Jill M. Gerdrum
Member
Jill Gerdrum is a civil litigator with a practice focused on product liability, transportation, premises liability, insurance defense, professional liability, and employment law. Jill’s product liability experience includes claims related to farm equipment, RV component parts, engine components, loading dock equipment, lawn mowers, medical supplies, livestock feed, and underground fuel tanks. In the transportation and premises liability arenas, she represents trucking companies, insurers, and national retailers in matters involving serious personal injuries and fatalities.
Jill is often called upon for early accident scene investigations and serves as an independent investigator for entities facing potential claims. She has successfully defended companies and individuals at the administrative level, and at the trial and appellate levels throughout state and federal courts in Montana.
Bar Admissions
- Montana, 2006
- Idaho, 2022
- Wyoming, 2022
- U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court, District of Idaho
- U.S. District Court, District of Montana
- U.S. District Court, District of Wyoming
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Location
Missoula Office
125 Bank Street
Suite 403
Missoula, MT 59802
Education
BA: University of Montana, 1997, Political Science
Contact
Career Distinctions & Honors
- Chambers USA, Labor & Employment, 2019-2023
- Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
- The Best Lawyers in America®; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2020-2025; Commercial Litigation, 2020-2025; Civil Rights Law, 2024-2025; Employment Law – Management, 2024-2025; Personal Injury Litigation –Defendants, 2024-2025; Transportation Law, 2024-2025
- Mountain States Super Lawyers®, Civil Litigation: Defense, 2017-2024
- Mountain States Super Lawyers ®, Top 50 Women, 2022-2024
- Mountain States Super Lawyers ®, Top 100 Lawyers, 2023
- Mountain States Super Lawyers®, “Rising Star,” Civil Litigation: Defense, 2014-2016
- Montana Judicial Standards Commission, appointed by Montana Supreme Court, 2017-present
Professional Experience
- Partner, Axilon Law Group, PLLC, Missoula, Montana, 2006-2021
- Clinic Law Clerk, U.S. Magistrate Judge Leif Erickson, Summer 2005
- Deputy Commissioner of Insurance & Securities, Montana State Auditor, Helena, Montana, 2001-2003
Decisions
- Barstads v. Albert Burney, Inc., et. al, DV-16-68; DV-16-69;DV-17-12, Montana’s Third Judicial District, Powell County, (order of dismissal and to compel arbitration on behalf of defendant Riverbend Realty)
- Hathaway v. Zoot Enterprises, Inc., DV-19-809B, Montana Eighteen Judicial District Court (summary judgment and denial of motion for leave to amend for defendant)
- Janik v. Town of Whitehall et. al., DV-18-01, Montana’s Fifth Judicial District Court, Jefferson County (summary judgment for Town clerk)
- Outland v. Montana Department of Corrections, HRB Case No. 956-2018, (decision for Outland at hearing and on appeal to HRC)
- Adami v. Nelson, DR-16-199, Montana’s Fourth Judicial District Court, Missoula County (bench trial decision for Adami)
- Chyatte v. Missoula County, et al., CV-13-174-M-DWM-JCL, U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, Missoula Division; Case No. 16-35046, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (defense verdict on behalf of Missoula County)
- Scotten v. Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs, DE-1221-16-0087-W-1, United States Merit System Protection Board (decision for Scotten on whistleblower protection claim)
- Frank v. Town of West Yellowstone, CV-15-25-BU-SEH, U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, Butte Division; Case No. 16-35218, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (on behalf of Town of West Yellowstone) (summary judgment for Town and order of dismissal for Individual defendants)
- Orr v. Anaconda Deer Lodge County, CV-14-BU-SEH, U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, Butte Division; Case No. 15-35612, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (summary judgment on behalf of Anaconda Deer Lodge County)
Appeals
- Hathaway v. Zoot Enters., 2021 MT 292, 406 Mont. 239, 2021 Mont. LEXIS 905, 2021 WL 5194919
- Ramsbacher v. Jim Palmer Trucking, 2018 MT 118, 391 Mont. 298, 417 P.3d 313
- Adami v. Nelson, 2019 MT 286, 398 Mont. 72, 454 P.3d 642
