85-2-125. Recovery of costs and attorney fees by prevailing party. (1) If a final decision of the department on an application for a permit or a change in appropriation right is appealed to district court, the district court may award the prevailing party reasonable costs and attorney fees.
(2) The party obtaining injunctive relief in an action to enforce a water right must be awarded reasonable costs and attorney fees. For the purposes of this section, "enforce a water right" means an action by a party with a water right to enjoin the use of water by a person that does not have a water right.
History: En. 89-8-100.1 by Sec. 11, Ch. 416, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 89-8-100.1; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 487, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 100, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 45, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 360, L. 2011.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Chapter 2. Surface Water and Ground Water
85-2-101. Declaration of policy and purpose
85-2-103. Measurement of water
85-2-105. Water policy interim committee duties
85-2-106. through 85-2-110 reserved
85-2-113. Department powers and duties
85-2-114. Judicial enforcement
85-2-117. Water right records for filing with local clerk and recorder
85-2-118. through 85-2-120 reserved
85-2-121. Administrative proceedings
85-2-123. Deposit of fees and penalties
85-2-124. Costs and fees for environmental impact statements
85-2-125. Recovery of costs and attorney fees by prevailing party
85-2-126. through 85-2-130 reserved
85-2-131. Application for change of watercourse name
85-2-132. Change of watercourse name -- public notice
85-2-133. Change of watercourse name -- hearing
85-2-134. Change of watercourse name -- judgment to be filed with county clerk
85-2-135. through 85-2-140 reserved
85-2-141. Water leasing program
85-2-142. through 85-2-144 reserved
85-2-145. Removal of natural obstruction to exercise water right -- consent or court ruling required
85-2-146. through 85-2-149 reserved
85-2-150. Chronically dewatered watercourse -- identification
85-2-151. through 85-2-153 reserved