Chad E. Adams

Bio

Mr. Adams earned his Bachelors’ degree in English and Philosophy from Utah State University in Logan, Utah and his Juris Doctorate from Baylor University Law School in Waco, Texas. Mr. Adams' primary practice areas include Civil Litigation, Environmental and Toxic Tort Litigation, Products Liability Defense, Insurance Defense, Administrative Law, Prison and Section 1983 Defense Litigation and Appellate Practice.  Mr. Adams is admitted to practice in all Montana state and federal courts, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and United States Supreme Court.   Mr. Adams actively participates in all stages of litigation from pretrial discovery through trial and appeals.  Mr. Adams enjoys hiking, wildlife photography, fly-fishing, ice hockey, and spending time with family doing anything outdoors.

Representative Matters

• Obtained summary judgment in malicious prosecution case against railroad and railroad’s attorneys.  The summary judgment was affirmed on appeal.
• Represented manufacturing facility in case involving traumatic injury on premises which settled favorably for manufacturer after summary judgment motion was filed.
• Represented cement manufacturing facility in personal injury action which settled favorably on first day of trial.
• Obtained summary judgment on failure to protect claims against prison and prison officials shortly before trial where plaintiff failed to retain adequate expert testimony to support claims.
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of surety in interpleader action involving case of first impression in Montana involving surety’s rights. 
• Represented railroad in breach of contract action brought by former lessees which settled favorably before trial after court ruled on various pretrial motions. 
• Represented various product manufacturers and distributors in asbestos personal injury litigation. 
• Represented firearms manufacturer in federal court action involving allegations of defective design and failure to warn.  Case settled favorably after court ruled on manufacturer’s pretrial motions. 
• Represented railroad in environmental and toxic tort claims. 
• Obtained summary judgment in premises liability/assault case where plaintiff failed to provide competent evidence to support his causation theory.  The judgment was affirmed on appeal.  
• Obtained dismissal of several administrative complaints alleging unlawful discrimination against prison officials and employers. 
• Obtained summary judgment and dismissal sanction for defendants in slip and fall premises liability case brought against large restaurant corporation.  The dismissal sanction and summary judgment were affirmed on appeal.   
• Obtained numerous summary judgments in state and federal courts in favor of Montana private prison and prison employees.  Several of these cases were appealed to the Montana Supreme Court or United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and affirmed.  
• Obtained $179,000 judgment against contractor based on surety contract. 
• Obtained summary judgment on strict liability and loss of consortium claims in construction accident case. 
• Represented employer in workers’ compensation action which plaintiff voluntarily dismissed after his deposition taken and employer’s motion for summary judgment was filed. 
• Court granted motion to compel plaintiff to comply with favorable oral settlement in lumber sale dispute. Montana Supreme Court dismissed plaintiff’s appeal. 
• Represented intervener nurse anesthetists in successfully obtaining summary judgment in action involving board of nursing rules with favorable nurse supervision requirements. 
• Represented private school against abuse claims made by student against former teacher. 
• Represented various insurers against bad faith claims. 
• Represented construction company against construction defect claims.  
• Obtained summary judgment on statute of limitations and statute of frauds grounds in real property dispute over historical and current leases of ranch land. 
• Represented adoption agency and adoptive parents in various adoption matters throughout Montana.

Professional Experience

BROWNING, KALECZYC, BERRY & HOVEN, P.C.
Helena, Montana
Associate September 2002 - Present
Participate in all aspects of civil litigation practice in the state and federal courts in Montana.

TEXAS STATE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS
Austin, Texas
Externship November 2001 - February 2002
Performed legal research for administrative law judges. Drafted memos and proposals for decision and observed case hearings.

74th DISTRICT COURT - Judge Alan Mayfield
Waco, Texas
Externship May 2001 - September 2001
Performed research, briefed summary judgment and other motions.