Fred Simpson

Counsel

Fred Simpson has over 25 years of civil litigation experience representing individuals, businesses, and insurers. His practice includes general tort defense, defense of professional negligence claims, defense of disciplinary complaints against attorneys and real estate professionals, insurance coverage, insurance defense, defense of unfair trade practices claims, construction disputes, and real property/commercial litigation.

Mr. Simpson has tried multiple jury and bench trials in both state and federal court on a wide range of matters, including personal injury, fair debt collection practice act violations, insurance bad faith, property damage, employment/wage and hour claims, and easement disputes. He has also successfully briefed and argued multiple appeals before the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Montana Supreme Court. Additionally, Mr. Simpson conducts dispute resolution as a mediator.

Bar Admissions

  • Montana, 1995
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Montana
  • Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Court

Location

Missoula Office
125 Bank Street
Suite 403
Missoula, MT 59802

Education

JD: University of Montana School of Law, 1995
BA: University of Idaho, 1990, Political Science

Contact

simpsonf@hallevans.com

More About
Fred

Professional Associations
  • ​State Bar of Montana
Professional Experience
  • Prior to joining Hall & Evans, Mr. Simpson was a partner at Jenks & Simpson, P.C.
Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
Business & Community Service
  • Mr. Simpson has previously served on the board of Missoula Housing Authority and the Missoula Food Bank.
Decisions
  • Glacier Bear Retreat, LLC v. Dusek, 2024 U.S. App. LEXIS 16974 (9th Cir. 2024)
  • McAtee v. Morrison & Frampton, PLLP, 405 Mont. 269 (Mont. 2021)
  • Rochdale Insurance Co. v. Dixon, 849 Fed.Appx. 697 (9th Cir. 2021)
  • Western Heritage Ins. Co. v. Slopeside Condominium Association, Inc., 2019 WL 1060704 (D. Mont. 2019)
  • Progressive Northwestern Ins. Co. v. Jensen, 2017 WL 728202 (D. Mont. 2017)
  • WBI Energy Transmission, Inc. v. Colony Ins. Co., 56 F.Supp.3d 1194 (D. Mont. 2014)
  • Salminen v. Morrison & Frampton, PLLP, 339 P.3d 602 (Mont. 2014)
  • Brilz v. Metropolitan General Ins. Co., 285 P.3d 494 (Mont. 2012)
  • Leys v. Employers Ins. Co. of Wausau, 2011 WL 1239726 (D. Mont. 2011)
  • McCollough v. Johnson, Rodenburg & Lauinger, LLC, 637 F.3d 939 (9th Cir. 2011)
  • Moe v. System Transport, Inc., 2010 WL 4643336 (D. Mont. 2010)
  • Travelers Property Casualty Co. of America v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., 2010 WL 5387491 (D. Mont. 2010)
  • Neal v. Nelson, 198 P.3d 819 (Mont. 2008)
  • Brilz v. Metlife Auto & Home, 251 Fed.Appx. 458 (9th Cir. 2007)
  • Redies v. Attorneys Liability Protection Society, 150 P.3d 930 (Mont. 2007)
  • Smith v. Salish Kootenai College, 434 F.3d 1127 (9th Cir. 2006)
  • Superior Enterprises, LLC v. Montana Power Co., 49 P.3d 565 (Mont. 2002)
  • Farmers Plant Aid, Inc. v. Fedder, 999 P.2d 315 (Mont. 2000)
  • Ratchye v. Lucas, 957 P.2d 1128 (Mont. 1998)

Alice A. Craig

Member

Alice Craig has over 25 years of litigation and appellate experience.  Her current practice focuses on civil litigation with an emphasis on transportation, wrongful death, catastrophic injury claims, and premises liability. Alice has significant experience in defending personal injury and property claims for railroads, trucking companies, retail companies, restaurants, and propane retailers. As a trained mediator, Alice can also effectively guide her clients through mediation.

