EARLY RELEASE OF STORY-Originally published in the 6/8/18 print edition of Yellowstone County news.
BILLINGS — Attorneys for the City of Billings have responded to a class action suit over utility franchise fees by saying district judges may not be able to hear the case because of a conflict of interest — they may benefit as members of the class.
Doug James and Ariel Overstreet-Adkins of Moulton Bellingham PC, representing the city, claimed in documents called a “report to court” filed late last week that “it appears that all of the District Court judges located in Yellowstone County are members of the proposed class and the subclasses described in plaintiff’s complaint. Accordingly, all of the judges in Yellowstone County may have a potential conflict of interest with this case.” read more
