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Goetz, Baldwin and Geddes P.C. legal files on Stream Access Law, 1972-2016

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Goetz, James H.; Geddes, Devlan
Title
Goetz, Baldwin and Geddes P.C. legal files on Stream Access Law
Dates
1972-2016 (inclusive)
Quantity
14 linear feet
Collection Number
2631, Collection 2631, MtBC, us (collection)
Summary
The James H. Goetz Legal Records consists of legal documents pertaining to three trials relevant the formation of Montana's Stream Access Law passed by the Supreme Court in 1984. The Trials include cases on the Beaverhead and Dearborn Rivers and proposed Libby Dam case. Also included in this collection are various notes on other small cases tried by Goetz that helped produce the Stream Access Law.
Repository
Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections
Montana State University-Bozeman Library
Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT
59717-3320
Telephone: 4069944242
Fax: 4069942851
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Languages
Collection materials are in English
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Biographical Note

Goetz, Baldwin and Geddes P.C is a litigation law firm operating in Bozeman, Montana. The firm focuses on litigation and trial practice on a wide range of cases and topics. The firm has tried some famous cases regarding environmental disputes in Montana, including the two cases here: the Stream and Bridge Access cases. This collection has been donated by two of the lawyers at the firm, James H. Goetz and J. Devlan Geddes.

James H. Goetz was born in 1942 in Miles City, Montana. He graduated from Montana State University in 1965 with a bachelor's degree in history and the went to Yale Law School, graduating in 1968. Goetz then moved back to Montana to begin practicing law, admitted to the Montana Bar in 1969. Goetz has living in Bozeman, Montana ever since, practicing law with his firm: Goetz, Baldwin and Geddes P.C. Goetz still lives in Bozeman and continues to practice law.

J. Devlan Geddes was raised in Junction City, Oregon and Moved to Bozeman, Montana in 1992 to attend school at Montana State University. Geddes attended law school in Eugene Oregon and moved to Seattle to practice law, moving back to Bozeman in 2002 to join Goetz, Baldwin and Geddes P.C. Geddes Still lives in Bozeman, Montana practicing law.

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Content Description

This collection contains legal documents pertaining to three trials relevant to the formation of Montana's Stream Access Law passed by the Supreme Court in 1984 as well as relevant case materials pertaining to the Bridge Access case ranging from 2004-2016. The trials include cases on the Beaverhead and Dearborn Rivers and proposed Libby Dam case. Also included in this collection are various notes on other small cases tried by Jim Goetz that helped produce the Stream Access Law, as well as a small biography written by Goetz describing how he came to be the lawyer for the Montana Coalition for Stream Access as well as the cases he tried regarding Montana's waterways. Pertaining to the Bridge Access case are two series, correspondence and case materials; the documents include trial exhibits, pleadings, Supreme Court pleadings, and other relevant material pertaining to the Bridge Access Case.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Creator Name], [Date of Creation], [Brief Description of Object], Folder [#], Box [#], [Collection Name], [Collection #], Montana State University (MSU) Library, Bozeman, MT

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Series 1 Beaverhead River Case

Series 2 Dearborn River Case

Series 3 Libby Dam

Series 4 Fishing Access

Series 5 Fishing Access Cases

Series 6 Stream Access; Harvey and Doris Madison, et al. v. Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, legal documents

Series 7 Bridge Access Correspondence

Series 8 Case Files

Acquisition Information

Legal documents created or collected by James H. Goetz of Bozeman, Montana were donated on February 13, 2018. Additional materials were donated on April 18, 2018. These documents comprise Series 1-6.

Legal documents created or collected by Devlin Geddes of Bozeman, Montana were donated on April 27, 2018. Additional materials were donated on September, 17, 2018. These documents comprise Series 7-8.

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2018 November 30

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Lawyers
  • Recreation areas--Access
  • Water rights
  • Water--Law and legislation

Geographical Names

  • Montana

Form or Genre Terms

  • Correspondence
  • Legal documents
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