Prior to joining the firm, Alice served as faculty at the University of Kansas School of Law for over 18 years and as an attorney in the Paul E. Wilson Project for Innocence. Alice ran the Trial Advocacy Program, directed the KU Law mock trial team in national competitions, and supervised the undergraduate mock trial program. Alice and her team successfully litigated claims of actual innocence in Kansas, Missouri, and Federal Court culminating in the release of multiple high-profile clients.

Alice began her career as an Assistant Appellate Defender, Assistant District Defender, and Assistant Death Penalty Defender in the Kansas Public Defender system providing her with a foundation of advocating for her clients in both the trial and appellate systems.

Bar Admissions

  • Kansas, 1995
  • Missouri, 2017
  • Nebraska, 2023
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Kansas
  • U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska
  • U.S. District Court, District of Utah
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri

Location

Kansas City Office
1111 Main Street
Suite 700
Kansas City, MO 64105

Education

JD: University of Kansas Law School, 1995
BBA: University of Kansas, 1990, Business Administration

Contact

craiga@hallevans.com

More About
Alice

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Riedy Teaching Fellowship, 2019-2021
  • Jayhawk Choice Award, 2018
  • Kansas Trial Lawyers Association Consumer Champion Award, 2017
  • Midwest Innocence Project Sean O’Brien Freedom Award, 2016
  • Topeka West High School Hall of Fame, 2016
Professional Experience
  • Faculty, University of Kansas School of Law, Lawrence, KS, 2011-present
  • Senior Attorney for Post-Conviction Litigation, Paul E. Wilson Project for Innocence and Post-Conviction Litigation, University of Kansas School of Law, Lawrence, KS, 2004-2022
  • Assistant Death Penalty Defender, Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit, Topeka, KS, 2000-2004
  • Assistant District Defender, 10th Judicial District Public Defender Office, Olathe, KS, 1997-1999
  • Assistant Appellate Defender, Appellate Defender Office, Topeka, KS, 1995-1997
Business & Community Service
  • Advisory Committee, The Innocence Network; Ethics and Best Practices Committee, 2020-present; Conference Planning Working Group, 2019-2020
  • Member, Kansas Closed Case Task Force, Topeka, KS, 2019-2021
  • Member, Federal Prison Workshop Committee, Topeka, KS, 2015-2016
Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars
  • Presenter, “Implicit Bias: How Hidden Biases Are Impacting Your Practice and Methods to Counteract The Impact” Recent Developments in the Law, University of Kansas, Spring 2022
  • Presenter, “Understanding DNA and CODIS,” Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Spring 2022
  • Co-Presenter, “Wrongful Convictions: The Causes and Effects On Marginalized Communities,” Kansas Bar Association, October 2021
  • Co-Presenter, “Incarcerating the Innocent: Wrongful Convictions and the System Behind Them,” Pizza and Politics, Robert J. Dole, Institute of Politics, University of Kansas, February 2019
  • Presenter, “The Ethics of Pretrial Preparation: Raising Issues and Getting Resources,” Kansas Federal Public Defender Office, Kansas Federal Criminal Fall CLE Seminar, Wichita and Lawrence, Kansas, October 2018
  • Co-Presenter, “Taming the Beast of Actual Innocence Cases,” Innocence Conference, March 2018
  • Presenter, “Wrongful Convictions: Causes and Remedies,” KBI Forensic Science Center, September 2017
  • Presenter, “Wrongful Convictions: Causes and Remedies,” Douglas County Bar Association, December 2015
  • Presenter, “Gender Bias in Trial Advocacy,” EATS Conference-Educating Advocates, Stetson University School of Law, May 2015
  • Presenter, “Changing Legal Procedures from Fry to Daubert: New Norms For Evidence and Due Diligence,” Douglas County Bar Association, October 2014
  • Co-Presenter, “Ramifications and Complications in the Current Kansas System and Why We Struggle to Fix Them,” Defending the Mentally Ill: Competence & Involuntary Commitment, Kansas Law Center, Topeka, KS, April 2013
  • Instructor, “Critical Trial Skills for Legal Services Attorneys,” University of New Mexico Law School, Albuquerque, NM, July 2011
  • Presenter, “Search and Seizure Update,” Douglas County Criminal Bar, December 2008
  • Presenter, “Search and Seizure Update,” Douglas County Criminal Bar, December 2009
  • Contributing Author, “Kansas Criminal Law Handbook,” Kansas Bar Association, 4th Edition, Chapter 31, 2006
Professional Associations
  • National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel
  • Kansas Bar Association
  • Johnson County Bar Association
  • Douglas County Bar Association
  • Wyandotte County Bar Association
  • American Bar Association

