Oliver H. Goe

Bio

Oliver Goe was born and raised in Bakersfield, California and earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science at the University of California Berkeley in 1977. He earned his Juris Doctrine three years later from the Santa Clara University School of Law. After passing the California Bar Exam, Mr. Goe began his legal career as a public defender for the County of Santa Clara where he gained trial experience and skills. Mr. Goe and his family moved to Montana in 1986 to enjoy the great quality of life offered only in Montana and shortly thereafter joined Browning, Kaleczyc, Berry & Hoven where he has practiced now for 25 years.  Mr. Goe is rated AV by his peers, according to Martindale Hubbell.

Mr. Goe is located in Browning, Kaleczyc, Berry & Hoven’s main office in Helena, Montana. He and his wife, Christina, have three daughters, Rebecca, Carrie and Emily. Christina Goe is a native of Billings, Montana, graduate of Stanford University, and the Santa Clara University School of Law and is General Counsel for the State Auditor for Montana.

Representative Matters

• Since 1986, Mr. Goe has enjoyed a broad-based insurance defense practice. In that capacity, he has successfully represented individuals, employers, and insurers throughout the state of Montana in state and federal district court on a wide variety of claims, including negligence, environmental claims and torts, deprivation of civil rights, unlawful discrimination, legal malpractice, product liability, construction defects and property damage. 

• Mr. Goe has been a frequent lecturer to government and private employers on employment law issues. He has also been a speaker for a variety of continuing legal education seminars addressing Montana employment and labor law issues. Representative of the topics covered in these seminars includes wrongful discharge, workers’ compensation, employment discrimination, and the Americans With Disabilities Act.

• Mr. Goe has also consulted with and successfully represented Montana employers and insurers on a variety of labor and employment law issues before the Montana Supreme Court, in the district courts of Montana, and before the Department of Labor and the Workers’ Compensation Court.

• Mr. Goe has defended claims which include unlawful discrimination, wrongful discharge, unemployment benefits, wage and hour issues, and workers’ compensation and occupational disease claims.

• Mr. Goe has also been called on to assist employers in resolving a wide-variety of labor and employment law issues including compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, the creation of policy and procedures consistent with the Montana Wrongful Discharge from Employment Act, reductions in force, independent contractor issues and civil rights laws.

 A list of those reported cases in which Mr. Goe appears as counsel of record follows:

• Steadele v. Colony Insurance Co., 2011 MT 208, ___ P.3rd ___ (2011).
• State ex rel. Dept. of Environmental Quality v. BNSF Railway Co., 246 P.3rd 1037 (2010).
• Lockhard v. New Hampshire Insurance Co., 984 P.2d 744 (2009).

• Judd v. Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Co. 186 P.3d 214 (Mont. 2008).

• Patterson v. Verizon Wireless, 122 P.3d 1193 (Mont. 2005).

• Dayberry v. City of East Helena, 80 P.3d 1218 (Mont. 2003).

• Stavenjord v. Montana State Fund, 67 P.3d 229 (Mont. 2003) Amicus.

• Lockhart v. New Hampshire Insurance Co., 984 P.2d 744 (1999) Amicus.

• Heath v. Montana Municipal Insurance Authority, 959 P.2d 480 (Mont. 1998).

• Yarborough v. City of Billings, 938 P.2d 679 (Mont. 1998).

• Taylor v. State Compensation Insurance Fund, 913 P.2d 1242 (1996).

• Haag v. Montana Schools Group Ins. Authority, 906 P.2d 693 (Mont. 1995).

• Lund v. State Compensation Mut. Ins. Fund/Garden City Plumbing and Heating, Inc., 263 Mont. 346, 868 P.2d 611 (1994).

• Dale v. Trade Street, Inc., 258 Mont. 349, 854 P.2d 828 (1993).

• Murer v. Montana State Compensation Mut. Ins. Fund, 257 Mont. 434, 849 P.2d 1036 (1993).

• Norman v. City of Whitefish, 248 Mont. 490, 812 P.2d 1259 (1991).

• Baldwin v. Orient Exp. Restaurant, 242 Mont. 373, 791 P.2d 49 (1990).

• Reinhard v. Missoula Sheet Metal, 240 Mont. 370, 784 P.2d 398 (1989).

• Hernandez v. Jensen, 236 Mont. 210, 770 P.2d 502 (1989).

• Hurley v. Dupuis, 233 Mont. 242, 759 P.2d 996 (1988).

• Houtchens v. State, Employment Sec. Div., 232 Mont 99, 754 P.2d 824 (1988).

• McKinley v. American Dental Mfg. Co., 232 Mont. 92, 754 P.2d 831 (1988).

• Milender v. Carpenter, 230 Mont. 1, 748 P.2d 932 (1987).

• Wagner v. Empire Development Corp., 228 Mont. 370, 743 P.2d 586.

Professional Experience

Browning, Kaleczyc, Berry & Hoven, P.C.
Helena, Montana, Partner 1986 – present

Mr. Goes’ primary emphasis is on litigation in the defense of all types of liability claims, employment discrimination, wrongful discharge and workers compensation claims on behalf of employers, insurers and local governmental entities.

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER
San Jose, CA, Deputy Public Defender 1981 – 1986

As Deputy Public Defender, Mr. Goe represented clients who required legal assistance in the defense of criminal charges, felonies and misdemeanors, juvenile offenses, and mental health patient advocacy. Mr. Goe’s substantial jury trial work involved charges ranging from rape and kidnapping to narcotics violations, robbery, burglary and felony assault.