Constitutional challenge to occupational disease law)
  • Weaver v. Buttrey Food and Drug,(1992) 255 Mont. 90, 841 P.2d 476
    (Work comp benefits)
  • Dilling v. Buttrey Foods,(1991) 251 Mont. 286, 825 P.2d 1193
    (Work comp benefits)
  • Lee v. Group W/ Cable TCI of Montana,(1990) 245 Mont. 292, 800
    (Subsequent injuries)
  • Wear v. Buttrey Food Inc.,(1988) 234 Mont. 477, 764 P.2d 139
    (Definition of injury)
  • Gould v. County Market/Super Valu Stores,(1988) 233 Mont. 494, 766 P.2d 213
    (Notice of injury)