Zachary D. Wagner

Member

Zachary Wagner’s diverse practice is focused primarily on complex civil litigation involving real estate disputes, contract disputes, premises liability, hospitality & retail, wrongful death, and products liability matters. A large portion of his practice involves counseling individuals, public entities, and private businesses in employment law and constitutional law matters through litigation, appeals, and administrative proceedings. Mr. Wagner is an experienced litigator and has successfully tried many cases to verdict in both state and federal court across Colorado.

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2011
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado

Location

Denver Office
1001 17th Street
Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202

Education

JD: University of Colorado Law School, 2011
BA: University of Arkansas, 2007, History, summa cum laude

Contact

wagnerz@hallevans.com

More About
Zachary

Business & Community Service
  • Big, Big Brothers Big Sisters, 2015-present

T. Thomas Singer

Of Counsel

Tom Singer was raised in northern Wyoming and educated in Montana and Massachusetts.  After law school, he returned west, where he worked for the Wyoming Legislature, managed a congressional campaign in eastern Washington, and taught at Gonzaga Law School before settling in Billings.  For the last 35 years, Tom has been defending transportation companies and product manufacturers, and counseling and representing businesses and individuals through employment and business litigation.

Tom speaks regularly at seminars hosted by the International Association of Defense Counsel, the State Bar of Montana, and other organizations.  He is known for incorporating game theory, neuroscientific research, and karaoke into presentations about legal ethics and trial advocacy, and he also enjoys expostulating about employment law, covenants not to compete, product liability, and civil procedure.

Bar Admissions

  • Montana, 1985
  • Wyoming, 1978
  • U.S. District Court, District of Montana
  • U.S. District Court, District of Wyoming
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Location

Billings Office

175 North 27th Street
Suite 1101
Billings, MT 59101

Education

JD: Harvard University Law School, 1978, cum laude
BA: Eastern Montana College, 1975, Speech Communications and Theater Arts
AA: Northwest College, 1973, Communications