- S. Mont. Tel. Co. v. Mont. PSC, Dep’t of Pub. Serv. Regulation, 2017 MT 123
- TC Fuel Components, LLC v. Mont. Eleventh Judicial Dist. Court, 374 Mont. 540, 346 P.3d 363 (2014)
- Johnson v. W. Transp., LLC, 2011 MT 13, 359 Mont. 145, 247 P.3d 1094
- Hilten v. Bragg, 2010 MT 273, 358 Mont. 407, 248 P.3d 282
Professional Associations
- Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, 2015-present
- Transportation Lawyers Association, 2020-present
- Trucking Industry Defense Association 2021-present
Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars
- Co-Author, “Danger! Danger! Will Robinson: Are My Warnings Enough? Impact of the “heeding presumption” of on warnings labels and situations in which post-sale warnings may arise,” ALFA International Products Liability & Complex Torts Seminar, 2022
- Co-Author and Presenter, “Employment Law Update – Return to Work, COVID-19 Issues, & Changes to Montana Law,” Jim Tillotson Service Program for Montana City Attorneys, 2021
- Co-Author and Presenter, “Navigating the City/Client Landscape under Rule of Prof. Conduct 1.13,” MMIA Defense Counsel Summit, 2020
- Author and Presenter, “Record Retention, Litigation Holds, and Electronic Discovery: How Employers Can Navigate Rough Waters,” Seminar Group Employment Law Institute, 2020
- Co-Author and Presenter, “It’s How We Play the Game, Ethical Considerations in Litigation,” ALFA International Client Seminar, 2019
- Co-Author and Presenter, “Culture is the New Black, The Value of Company Culture and It’s Impact on Litigation,” ALFA International Client Seminar, 2018
- Author, “The United States Supreme Court’s Recent Personal Jurisdiction Decisions: Federalism and Restriction on Forum Shopping, or a “Parade of Horribles”?,” FDCC Insights, September 2017
- Author and Presenter, “Workplace Whistleblowers: The Tension Amongst Fairness, Loyalty, & The Motivating Factors of Whistleblowing,” The Seminar Group Employment Law Institute, 2017
- Author and Presenter, “Representing Your Client in Federal Court, National Business Institute Seminar,” 2015
- Co-Author, “Transportation Mini Compendium – Montana,” American Trucking Association, 2013
- Co-Author and Presenter, “When the Party is Over: What do Former Employees and Their Former Employers Owe Each Other,” The Seminar Group, 2012
- Author and Presenter, “Employment Discrimination Law Issues,” Sterling Education Seminar, Missoula, 2011
- Co-Author, “Transportation Law Compendium – Montana;” “Insurance Law Compendium – Montana;”“Labor & Employment Law Compendium – Montana,” ALFA International, 2012-2021
- Co-Author, “Commercial Transportation Litigation Committee’s Guide to Montana’s Complex Law Regarding Joint and Several Liability and Contributory Negligence,” ABA’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, 2009
Business & Community Service
- Montana Legal Services Association, Volunteer, 2020-present
- Missoula Childcare Resources, Member/Vice-Chair, Board of Directors, 2008-2011
- Myrna Loy Center-Helena, Member, Board of Directors, 2001-2003
Other Activities
- Outside of work, Jill can be found running, backpacking, and shuttling her daughters around to all kinds of activities. She also continues to be involved in her family’s cattle ranch in Grass Range, Montana.
Blog Posts About Jill
- Eighteen Attorneys Named to 2025 Edition of “Best Lawyers In America”
- Three Recognized in 2024 Mountain States Super Lawyers List
- Hall & Evans’ Trucking Team Participates in ALFA International’s Transportation Practice Group Seminar
- Hall & Evans Expands ALFA International Membership into Montana
- Seventeen Attorneys Named to 2024 Edition of “Best Lawyers In America”
- Jill Gerdrum Moderates Panel at ATA Litigation Center’s Trucking Legal Forum
- Three Honored in 2023 Mountain States Super Lawyers List
- Hall & Evans Attorneys and Practice Area Ranked in Chambers USA 2023
- Jill Gerdrum and Thomas Singer Speaking at Montana Labor & Employment Law Seminar
- Twenty-Two H&E Attorneys Named to 2023 Editions of “Best Lawyers In America” & “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch”
- Three Selected for 2022 Mountain States Super Lawyers List
- Jill Gerdrum Presenting at The ATA Litigation Center’s 2022 Trucking Legal Forum
- Hall & Evans Welcomes Jill Gerdrum
- Montana Supreme Court Affirms Summary Judgment for Hall & Evans’ Client in Wrongful Discharge Case