No Meaningless Provisions

Statutes and Statutory Interpretation: No Meaningless Provisions

Barnard v. Liberty Northwest [10/20/06] 2006 MTWCC 35 In construing a statute, a court must endeavor to give meaning and effect to all statutory provisions. A construction which renders a provision meaningless is disfavored. Groves v. Clark, 277 Mont. 179, 184, 920 .2d 981, 984. The Department’s interpretation of § 39-71-741, MCA, gives meaning and effect to § 39-71-741(1)(c), MCA.

Broyles v. Albertson's [2/27/04] 2004 MTWCC 19 Statutes should be construed, if possible, to give them meaning since the legislature is presumed not to have enacted meaningless legislation.

Re: Colon [12/12/02] 2002 MTWCC 63 Courts must reconcile conflicting statutory provisions and make them operative in accordance with the legislative intent, insofar as it is possible to do so.

MSG v. DOL [4/21/98] 1998 MTWCC 31 In construing a statute, the Court must give meaning and effect to all statutory provisions; a construction which renders a provision meaningless is disfavored. Groves v. Clark, 277 Mont. 179, 184, 920 P.2d 981, 984 (1996) ("It is well settled that this Court must give meaning and effect to all statutory provisions, and that a construction which renders a provision meaningless is disfavored.")