Contact

singert@hallevans.com

More About
Thomas

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Chambers USA, Labor & Employment, 2021-2023
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • The Best Lawyers in America®; Employment Law-Management; Litigation-Labor and Employment; Product Liability Litigation-Defendants, 2008-2025
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers®, Business Litigation, 2008-2024
  • Best Lawyers®, “Lawyer of The Year” in Billings, MT for Employment Law-Management, 2022
  • Best Lawyers®, “Lawyer of The Year” in Billings, MT for Product Liability Litigation-Defendants, 2016, 2019
  • Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2008-present; Barrister, Order of Juris; Advocate, Order of Certus
  • George L. Bousilman Professionalism Award, State Bar of Montana, 2002
Professional Associations
  • International Association of Defense Counsel, 1999-present
  • State Bar of Montana, Professionalism Committee, 1992-present; Chair 1998-2004
Business & Community Service
  • Riverstone Health Clinic Board of Directors, 2010-present; Chair, 2018-2021
  • Billings Symphony Artistic Advisory Committee, Chair, 2005-present
  • Billings Symphony’s “Concert Cues,” Host, 2015-present
  • Northwest College Alumni Association, Board Member, 1996-present; Chair, 2017-2019
  • Billings Symphony Orchestra & Chorale, Former Director
  • Billings Depot, Inc., Former Director
  • Billings Preservation Society, Former Director
  • Red Lodge Music Festival, Former Director
  • NAMI-Billings, Former Director
  • Tumbleweed Runaway Program, Former Director
  • Billings Studio Theatre, Former Director
Other Activities
  • In his spare time, Tom likes to read, hike, ride bikes, paddle rivers, act in community theatre productions, play guitar, and sing with the Symphony Chorale and other ensembles. He lives in Billings with his wife, a retired school psychologist and transition coach. They have four grown children and four grandchildren.
Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars
  • Presenter, “Ain’t It a Shame (How Discrimination Law Perpetuates Inequality),” ALFA International’s Virtual International Client Seminar, March 2021
  • Presenter, “It’s How You Tell the Tale,” ALFA International Webinar, July 2020
  • Speaker, “Condemned if You Do, Doomed if You Don’t – Advocating in the Age of Social Media,” ALFA International’s 2020 International Client Seminar, March 2020
  • Speaker, “Safe Spaces at Work: Bullying, Intimidation, Firearms, and Threats of Violence,” The Seminar Group’s Montana Labor & Employment Law Conference, March 2019
  • Program Chair, “The Game Is On: Are You In?  You Have to Play or You’ll Never Win,” ALFA International’s 2019 International Client Seminar, March 2019
  • Moderator and Presenter at dozens of interactive seminars addressing issues of ethics and professionalism through the State Bar of Montana’s Professionalism Committee, January 1996 through May 2018
  • Speaker, “Championship: Rights, Fights, and Popular Opinion,” ALFA International’s 2018 International Client Seminar, March 2018
  • Speaker, “Loyalty Has Limits,” The Seminar Group’s Montana Labor & Employment Law Conference, March 2017
  • Speaker, “Teaching a Lawyer to Fish: The Karaoke Session,” ALFA International’s 2017 International Client Seminar, March 2017
  • Speaker, “What the Heck Happened?,” ALFA International’s 2016 International Client Seminar, March 2016
  • Speaker, “Creating an International Practice No Matter Where You Are,” Annual Business Meeting, ALFA International’s Annual Business Meeting, October 2015
  • Speaker, “Tribalism in the Courtroom: What Lawyers Need to Learn from Neuroscience about Bias, Loyalty, and the Behavior of Groups,” State Bar of Montana, January 2015; ALFA International’s 2015 International Client Seminar, ALFA International, March 2015; The Seminar Group’s Montana Labor & Employment Law Conference, March 2015
  • Speaker, “How and Where Your Business Can Be Sued in the U.S.,” ALFA International’s Asia Regional Seminar with Product Liability and IP/IT, May 2014
  • Speaker, “Honesty is Such a Lovely Word:  Is It Too Much to Ask?,” State Bar of Montana, January 2014; ALFA International’s 2014 International Client Seminar, January 2014
  • Speaker, “Protecting Rights or Picking Fights:  What Should Lawyers Really Be Doing for Their Clients?,” ALFA International’s 2013 International Client Seminar, March 2013
  • Speaker, “Implicit Bias,” The Seminar Group’s Montana Labor & Employment Law Conference, March 2012
  • Speaker, “Non-Competes and Other Baggage of Relationships Past,” State Bar of Montana’s Beat the Deadline CLE, May 2011
  • Speaker, “Strategies for Working with Evidence at Trial and Attacking Opposing Evidence,” NBI’s Evidence and Expert Testimony Best Practices Seminar, February 2011
  • Speaker, “FLSA and Wage and Hour Issues and Non-Competes and Other Post-Employment Obligations,” Lorman’s Employment Law From A to Z Seminar, January 2011
  • Speaker, “Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation and Confidentiality,” The Seminar Group’s Montana Labor & Employment Law Conference, March 2009
  • Speaker, “Post-Courtal Separation Anxieties:  What Can Go Wrong After the Verdict Is In,” State Bar of Montana, January 2009
  • Author, “To Tell the Truth, Memory Isn’t That Good,” 63 Montana Law Review 337, 2002
  • Speaker and Mentor on Trial Skills and Legal Ethics, International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy, July 2001
  • Speaker, “Appellate Brief Writing,” State Bar of Montana, October 1989
  • Author, “Reappraising Reapportionment,” 22 Gonzaga Law Review 527, 1988

