Montana Supreme Court, “Nunez v. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., 2020 MT 8 (DA 19-0077)”
“A member of the clergy or a priest is not required to make a report under this section if the communication is required to be confidential by canon law, church doctrine, or established church practice.”
Montana Code Annotated s. 41-3-201(6)(c), as quoted. The court held (para 33) that 'undisputed material facts in the summary judgment record demonstrate as a matter of law that Jehovah's Witnesses were not mandatory reporters' because their doctrine required confidentiality, reversing a Sanders County jury verdict of $4 million compensatory and $31 million punitive damages ($35 million) for Alexis Nunez and directing judgment for the defendants. Elders of the Thompson Falls congregation had received reports in 2004 about a member and disfellowshipped, then reinstated, him without informing authorities.
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Provenance and verification note for Montana Supreme Court, Nunez v. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., 2020 MT 8 (DA 19-0077)
Confidence note. Full opinion opened on FindLaw; decision unanimous.
Notes. The ruling turned on Montana's clergy exemption, not on a finding that the organisation acted properly; say so when citing.
Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-mt-2020-0108-nunez-v-watchtower