About our firm
The firm of Luxan & Murfitt, PLLP, is a professional limited liability partnership. It is a successor firm to Luxan & Scribner (1955-62) and has operated under its present name since 1962, at which time, Walter S. Murfitt (1930-2002) and H. J. Luxan (1918-1984) formed the present firm. Gary L. Davis (1940-2011) joined the firm in 1971. Dale E. Reagor, the firm’s senior partner, joined the firm in 1978 after graduating from law school and the United States Military Academy at West Point. Candace Payne joined the firm in 1995, after three years with the Doney Law Firm. Erin F. MacLean joined the firm in 2007, after leaving Cheyenne, Wyoming, where she practiced law in Wyoming and Colorado following her graduation from the University of Wyoming, College of Law. Gregory G. Gould was with the firm from 1998 to 2004, and rejoined the firm in 2010, after serving as in-house counsel for the state's largest health insurer. Mark Lancaster joined the firm in 2010. Jeff Glovan joined the firm in 2011 after practicing law in California, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
The firm of Luxan & Murfitt has extensive knowledge and experience in administrative law, estate planning and probate, general litigation, health care, insurance defense, legislative advocacy, real estate, and tax law. The firm's practice is statewide.
Administrative Law
Several members of the firm have extensive experience in administrative law in both the rule making and contested case areas. Typically firm members are engaged in drafting rules for state agencies, conducting rule making hearings, and presenting testimony at rule-making hearings. Members of the firm have been involved in numerous contested case proceedings before the Montana Public Service Commission, the Department of Public Health and Human Services, the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department and Board of Natural Resources and Conservation, the State Auditor (Insurance and Securities Commissioner), the State Tax Appeals Board, the Human Rights Commission, and various professional occupational licensing boards. Members of the firm have also been involved in contested case proceedings in front of such federal agencies as the Social Security Administration, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the Internal Revenue Service.
Estate Planning and Probate
Dale E. Reagor has extensive experience in elder law, estate planning, revocable living trusts and testamentary trusts, living wills, powers of attorney, tax planning, formal and informal probate, ancillary probate, guardianships conservatorships, accountings, and will contests.
General Litigation (Trial and Appellate)
While all members of the firm have litigation experience, Candace Payne and Gregory G. Gould have had substantial and continuous litigation experience at all court levels representing both plaintiffs and defendants. They also have experience before the federal courts, including the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.
Health Care Law
Luxan & Murfitt maintains an active Health Care Law practice. Americans are growing older with every generation and health care costs are rising proportionally. The rapidly evolving Health Care environment challenges health care providers to keep pace with an often confusing and seemingly contradictory array of demands. Rapidly changing laws and regulations, along with frequent advancements in medical and information technology, present an ever-shifting industry landscape.
Luxan & Murfitt’s attorneys assist the firm’s clients in navigating the complicated area of Health Care Law and related areas. Our clients include hospitals, nursing facilities, health care associations, physicians, nurses, physical therapists and other mid-level medical providers. The firm’s Health Care Law practice encompasses all parts of the legal system related to health care services and providers, including Administrative Law, Employment Law, Governmental Relations, Contracts and Transactions, Insurance, Anti-trust, Constitutional Law, Intellectual Property, Tax, Corporate Law, and Litigation.
Health Care Law attorneys must keep abreast of new laws and regulations in these areas of practice and understand their application to the health care environment. Our experienced Health Care Law attorneys understand the complex web of state and federal laws that govern health care.
If you need assistance in Health Care Law or a related area of legal practice, please contact our offices and request one of our Health Care Law attorneys.
Insurance Defense
Candace Payne represents several companies with respect to general insurance defense matters. Additionally, we have either pending cases in the office, or have performed work in the past for the following insurance companies: Nationwide Insurance Co., Scottsdale Insurance Co., Stewart Title, and First American Title.
Legislative Advocacy
Candace Payne has extensive experience providing legislative advocacy services before the Montana Legislature representing a wide variety of industry interests including Southern Montana Electric Generation and Transmission Co-op, Billings Generation Inc., Rosebud Operating Services, Colstrip Energy Limited Partnership and Yellowstone Energy Limited Partnership. She also represents Rimrock Foundation, a provider of treatment for addictive behavior in adults, and the Montana Heart Association. Erin F. MacLean has extensive experience providing legislative advocacy services to the members of the Montana Medical Association.
Real Estate, Land Use, and Water Law
Dale E. Reagor has extensive experience in real estate financing law, and provides foreclosure and bankruptcy services for national, state, and local financial institutions. Candace Payne practices real estate law, serves as general counsel for local title companies, and is experienced with general real estate transactions. She also provides foreclosure services for a national financial institution, and has experience in preparing documents for organization of condominiums. As part of their real estate practice, both of these attorneys have experience in water law, in the administrative arena as well as in the state Water Court. Gregory Gould serves as general counsel for the Montana Board of Investments and the Montana Board of Housing.
Luxan & Murfitt, PLLP, offices are located on the fourth floor of the Montana Club Building in Helena, Montana. The information provided in these web pages is offered for informational purposes only; it is not offered as and does not constitute legal advice. Luxan & Murfitt, PLLP, does not seek to represent you based upon your visit or review of this web page site, and the transmission of information from this site is not intended to create nor does it create an attorney-client relationship between Luxan & Murfitt, PLLP, and you. You should not make legal hiring decisions based upon brochures, advertising, or other promotional materials.