Jill M. Gerdrum

Member

Jill Gerdrum is a civil litigator with a practice focused on product liability, transportation, premises liability, insurance defense, professional liability, and employment law.  Jill’s product liability experience includes claims related to farm equipment, RV component parts, engine components, loading dock equipment, lawn mowers, medical supplies, livestock feed, and underground fuel tanks.  In the transportation and premises liability arenas, she represents trucking companies, insurers, and national retailers in matters involving serious personal injuries and fatalities.

Jill is often called upon for early accident scene investigations and serves as an independent investigator for entities facing potential claims. She has successfully defended companies and individuals at the administrative level, and at the trial and appellate levels throughout state and federal courts in Montana.

Bar Admissions

  • Montana, 2006
  • Idaho, 2022
  • Wyoming, 2022
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, District of Idaho
  • U.S. District Court, District of Montana
  • U.S. District Court, District of Wyoming
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Location

Missoula Office
125 Bank Street
Suite 403
Missoula, MT 59802

Education

JD: University of Montana, 2006, High Honors
BA: University of Montana, 1997, Political Science

Contact

gerdrumj@hallevans.com

More About
Jill

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Chambers USA, Labor & Employment, 2019-2023
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • The Best Lawyers in America®; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2020-2025; Commercial Litigation, 2020-2025; Civil Rights Law, 2024-2025; Employment Law Management, 2024-2025; Personal Injury Litigation Defendants, 2024-2025; Transportation Law, 2024-2025
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers®, Civil Litigation: Defense, 2017-2024
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers ®, Top 50 Women, 2022-2024
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers ®, Top 100 Lawyers, 2023
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers®, “Rising Star,” Civil Litigation: Defense, 2014-2016
  • Montana Judicial Standards Commission, appointed by Montana Supreme Court, 2017-present
Professional Experience
  • Partner, Axilon Law Group, PLLC, Missoula, Montana, 2006-2021
  • Clinic Law Clerk, U.S. Magistrate Judge Leif Erickson, Summer 2005
  • Deputy Commissioner of Insurance & Securities, Montana State Auditor, Helena, Montana, 2001-2003
Decisions
  • Barstads v. Albert Burney, Inc., et. al, DV-16-68; DV-16-69;DV-17-12, Montana’s Third Judicial District, Powell County, (order of dismissal and to compel arbitration on behalf of defendant Riverbend Realty)
  • Hathaway v. Zoot Enterprises, Inc., DV-19-809B, Montana Eighteen Judicial District Court (summary judgment and denial of motion for leave to amend for defendant)
  • Janik v. Town of Whitehall et. al., DV-18-01, Montana’s Fifth Judicial District Court, Jefferson County (summary judgment for Town clerk)
  • Outland v. Montana Department of Corrections, HRB Case No. 956-2018, (decision for Outland at hearing and on appeal to HRC)
  • Adami v. Nelson, DR-16-199, Montana’s Fourth Judicial District Court, Missoula County (bench trial decision for Adami)
  • Chyatte v. Missoula County, et al., CV-13-174-M-DWM-JCL, U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, Missoula Division; Case No. 16-35046, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (defense verdict on behalf of Missoula County)
  • Scotten v. Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs, DE-1221-16-0087-W-1, United States Merit System Protection Board (decision for Scotten on whistleblower protection claim)
  • Frank v. Town of West Yellowstone, CV-15-25-BU-SEH, U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, Butte Division; Case No. 16-35218, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (on behalf of Town of West Yellowstone) (summary judgment for Town and order of dismissal for Individual defendants)
