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Congressman Rehberg defends company lawsuit

Posted: Jul 6, 2010 5:57 PM by Q2 News
Updated: Jul 6, 2010 6:22 PM

BILLINGS - Rep. Denny Rehberg is defending his company's lawsuit against the city of Billings for the way firefighters dealt with a 2008 blaze that caused damage at Rehberg Ranch Estates.

The company owned by Rehberg and his wife, Jan, says the city of Billings and the Billings Fire Department need to pay for damages the range fire caused. The lawsuit says firefighters were pulled from the fire too quickly.

The Rehbergs say they had to file the suit to protect the statute of limitations for property damage in Montana after attempts to settle the issue were unsuccessful.

Rehberg's opponent in this years Congressional race, Dennis McDonald, sent Q2 News the following statement Monday night: "Congressman Rehberg, his wife Jan, and their land development business, has sued the City of Billings and the Billings Fire Department for incompetence. Congressman Rehberg, who has a net worth of $63 million, is now after the citizens of Billings for another million dollars. In the summer of 2008, the Billings Fire Department worked to fight a range fire under difficult circumstances in the Rehberg Ranch Estates land development. The firefighters worked in debilitating heat and windy conditions and did what they always do - respond heroically and ultimately controlled this blaze. Homes were saved, lives saved, and trees and grasslands were protected. These heroes deserve a huge 'thank you,' not a Rehberg lawsuit. Rehberg's lawsuit is reminiscent of Conrad Burns' outbursts calling firefighters lazy and inferring they were incompetent. Burns later apologized. I call on Rehberg to dismiss this lawsuit and to apologize to our firefighters. This lawsuit will have a chilling effect on fire departments and volunteer firefighters. As a volunteer firefighter in Melville, I don't want to have to worry about being sued when I'm asked to help fight a fire. The Billings Fire Department and the heroes who work there should not have to worry about the Rehbergs suing them while they are putting everything they have into doing what's right."

Congressman Rehberg fired back today, "It's unfortunate that some folks are mischaracterizing this situation for political gain. The appreciation I expressed to the front-line firefighters back in 2008 is the same appreciation I feel today. Jan and I have the deepest respect for firefighters and the dangerous work they do here in Billings. We continue to be very thankful for their bravery and skill."

Rehberg's attorney Cliff Edwards released the following statement Tuesday: "On Friday July 2, 2010, Rehberg Ranch, LLC filed a civil complaint against the City of Billings and the City of Billings Fire Department relating to events surrounding the July 4, 2008 fire that consumed 1,200 acres of property, including 600 acres of Rehberg Ranch property. Rehberg Ranch, LLC requested a report from the City of Billings regarding the fire and to date the city has not responded to that request. Last week, my law firm contacted the City offering to enter into settlement discussions and expressing our willingness to postpone litigation to facilitate these discussions. The City Administrator declined our offer. Consequently, because the City did not provide the requested information and refused to enter into any settlement discussions, Rehberg Ranch, LLC was forced to file the civil complaint in order to preserve the 2 year statute of limitation for property damage in Montana. This was not Rehberg Ranch's desired course of action, but the City's actions left us no choice."

Edwrards' statement also included this: "Contrary to the unfounded allegations circulating in the political spectrum, the claim focuses on the administrative and management decisions and actions which led to the withdrawal of firefighters from an existing fire scene during high temperature and high wind conditions. The claim in no way undermines the excellent work of the first responders who so diligently worked to contain two earlier fires and subsequently contained and extinguished the re-ignited fire over the course of the next week. The claim also does not diminish the high regard Denny and Jan Rehberg have for City of Billings firefighters. In fact, the essence of the claim is that if the firefighters had been allowed to stay on the scene, the devastating events of July 4, 2008 would not have occurred, and the firefighters would not have been called to face such extreme conditions nor spend the next week extinguishing the significantly enlarged fire zone. The Rehberg's are thankful for the hard work and dedication of the first responders and have nothing but the utmost respect for their efforts and dedication. We will continue to make every effort with the City to resolve the claim with their insurance company."