{"data":{"id":"us-mt/17-8-409","jurisdiction":"us-mt","citation":"17-8-409","heading":"Burden of proof -- effect of criminal conviction.","body":"(1) The plaintiff in an action under 17-8-405 or 17-8-406 shall prove each essential element of the cause of action, including damages, by a preponderance of the evidence.\n(2) A person convicted of or who pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to a criminal offense may not deny the essential elements of the offense in an action under 17-8-405 or 17-8-406 that involves the same event or events as the criminal proceeding.","path":["TITLE 17. STATE FINANCE","CHAPTER 8. DISBURSEMENT AND EXPENDITURE","Part 4. False Claims"],"source_url":"https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0170/chapter_0080/part_0040/section_0090/0170-0080-0040-0090.html","current_through":"Montana Code Annotated 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T04:48:28Z","sha256":"e70a449d479be325d7dbd8e94fb0a49354aaa9f850e13e1e4830096840098812","source_id":"us-mt","stale":false,"prev":"us-mt/17-8-408","next":"us-mt/17-8-410"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}