  • Orr v. Anaconda Deer Lodge County, CV-14-BU-SEH, U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, Butte Division; Case No. 15-35612, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (summary judgment on behalf of Anaconda Deer Lodge County)
Appeals
  • Hathaway v. Zoot Enters., 2021 MT 292, 406 Mont. 239, 2021 Mont. LEXIS 905, 2021 WL 5194919
  • Ramsbacher v. Jim Palmer Trucking, 2018 MT 118, 391 Mont. 298, 417 P.3d 313
  • Adami v. Nelson, 2019 MT 286, 398 Mont. 72, 454 P.3d 642
  • S. Mont. Tel. Co. v. Mont. PSC, Dep’t of Pub. Serv. Regulation, 2017 MT 123
  • TC Fuel Components, LLC v. Mont. Eleventh Judicial Dist. Court, 374 Mont. 540, 346 P.3d 363 (2014)
  • Johnson v. W. Transp., LLC, 2011 MT 13, 359 Mont. 145, 247 P.3d 1094
  • Hilten v. Bragg, 2010 MT 273, 358 Mont. 407, 248 P.3d 282
Professional Associations
  • Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, 2015-present
  • Transportation Lawyers Association, 2020-present
  • Trucking Industry Defense Association 2021-present
Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars
  • Co-Author, “Danger! Danger! Will Robinson:  Are My Warnings Enough? Impact of the “heeding presumption” of on warnings labels and situations in which post-sale warnings may arise,” ALFA International Products Liability & Complex Torts Seminar, 2022
  • Co-Author and Presenter, “Employment Law Update – Return to Work, COVID-19 Issues, & Changes to Montana Law,” Jim Tillotson Service Program for Montana City Attorneys, 2021
  • Co-Author and Presenter, “Navigating the City/Client Landscape under Rule of Prof. Conduct 1.13,” MMIA Defense Counsel Summit, 2020
  • Author and Presenter, “Record Retention, Litigation Holds, and Electronic Discovery: How Employers Can Navigate Rough Waters,” Seminar Group Employment Law Institute, 2020
  • Co-Author and Presenter, “It’s How We Play the Game, Ethical Considerations in Litigation,” ALFA International Client Seminar, 2019
  • Co-Author and Presenter, “Culture is the New Black, The Value of Company Culture and It’s Impact on Litigation,” ALFA International Client Seminar, 2018
  • Author, “The United States Supreme Court’s Recent Personal Jurisdiction Decisions: Federalism and Restriction on Forum Shopping, or a “Parade of Horribles”?,” FDCC Insights, September 2017
  • Author and Presenter, “Workplace Whistleblowers: The Tension Amongst Fairness, Loyalty, & The Motivating Factors of Whistleblowing,” The Seminar Group Employment Law Institute, 2017
  • Author and Presenter, “Representing Your Client in Federal Court, National Business Institute Seminar,” 2015
  • Co-Author, “Transportation Mini Compendium – Montana,” American Trucking Association, 2013
  • Co-Author and Presenter, “When the Party is Over: What do Former Employees and Their Former Employers Owe Each Other,” The Seminar Group, 2012
  • Author and Presenter, “Employment Discrimination Law Issues,” Sterling Education Seminar, Missoula, 2011
  • Co-Author, “Transportation Law Compendium – Montana;” “Insurance Law Compendium – Montana;”“Labor & Employment Law Compendium – Montana,” ALFA International, 2012-2021
  • Co-Author, “Commercial Transportation Litigation Committee’s Guide to Montana’s Complex Law Regarding Joint and Several Liability and Contributory Negligence,” ABA’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, 2009
Business & Community Service
  • Montana Legal Services Association, Volunteer, 2020-present
  • Missoula Childcare Resources, Member/Vice-Chair, Board of Directors, 2008-2011
  • Myrna Loy Center-Helena, Member, Board of Directors, 2001-2003
Other Activities
  • Outside of work, Jill can be found running, backpacking, and shuttling her daughters around to all kinds of activities.  She also continues to be involved in her family’s cattle ranch in Grass Range, Montana.