When a dispute gets serious, you need someone who knows how to fight — and when not to.
Civil litigation is expensive, time-consuming, and unpredictable. At Saddle Peak Law, we help clients understand exactly what they're getting into before we head to court — and we pursue every reasonable path to resolution before we do. But when litigation is the right call, we're ready.
Civil Litigation and Disputes
What We Handle
Breach of Contract
When someone doesn't hold up their end of an agreement — a vendor who disappeared, a client who won't pay, a partner who walked — you have options. We help clients assess the strength of their claim, send demand letters that get taken seriously, negotiate settlements, and litigate when necessary. We also defend clients accused of breaching agreements, and we know the difference between a legitimate claim and a shakedown.
Civil Litigation Defense
Being sued is disorienting, even when you know you're in the right. We represent individuals and businesses facing civil claims — breach of contract, property disputes, business torts, and more. We'll review the complaint, assess the claims, and build a defense strategy that protects your interests without dragging things out longer than necessary.
Property & Landlord-Tenant Disputes
Whether you're a landlord dealing with a non-paying tenant or a renter facing an unlawful eviction, Montana's landlord-tenant laws come with real teeth on both sides. We handle eviction proceedings, habitability claims, security deposit disputes, and lease enforcement. We also draft and review residential and commercial lease agreements to help prevent disputes before they start.
Business & Partnership Disputes
A contract you found online might hold up fine — or it might not, and you won't find out until something goes wrong.
We draft and review vendor contracts, service agreements, NDAs, operating agreements, independent contractor agreements, and more. The goal is always the same: documents that are clear, enforceable, and written for your actual situation — not someone else's.
Flat-fee pricing available for most drafting and review projects.
Demand Letters & Pre-Litigation Strategy
Not every dispute needs to go to court. A well-crafted demand letter — one that makes clear you know your rights and are prepared to enforce them — resolves a surprising number of conflicts without ever filing anything. We draft demand letters, negotiate on your behalf, and help you decide whether the juice is worth the squeeze before you commit to a lawsuit.
Nonprofit Disputes & Civil Claims
Nonprofits aren't immune to legal disputes — board conflicts, vendor disagreements, employment claims, and donor disputes happen. We represent nonprofit organizations and their leadership in civil matters, drawing on our firsthand experience running a Montana nonprofit for nearly a decade. Learn more about our nonprofit services here.
Trial experience you can actually use.
Brittany began her legal career as a criminal prosecutor in Gallatin County, one of the busiest jurisdictions in the state of Montana. She's tried dozens of jury and bench trials and spent years experiencing how cases are built, argued, and won. That courtroom experience doesn't go away when the case is civil — it shows up in how she evaluates claims, drafts arguments, and prepares for what the other side is going to do.
A lot of attorneys settle everything because going to trial is hard. We settle when it makes sense. We fight when it doesn't.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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The honest answer is: it depends on the facts, the evidence, and what you're trying to recover. The first thing we'll do is give you a realistic assessment — what you can likely prove, what the other side will argue, and whether the potential outcome justifies the cost of pursuing it. We'd rather tell you something isn't worth your time than take your money on a case that isn't going anywhere.
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It varies significantly depending on the court, the complexity of the case, and whether it settles before trial. Simple disputes resolved through demand letters can wrap up in weeks. Cases that go to trial can take a year or more. We'll give you a realistic timeline based on your specific situation, and we work to resolve things as efficiently as possible.
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In a criminal case, the government prosecutes someone for violating a law — the stakes include fines, probation, or jail. In a civil case, one private party sues another, typically for money damages or to compel action. The burden of proof is lower in civil cases ("more likely than not" versus "beyond a reasonable doubt"), and the outcome is usually financial rather than criminal.
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Yes, and it's often the right first move. A formal demand letter puts the other party on notice that you're serious, states your legal position clearly, and gives them an opportunity to resolve things without court involvement. Many disputes end here — especially when the letter makes clear that litigation is the next step and you're prepared to take it.
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Time matters — you typically have a limited window to respond to a complaint before a default judgment can be entered against you. Contact us as soon as possible. We'll review the complaint, explain your options, and help you respond appropriately. Don't ignore it and don't try to handle it yourself.
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Yes, we work with clients to advise on small claims matters even if we cannot appear on your case. Contact us today to discuss your small claims strategy.