Opinion
OP 24-0030
01-30-2024
CHRISTOPHER SNYDER, Petitioner, v. LEWIS AND CLARK COUNTY JUSTICE COURT, HON. MARK PISKOLICH, PRESIDING, Respondent.
ORDER
Self-represented Petitioner Christopher Snyder seeks a writ of supervisory control arguing that the Justice Court for Lewis and Clark County, in Cause No. CU-23-1169, erred when it entered the December 6, 2023 default judgment against him without considering his response. He explains that the underlying matter concerns a landlord-tenant dispute and that he received an eviction notice on November 8, 2023, requiring that he vacate his premises by November 15, 2023. A complaint was served on Petitioner November 17, 2023. Petitioner filed an answer on November 29, 2023. Snyder explains that he was an inmate when he tried to follow-up on the status of the underlying case and that he wrote the Clerk of Court numerous times and never received a response.
Having reviewed the Petition, we deem it appropriate to obtain a summary response. Therefore, in accordance with M. R. App. P. 14(7), IT IS ORDERED that the Lewis and Clark County Justice Court and the State of Montana, or both, are each granted until February 23, 2024, to prepare, file, and serve a response(s) to the petition for writ of supervisory control.
The Clerk is directed to provide immediate notice of this Order to the Honorable Mark Piskolich, Lewis and Clark County Justice Court; Petitioner, Christopher Snyder; counsel of record; and the Clerk of Court, Lewis and Clark County Justice Court, Cause No. CU-23-1169.