PRACTICE AREAS

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

A criminal defendant should not be treated as a “criminal .” Eric understands that most individuals who are charged with criminal offenses are good people in bad situations. Accordingly, Eric’s approach to criminal defense is to respectfully guide clients through the justice system while tenaciously exploring every possible defense in order to provide them the best possible outcome given their circumstance. Having represented clients through private practice and as a public defender, Eric has zealously represented clients in a broad spectrum of misdemeanor and felony charges, including:

Driving Under the Influence
Disorderly Conduct
Theft
Criminal Possession of Drugs and/or Paraphernalia
Assault
Partner Family Member Assault
Sexual Assault
Sexual Intercourse Without Consent
Criminal Endangerment
Fish, wildlife & game violations
and more.

Eric's experience with criminal defense means that if there is a defense available, Eric will recognize and pursue that defense. Eric's grasp of criminal procedure also enables him to use the rules of the Court to his client's advantage. In fact, Eric's knowledge of criminal procedure has resulted in multiple dismissals of criminal charges and not-guilty verdicts for his clients.

FAMILY LAW

PERSONAL INJURY

Driving conditions in Montana are often extreme. Ice and snow in winter create slippery roads and decrease visibility, making collisions and slide-offs commonplace. Vehicle accidents in summer months are even more common due to increased road use attributed to the tourism season and the number of severe or fatal accidents on Montana highways is higher in these months due to a significant increase in driving speeds in our snowless months. In Livingston in particular, high winds are known to cause slide-offs and even turn semi-trucks on their sides each year. Additionally, Montana's abundant wildlife often contributes to collisions, as elk, deer, moose and bears sometimes wander onto our interstates.

With these conditions, Montana locals and tourists alike often experience vehicular accidents which may cause significant personal injuries, in addition to property damage, which sometimes reduce or destroy their ability to work, causing even more devastation through loss of wages.

Serious accidents can cause major loss, grief and stress for individuals, making it difficult or overwhelming for them to attempt to recoup their losses on their own. Let The Law Office of Eric T. Oden make the situation easier for you. We will take care of the legal issues so that you can focus on your recovery and healing.

If you have been injured in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Eric will discuss your situation and help determine if you are eligible to receive compensation during your free consultation. If you are entitled to compensation, Eric will take care of negotiating with the big insurance and trucking companies to get you the payout you deserve.

Do not let a lack of money stop you from pursuing the compensation that you deserve. If we take on your personal injury case, you will pay no out of pocket costs for our services. When Eric secures a compensation payout for you, his services will be paid for out of a reasonable percentage of that compensation. If you don't get paid, we don't get paid.

CIVIL LITIGATION

Nobody wants to be party to a lawsuit. However, it can happen to anyone. Each day, individuals as well as small and large businesses find themselves in unexpected disputes with high stakes necessitating civil litigation to attempt to recoup their losses. In these circumstances, you need an experienced and skilled litigator to help you achieve a successful outcome.

Eric has years of experience in civil litigation, representing plaintiffs and defendants alike. Eric has litigated for all types of clients, from small families and small businesses to million-dollar corporations.

Eric most notably saved a well-known Montana company hundreds of thousands of dollars in a successful lawsuit against one of the best known American multinational computer technology corporations.

Eric has successfully litigated a broad range of problems, including:

Contract disputes
landlord-tenant issues
fraud
easement and land-use issues
product liability
and more.

Whether you are considering separating from your spouse, are in the midst of a divorce, or are suffering through child custody issues, family law matters often take the greatest emotional toll on individuals above any other field of law.

Whenever possible, Eric always attempts to resolve family law cases through a collaborative approach, meaning that he strives to reduce conflict amongst families by avoiding the “fight and win” mentality in a courtroom setting and instead adopting a “troubleshoot and problem solve” mentality through negotiations and mediations. This collaborative approach significantly reduces grief and stress for parents and children and expedites the divorce or parenting plan process.

However, when an opposing attorney or spouse is unwilling to participate in the collaborative approach and cannot remove themselves from the “fight and win” mentality, Eric will aggressively represent you while providing you the support you need throughout the process. Eric has reached successful resolutions for clients in the following family law areas:

Dissolution of Marriage
Parenting Plans
Property Settlement Agreements
Adoption
Guardianships
Conservatorships
and more.