Catherine A. Freeman

Member

Catherine Freeman represents businesses, public entities, and professionals in complex business litigation, employment, professional liability, and insurance defense cases.

Born and raised in Idaho, Ms. Freeman recently moved to Montana after practicing law in Idaho for the last decade. Before joining Hall & Evans, she focused on civil insurance defense at a small firm in Boise, Idaho. Prior to that, she worked as in house counsel for Ada County in the Civil Division of the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office in Boise, Idaho where she represented elected officials and their employees in employment, professional liability, tort, appeals, and other cases.

In 2022, Ms. Freeman received a Service Award from the Idaho State Bar and was named Accomplished Under 40 by the Idaho Business Review. The Idaho State Bar also named her Outstanding Young Lawyer in 2018. She is an active member of several professional organizations.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Idaho, 2013
  • Montana, 2023
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Idaho
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Idaho
  • U.S. District Court, District of Montana
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Location

Missoula Office
125 Bank Street
Suite 403
Missoula, MT 59802

Education

JD: University of Idaho College of Law, 2013
BA: University of Idaho, 2009, English

Contact

freemanc@hallevans.com

More About
Catherine

Resume

Linkedin

Professional Associations
  • Idaho State Bar Professionalism & Ethics Section, 2013-present; Former Secretary, 2020-2022; Former Section Chair, 2022-2023; Former Anti-Discrimination Anti-Harassment Committee Chair, 2020-2023
  • Idaho Association of Defense Counsel, 2021-present
  • Idaho Women Lawyers, Former Gala Co-Chair, 2018-present
  • Defense Research Institute, 2021-present
  • American Inn of Court No. 130, Former Barrister & Team Captain, 2020-2023
  • Idaho Fourth District Bar Association’s Law Day, Former Chair, 2012-2018
  • Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association, 2013-2021
Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Service Award, Idaho State Bar, 2022
  • Accomplished Under 40, Idaho Business Review, 2022
  • Outstanding Young Lawyer, Idaho State Bar, 2018
Other Activities
  • Outside of work, Catie can be found playing tennis, golfing, skiing, reading, or enjoying a true crime podcast.
Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars
  • ​Co-Presenter, “Free Speech Issues for Local Governments,” Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association, 2020
  • Presenter, “A Guide to Social Media for the Public Employer,” American Association of Airport Executives-Northwest Chapter, 2018
  • Panelist, “Lawyering Skills,” Idaho State Bar Association New Attorney Program, 2014-2021
  • Panelist, “Warranties, Insurance and Indemnification,” Idaho Public Purchasing Association, 2019
Business & Community Service
  • Idaho State Bar Grading Volunteer, 2018-present

  • University of Idaho Alumni Association, Former President, 2016-2022

  • University of Idaho School of Law Ethics Orientation Mentor, 2017-2019

Professional Experience
  • Associate Attorney, Gjording Fouser, PLLC, Boise, ID, 2021-2023
  • Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Ada County Prosecutor’s Office, Boise, ID, 2013-2021

Ronald E. Neroda

Member

Ronald Neroda’s practice focuses on the defense of civil cases involving medical malpractice, nursing homes, long-term care and rehabilitation facilities, correctional healthcare providers, asbestos and toxic torts, civil rights claims, premises liability, and employment practices.

Mr. Neroda has extensive experience representing and advising medical providers, hospitals, dentists, and nursing home and in-home care providers in complex malpractice matters. He also frequently works with clients in the retail and restaurant industries on premises liability and dram shop actions. He also represents various industries in cases that involve toxic exposure.

Mr. Neroda has successfully defended clients through all phases of litigation including trial, pretrial, mediation and arbitration. In addition to his litigation practice, he also regularly advises clients on employment practices and policies and procedures to reduce company risk.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois, 2008
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin

Location

Chicago Office
121 West Wacker Drive
Suite 2150
Chicago, IL 60601

Education

JD: John Marshall Law School, 2008, cum laude

BS: Indiana University, 2005, Business Finance

Contact

nerodar@hallevans.com

More About
Ronald

Resume

Linkedin

Professional Associations
  • American Bar Association
  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Illinois State Bar Association
Business & Community Service
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago
  • PAWS Chicago

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.

