Personal Injury

Clients who need help and value honesty, integrity, good service, and experience.

Criminal Defense

Clients who need help and value honesty, integrity, good service, and experience.

MT, Oct 1986
Bar Number: 2745

Montana Supreme Court, Montana Federal District Court.

Montana Bar, Third Judicial District Court Bar.

I have taught and attended continuing legal education seminars on various topics such as insurance law, litigation, criminal law, and personal injury.

1. Lady in car accident. Several weeks in hospital. Insurance company offered to pay only $17k prior to us taking case. After working case up fully, we obtained an $85k settlement for our client.

2. Man accused of felony assault. We took over case and were able to show he was present, but did not inflict any injury. Charges were dismissed by prosecutor.

1

Montana

We have narrowed the focus of our firm to those cases which we are best at handling. We specialize in personal injury cases, including serious injury or death cases. We also have considerable expertise in criminal defense and real estate, zoning, and land use cases. By focusing on only these practice areas, we can more easily keep up our expertise, and better serve our clients.

I have run my own law firm since 2006. The firm was formerly the Dayton Law Firm, and was purchased from Ray Dayton after he was elected to serve as the District Judge for the Third Judicial District Court in Montana. Before that, I was a partner in the Dayton Law Firm, a principle in Grayson & Petrovich Staedler, and served as both the local prosecutor and a public defender at various times in my legal career.

After working in business management for two and a half years following admission to the bar in 1986, I was chosen to serve as the Deputy County Attorney in Deer Lodge County in 1989. After almost four years, I went into private practice with Sherry Staedler in 1993, and also served as a part-time public defender for four years. In 1996, I was elected to serve as the County Attorney for Anaconda-Deer lodge County consolidated government. I was re-elected in 2000, and spear-headed the passage of a bond levy and the construction of a new jail facility to replace Anaconda's 100 year-old jail. In 2005, I returned to private practice, this time with Ray Dayton. After two years, Ray was elected District Judge, and I purchased the law firm.

Elected to the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Local Government Review Committee, 1994-96. Also served on the Board of the Montana County Attorney's Association. Past President of the Montana Wilderness Association.

Shaunna Ogolin

(406) 563-3493

Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Yes

We handle most personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis: there is no fee if we don't obtain a settlement or verdict for you. We will set flat fees for many other types of cases, such as minor criminal matters and DUIs. The exact fees depend on the complexity and estimated time to be spent on each case.

See above.

We offer free initial consultations of up to one hour on almost all types of cases that we handle. We will conduct these consultations either in person in our office, or over the telephone if the client prefers.

No. We only charge retainers on certain serious criminal defense cases, or very complex real estate or zoning situations. In those cases where we do charge a retainer, the amount varies depending on the complexity of the case.