Following something of an impasse at a court hearing on October 23, District Court Judge Colette B. Davies said she would allow the County’s appointee to the County Water District Board, Pam Ellis, to file a counter suit against the Water District Board; the Judge has issued a schedule to allow Ellis to do so. Yellowstone County, also a plaintiff in the case, has joined Ellis’ counter suit.
Pointing to the passage of recent legislation, HB-35, that changes state law regarding district boards and representation on a board, the Water District Board’s attorney, Susan Swimley, filed a request to the court to dismiss their case because the legislation renders the issue moot.
Given that the District filed to dismiss, the merits of the original lawsuit filed by the District could not be determined unless Ellis filed a counter-suit, explained the Judge.
The Water District filed suit against the county commissioners and Ellis, after the board voted to remove Ellis from the board; she was advised by an attorney that her removal was illegal, and she should read more
