Alexander (Zander) Blewett III (born 1945) is a Montana personal injury lawyer based out of Great Falls, Montana. The University of Montana School of Law is named for Blewett.[1] He is the head partner in the Hoyt and Blewett PLLC, a personal injury law firm.[2]

Alexander (Zander) Blewett III is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, a group of personal injury lawyers in the United States.[3]

Seltzer vs. Morton

Blewett is most noted for the $21.4 million malicious prosecution and abuse of process verdict he obtained against Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, one of the most high powered law firms in the world, in the case of Seltzer v. Morton. The $21.4 million verdict in actual and punitive damages was one of the largest in the country in 2005 and attracted attention from the Wall Street Journal[4] and other national publications.[5][6] On appeal the Montana Supreme Court, 154 P.3d 561 (Mont. 2007), upheld $9.9 million of the jury's punitive damage award against Gibson Dunn and accused the firm of engaging in "legal thuggery."[7]

Vangsnes vs. North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention Inc.

In 2015, Blewett obtained a $26 million settlement on behalf of a missionary who suffered a catastrophic brain injury in a car accident near Belgrade, Montana.[8]

Philanthropy

On May 20, 2015, it was announced that Blewett donated $10 million to the University of Montana to rename its law school and create a consumer law and protection program.[9] He funded the construction of the Hoyt and Blewett Court Room at the University of Montana Law School and provided $500,000 to Montana State University – Bozeman to improve facilities for its student-athletes.[10]

Family politics

Blewett's son, father, and grandfather have all served in the Montana House of Representatives. Blewett's father, Alex Blewett Jr., a Republican from Great Falls, served in the Montana House of Representatives as a Republican in 1961 and 1963.[11] In 1963 he served as Republican Majority Leader of the State House.[12] In 1964, he unsuccessfully challenged Democratic incumbent Mike Mansfield for the U.S. Senate.[13] Blewett's Grandfather, Alexander Blewett Sr., a Republican from Butte, served in the Montana House of Representatives in 1931, 1943, 1945, 1947, and 1951.[14] Blewett's son, Anders Blewett, a Democrat from Great Falls, was elected to the Montana House of Representatives in 2008 and the Montana Senate in 2010.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Kathryn Haake (September 11, 2015). "Blewett to his law school: Graduate great lawyers, judges ... and a president". The Missoulian. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Hoyt and Blewett Law Firm". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Inner Circle". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  4. ↑ Paul Davies (March 16, 2006). "Lassos and Lawsuits: Who Really Painted A Cowboy Tableau?" (PDF). The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  5. ↑ Matt Fleischer-Black (April 1, 2005). "Gibson Dunned". The American Lawyer. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
  6. ↑ "Seltzer vs. Morton" (PDF). The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  7. ↑ The Associated Press and Tribune Staff (July 14, 2015)."Missionary receives $26M settlement after Belgrade crash" Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved July 2, 2016; Morgan Davies (July 15, 2015). “Largest Personal Injury Payout in State History” KFBB News. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  8. ↑ Kristin Cates (May 20, 2016). "Blewetts give $10 million to UM law school". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  9. ↑ Anne Cantrell (December 29, 2009). "MSU alum gives $500,000 to help MSU's student-athletes succeed". Montana State University News Service. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  10. ↑ State of Montana, Laws of Montana (State Publishing Co., 1961, 1963).
  11. ↑ "Montana Legislative Leadership". State of Montana. Archived from the original on December 5, 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
  12. ↑ Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives (August 12, 1965). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 3, 1964" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
  13. ↑ State of Montana, Laws of Montana (State Publishing Co., 1931, 1943, 1945, 1947, 1951).
  14. ↑ " Official MT State Legislature website. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
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