Menu
Montana lawyers Steve Carey, Dave Lighthall, and Andrew Huppert and our talented staff bring specialized knowledge and unique experiences to the table. While our clients generally work closely with their own attorneys, we draw upon our collective skills to provide each client the most effective representation possible. This includes concerted collaboration on unique legal and factual issues to ensure that our clients obtain the best possible results.
With decades of experience and an ongoing commitment to professional involvement and development, Carey Law Firm, P.C.‘s attorneys stand prepared to represent you. Learn more about our qualifications and backgrounds at the following links:
RIGHTING WRONGS — MAKING THE INJURED WHOLE AGAIN
Our practice is founded on a collective commitment to our clients. With considerable legal resources and a passion for helping others, we represent clients on a host of legal matters, including:
For those injured in the course of their employment and in all varieties of workplaces
Stemming from car accidents, medical negligence and more
In all their complexities and all forms of insurance
Carey Law Firm, P.C., offers a free initial legal consultation to discuss the merits of your legal claim. If you were injured on the job or by the negligence of another, or are battling an insurance company, contact us today at 406-728-0011 or by email through this website.
Attorney
Steve grew up in Sidney, Montana. He graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Montana and continued on at the University of Montana Law School, earning his J.D. in 1984. He has worked as an attorney in the Missoula community for over 35 years.
Steve’s practice is concentrated in workers’ compensation, personal injury actions, medical malpractice, and insurance coverage issues. He has also served as a mediator in several hundred cases involving all types of litigation.
Steve has been a frequent speaker across the state on legal matters. He has also contributed articles to legal publications and conferences. He is a member of the Montana and American Bar Associations, Montana Trial Lawyers Association, and the American Association for Justice.
Practice Areas
Education
University of Montana School of Law, Missoula MT
University of Montana, Missoula MT
Honors
The College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers was established to honor those attorneys who have distinguished themselves in their practice in the field of workers’ compensation for outstanding traits they have developed in their practice over twenty years or more. These individuals have been found by their peers, the bar, the bench, and the public to possess the highest professional qualifications and ethical standards, character, integrity, professional expertise, and leadership.
Bar Admissions
Attorney
Dave was born and raised in Yakima, Washington, graduating from Eisenhower High School in 1988. He attended the University of Washington and received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1992, with honors. After stints as a ski instructor in Mammoth Lakes, California, and working on a fishing boat in the Bering Sea in Alaska, he moved to Missoula to study Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Montana, receiving a second BA in Literature in 1998.
Dave then moved briefly to Portland, Oregon, where he worked as an assistant editor and marketing director for a print publication with an environmental focus. He returned to Missoula in 1999, inadvertently taking a job as a golf professional at the Highlands Golf Club. Dave then enrolled at the University of Montana School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctorate degree in 2006.
While in law school, Dave was a member of the Environmental Moot Court team, served as President of the Environmental Law Group, and was a member of the Student Trial Lawyers Association. He also worked for Carey Law Firm as a legal intern, where he was hired full-time after graduating from law school. Dave’s practice with the firm involves 100% litigation, with a focus on workers’ compensation, personal injury, employment law, and insurance disputes. He is a member of the Montana Trial Lawyers Association, Montana Bar Association, and American Bar Association. Dave has co-authored several articles regarding current issues in workers’ compensation for the MTLA publication, Trial Trends, and advocates continuously on behalf of Montana’s injured workers.
In his spare time, Dave enjoys working on his golf game, fly-fishing, skiing, mountain biking, bird hunting, rafting, camping, cooking for family and friends, and reading a good book.
Practice Areas
Bar Admissions
U.S. District Court District of Montana, 2006
Education
University of Montana School of Law, Missoula MT
University of Washington, Seattle WA
University of Montana, Missoula MT
Attorney
Andrew was raised on the banks of the Yellowstone River in Livingston, Montana and has maintained a broad-based civil practice throughout Montana for nearly 30 years, with substantial trial and appellate experience in personal injury, medical malpractice, workers’ compensation, insurance and employment law. He is admitted to practice before the Ninth and Fifth Circuit, Montana Federal Court, and the Montana Supreme Court. He is a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Montana Trial Lawyers and the Montana State Bar. Andrew was awarded the Order of Barristers Award for Outstanding Advocacy, the American Jurisprudence Award, and was inducted into the Texas Lawyer Hall of Fame for obtaining one of the highest Texas jury verdicts in 2010.
Reported Cases:
Practice Areas
Education
University of Montana School of Law, Missoula MT
University of Illinois
Honors and Awards
Bar Admissions
Ellen has been a registered Nurse in Montana for more than thirty five years. She has worked in a variety of clinical and administrative positions including public health, school nursing, hospital and clinic based pediatrics, education and staff development, occupational health and safety, including work site assessments, early return to work after injury, reasonable accommodations, and human resource policy pertaining to occupational health and safety.
For the past twelve years, Ellen has been employed as a Nurse Consultant with the Carey Law Firm, working on cases involving personal injury, medical negligence, and workers’ compensation. Ellen’s contribution at the law office enhances outcomes and strengthens the quality of services provided by our law firm.
Ellen provides detailed medical summaries or chronologies which allow the attorney to quickly grasp the medical issues facing our injured clients so that the attorney can focus on legal considerations. Ellen often applies her knowledge of healthcare and the legal process, serving as a liaison facilitating communication between physicians and the attorneys. Ellen is also able to provide insight and suggestions to clients regarding their health care and treatment, if needed.
Ellen is a certified Life Care Planner and Medicare Set Aside Certified Consultant. Her expertise in these areas brings a valuable skill set to our law practice. We rely on her to input to assist us in determining the monetary value of cases. Ellen develops cost projections for future medical expenses. She also plays a key role in evaluating Medicare Set Asides (MSAs). An MSA is mandated by law prior to the settling medical benefits in workers’ compensation cases and are indicated in liability cases when the injured client is or will be eligible for social security benefits.
Education
Montana State University, Missoula MT
FIG Medicare Set Aside Pre-Certification Programs
Current Licensure/Certifications
Prior Certifications
Paralegal
Lori was born and raised in Missoula, Montana. She graduated from Big Sky High School in 1986 and the College of Technology at the University of Montana in 1989. She immediately began working as a legal assistant at Garlington, Lohn & Robinson. In 1997, she left GL&R to join the Carey Law Firm. Lori wears many hats at the firm, including paralegal, office manager, and bookkeeper. She is a member of the Paralegal Section of the State Bar of Montana. She takes pride in her work, has a strong work ethic, and is an invaluable member of our legal team.
Lori is married to her husband, Jeff, and they have a blended family of five children.
They enjoy the great Montana outdoors — camping, fishing, hunting, and boating, and especially love spending time at Flathead Lake with family and friends. They enjoy travelling anywhere tropical. Lori also loves scrapbooking, crafting, and photography.
