Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against State Representative Usher

Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Mike Menahan has dismissed a lawsuit brought by Montana media against the chairman of a legislative committee Representative Barry Usher. The media organizations filed the lawsuit after Usher recessed a committee meeting in February and subsequently gathered with a group of committee Republicans in a room in the basement of the Capitol. In agreeing with Usher, Menahan noted that it was undisputed that less than a quorum of representatives attended the gathering.