Practice Areas

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

Resume

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)

Shannon M. Hurley

Senior Associate

Shannon Hurley’s practice focuses on general civil litigation and transportation defense. Before joining Hall & Evans, Ms. Hurley served as a Deputy District Attorney with the Denver District Attorney’s Office and the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. During her time as a prosecutor, she tried over 70 jury trials to verdict and handled all types of criminal matters ranging from misdemeanors and domestic violence to felony sexual assaults and first-degree murder.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2017
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado

Location

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

Education

JD: University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 2016
BA: Occidental College, 2010, Urban and Environmental Policy

Contact

hurleys@hallevans.com

More About
Shannon

Resume

Linkedin

Professional Experience
  • Deputy District Attorney, Denver District Attorney’s Office, Denver, CO, 2019-2022
  • Deputy District Attorney, Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Golden, CO, 2017-2019
Business & Community Service
  • Junior League of Denver
Professional Associations
  • Colorado Women’s Bar Association
  • Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
  • National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel

Susan G. Ridgeway

Senior Counsel

Susan Ridgeway’s practice emphasizes civil litigation and surrogacy and reproductive donation law.

An experienced litigator in both state and federal court, Susan has helped small and large companies with their legal needs for over 25 years. Her clients include construction contractors, property developers, banks, health care providers, cryobanks, manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers. Susan has a solid record of achieving proactive and cost-efficient resolutions for her clients, both in and out of court.

A portion of Susan’s practice has been dedicated to establishing and protecting family rights.  For 12 years she has provided legal services to create and protect families in assisted reproductive technology arrangements.  She is recognized as a legal authority in Montana on surrogacy, reproductive donation, and parentage rights and has obtained remedies for LGBTQ+ parents and their children, including two groundbreaking Montana Supreme Court decisions.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Montana, 1991
  • Washington (inactive), 1992
  • U.S. District Court, District of Montana
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Montana

Location

Missoula Office
125 Bank Street
Suite 403
Missoula, MT 59802

Education

JD: University of Montana, 1990, with honors
BA: University of Montana, 1984, History, with honors

Contact

ridgeways@hallevans.com

More About
Susan

Resume

Linkedin

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • The Best Lawyers in America®; Family Law, 2024-2025; Commercial Litigation, 2025
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers®, Civil Litigation: Defense, 2020, 2022-2024; Business Litigation, 2021
  • University of Montana School of Law, Guest Lecturer, 2016-present
Professional Experience
  • Partner, Axilon Law, Missoula, Montana, 2015-2021
  • Solo Practitioner, Missoula, Montana, 2000-2015
  • Associate Attorney, Datsopoulos, MacDonald & Lind, P.C., Missoula, Montana, 1995-2000
  • Assistant Attorney General, State of Washington, Spokane, Washington, 1992-1995
  • Judicial Law Clerk, Washington State Court of Appeals, Seattle, Washington, 1990-1992
Professional Associations
  • American Bar Association, Litigation and Assisted Reproductive Technologies Groups
  • American Academy of Reproductive Technology Attorneys, Fellow
  • Family Law Institute of the National LGBT Bar Association
  • Society for Ethical Egg Donation and Surrogacy
  • State Bar of Montana
Business & Community Service
  • Friends of Missoula Parks, Board Member, 2016-present
  • Missoula City Parks and Recreation, Board Member, 2013-2016
  • Missoula County Public Schools, Writing Coach or Policy Committee Member, 2010-2013
  • Missoula Strikers Soccer Association, Team Manager, Assistant Coach, or Referee 2005-2011
  • Missoula Community School, Board Member, 2001-2002
  • Blue Mountain Clinic, Board Member, 1996-1999
Other Activities
  • Susan enjoys cycling, mountain biking, and playing ice hockey with friends.
Blog Posts About Susan

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