Attorney Profiles

Mark Kovacich, a principal at Lewis, Slovak, Kovacich & Marr, P.C., has lived in Montana most of his life. He graduated from Colstrip High School in Colstrip, Montana, where he was named Valedictorian in 1991. Mark later attended college at Montana Tech of the University of Montana in Butte, Montana. He obtained a bachelor of science in environmental engineering, graduating with honors in 1996. In 1999, Mark graduated with honors from the University of Montana Law School.

After finishing law school, Mark worked for the Crowley Law Firm in Billings, Montana, where he handled complex civil litigation, primarily in the areas of personal injury and workers' compensation. Mark accepted a position in his current firm in 2000. Since that time, his practice has focused entirely on representing plaintiffs in cases involving environmental litigation, toxic torts, personal injury, products liability, workers' compensation, and safe workplace litigation. Mark was named Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Montana Trial Lawyers Association in 2005, and received the association's Appellate Advocacy Award in 2008. In 2008, Mark was recognized as a Rising Star by Mountain States Super Lawyers. In 2004, Mark served as trial counsel, along with his partners, Tom Lewis and David Slovak, in the case of Sunburst v. Texaco, which resulted in a record $41.2 million verdict. Mark and the other lawyers in the firm have successfully represented hundreds of plaintiffs in high profile cases, many of which are highlighted in the Verdicts, Judgments & Settlements link.

Mark spends most of his free time with his wife, Melissa, and four children, Trent, Tauni, Kyla, and Kami. He enjoys coaching youth sports, playing golf, hunting, and fishing.

Areas of Practice

• Personal Injury - Plaintiff
• Environmental Litigation
• Toxic Torts
• Products Liability
• Workers' Compensation

Litigation Percentage

• 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions

• Montana, 1999
• U.S. District Court District of Montana, 1999
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 2008

Education

• University of Montana School of Law, Missoula, Montana
  J.D.
  Honors: With Honors
  Law Review: Public Land & Resources Law Review, 1997 - 1999
  
  
• Montana Tech of the University of Montana, Butte, Montana, 1996
  B.S.
  Honors: With Honors
  Major: Environmental Engineering
  
  

Representative Cases

• Sunburst v. Texaco, 165 P.3d 1079 (Mont. 2007)
• Nelson v. Cenex, 181 P.3d 619 (Mont. 2008)
• Gamble v. Sears, 160 P.3d 537 (Mont. 2007)

Representative Clients

• Sunburst School District & Citizens of Sunburst
• City of Livingston & Citizens of Livingston
• Citizens of Helena
• Citizens of Opportunity
• Citizens of North Havre
• Citizens of Libby

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Environmental Torts and Damages, MTLA, 2008

Honors and Awards

• MTLA Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2005
• MTLA Appellate Advocate of the Year, 2008
• Mountain States Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2008

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Montana Trial Lawyers Association, 2000 - Present
  
  
• American Association for Justice, 2000 - Present
  
  
• State Bar of Montana, 1999 - Present
  
  
• Cascade County Bar Association, 2000 - Present
  
  

Past Employment Positions

• Crowley, Haughey, Hanson, Toole & Dietrich, PLLP, Associate, 1999 - 2000

Birth Information

• June 9, 1973, Falls Church, Virginia, United States of America