Montana Code 80-5-503. Commencement of legal action — evidence
80-5-503. Commencement of legal action — evidence. (1) The buyer or the seller may commence legal proceedings against the other party or assert a claim as a counterclaim or defense in an action brought by the seller or buyers after the receipt of the report of alternative dispute resolution as provided in 80-5-507.
Terms Used In Montana Code 80-5-503
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff.
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
(2)In litigation involving a complaint that has been subject to alternative dispute resolution under this part, a party may introduce the report of alternative dispute resolution as evidence of the facts found in the report. The court may give weight to the alternative dispute resolution council’s findings and conclusions of law and recommendations regarding damages and costs. The court may also take into account any findings of the council with respect to the failure of a party to cooperate in the alternative dispute resolution proceedings, including findings regarding the effect that a delay in filing the alternative dispute resolution claim may have had upon the council’s ability to determine the facts of the case.