The Forum recently published an article covering the current federal lawsuit related to a decades-long legal battle surrounding our clients’ land in Billings County and the commission trying to force a public bridge through it.
In 2021 the County and the Short family signed a settlement agreement stating the County would find a different bridge location and the Shorts would dismiss two lawsuits related to bridge placement.
A preliminary injunction to prevent any construction was issued by the district court Judge, Daniel Traynor.
“The record establishes a probability of success on the merits of the Shorts’ breach of contract claim,” Traynor wrote in his decision. “The Shorts entered into a settlement agreement with the then-Billings County Board of Commissioners.”
The judge also said that the commission going against the agreement made with the Short Family after the election is “contrary to the plain language of the Settlement Agreement.”
“The spectacular land is what I’m fighting for,” Dave Short said, pointing to majestic buttes, banded by varicolored layers of sediment, that dominate the austere landscape. “It’s personal. We just want to be left alone.”
Billings County is appealing the judge’s order.
Read more here.