John Hartsoe v. C.B. McNeil

October 9 2012
DA 12-0141
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
2012 MT 221JOHN HARTSOE,
Petitioner and Appellant,
v.
HON. C. B. McNEIL, Presiding for the
Twentieth Judicial District,
Respondent and Appellee.
APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Twentieth Judicial District,
In and For the County of Lake, Cause No. DV 11-324
Honorable Loren Tucker, Presiding Judge
COUNSEL OF RECORD:
For Appellant:
John L. Hartsoe, (self-represented litigant); Deer Lodge, Montana
For Appellee:
Margaret A. Sampsel; Special Assistant Attorney General,
Risk Management & Tort Defense Division, Helena, Montana
Submitted on Briefs: September 19, 2012
Decided: October 9, 2012
Filed:
__________________________________________
Clerk
Chief Justice Mike McGrath delivered the Opinion of the Court.
¶1 John Hartsoe appeals from the District Court’s dismissal of his complaint against
Hon. C. B. McNeil (McNeil). We affirm.
PROCEDURAL AND FACTUAL BACKGROUND
¶2 Hartsoe filed a civil action against McNeil, seeking damages for McNeil’s acts or
omissions while acting as a Montana District Court Judge and presiding over a telephone
pretrial conference in a civil action then pending before him, Heisel v. Hartsoe, No. DV-
10-353, Montana Twentieth Judicial District Court. Hartsoe alleged in his complaint that
he was suing Judge McNeil for actions taken “in his official duty,” including using vulgar
language, failing to accomplish any results at the conference, and not having a reporter to
record the proceeding. At all relevant times McNeil was acting in his official capacity as
a Montana District Court Judge with regard to that case and the pretrial conference.
¶3 McNeil appeared in the present action and moved to dismiss on the grounds of
judicial immunity. Hartsoe did not respond to the motion. The District Court granted the
motion to dismiss, with prejudice.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶4 This Court reviews de novo a district court’s decision on a motion to dismiss.
Grizzly Sec. Armored Express v. The Armored Grp., 2011 MT 128, ¶ 11, 360 Mont. 517,
255 P.2d 143.
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DISCUSSION
¶5 Judges are immune from suit for damages arising out of the lawful discharge of
their official duties. Section 2-9-112(2), MCA. Judicial immunity applies with no stated
limitation, Silverstone v. Park Co., 2007 MT 261, ¶ 14, 339 Mont. 299, 170 P.3d 950,
and judges are absolutely immune from suit for civil damages for acts performed in their
judicial capacities. Steele v. McGregor, 1998 MT 85, ¶ 16, 288 Mont. 238, 956 P.2d
1364. Judicial immunity is a public policy designed to safeguard principles of
independent decision making. Mead v. McKittrick, 223 Mont. 428, 430, 727 P.2d 517,
519 (1984). The principles of judicial immunity are well established in the United States.
Stump v. Sparkman, 435 U. S. 349, 98 S. Ct. 1099 (1978).
¶6 Hartsoe plead in his complaint that Judge McNeil was acting “in his official duty”
with regard to this case. The acts that Hartsoe complains of occurred while Judge
McNeil was conducting a pretrial conference in a pending case. This is clearly within the
authority and responsibility of a district court judge. Therefore there can be no question
that Judge McNeil is immune from suit and that the District Court properly dismissed
Hartsoe’s complaint.
¶7 Hartsoe raises numerous issues and contentions in his appeal which he did not
raise below and which, in any event, do not affect the clear conclusion that Judge McNeil
is entitled to judicial immunity from suit.
¶8 Affirmed.
/S/ MIKE McGRATH
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We concur:
/S/ PATRICIA COTTER
/S/ JIM RICE
/S/ MICHAEL E WHEAT
/S/ BRIAN MORRIS
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