Mont. Code Ann. » TITLE 27. CIVIL LIABILITY, REMEDIES, AND LIMITATIONS · CHAPTER 17. CLAIM AND DELIVERY OF PERSONAL PROPERTY · Part 4. Judgment -- Return of Property
Montana Code Annotated

Mont. Code Ann. § 27-17-401 (2026)

Form Of Judgment

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  1. MCA Contents
  2. TITLE 27
  3. CHAPTER 17
  4. Part 4
  5. 27-17-401 Form of judgment

TITLE 27. CIVIL LIABILITY, REMEDIES, AND LIMITATIONS

CHAPTER 17. CLAIM AND DELIVERY OF PERSONAL PROPERTY

Part 4. Judgment -- Return of Property

Form Of Judgment

27-17-401. Form of judgment. (1) In an action to recover the possession of personal property, judgment for the plaintiff may be for the possession or the value thereof, in case a delivery cannot be had, and damages for the detention. If the property has been delivered to the plaintiff and the defendant claim a return thereof, judgment for the defendant may be for a return of the property or for the value thereof, in case a return cannot be had, and damages for taking and withholding the same.

(2) The judgment in an action for claim and delivery in justices' courts must be entered substantially in the form required by subsection (1).

History: (1)En. Sec. 176, p. 77, Bannack Stat.; re-en. Sec. 200, p. 174, L. 1867; re-en. Sec. 240, p. 77, Cod. Stat. 1871; re-en. Sec. 291, p. 115, L. 1877; re-en. Sec. 291, 1st Div. Rev. Stat. 1879; re-en. Sec. 303, 1st Div. Comp. Stat. 1887; re-en. Sec. 1193, C. Civ. Proc. 1895; re-en. Sec. 6803, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 9406, R.C.M. 1921; Cal. C. Civ. Proc. Sec. 667; re-en. Sec. 9406, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 93-5704, R.C.M. 1947; (2)En. Sec. 612, p. 164, Bannack Stat.; re-en. Sec. 718, p. 179, Cod. Stat. 1871; re-en. Sec. 778, 1st Div. Rev. Stat. 1879; re-en. Sec. 798, 1st Div. Comp. Stat. 1887; amd. Sec. 1624, C. Civ. Proc. 1895; re-en. Sec. 7050, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 9683, R.C.M. 1921; Cal. C. Civ. Proc. Sec. 893; re-en. Sec. 9683, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 93-7305, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 93-5704, 93-7305(part).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1989–2022 · leading case: 1ST BANK v. Winderl, 2002 MT 339, 60 P.3d 998.
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1ST BANK v. Winderl, 2002 MT 339, 60 P.3d 998. · cites it 9× “1st Bank states that for purposes of the relief sought pursuant to §§ 27-17-401 to -403, MCA, there were genuine issues of fact (1) whether Winderl possessed the tractor during the time of the suit; (2) whether Winderl knew or should have known of 1st Bank's prior lien against…”
v. Smith-Cote (In re Cote), 2019 MT 10, 433 P.3d 221. · cites it 7× “See § 27-1-202, MCA ; § 27-17-401, MCA. Accordingly, only the interest award can be categorized as compensatory damages.”
Drescher v. Malee, 2022 MT 200, 519 P.3d 17. “See §§ 27-17-401(1), 27-1-320, and 27-1-432, MCA; 1st Bank v.”
First Bank W. Montana Missoula v. Gregoroff, 770 P.2d 512 (Mont. 1989). · cites it 3× “Section 27-17-401, MCA, entitles a plaintiff to judgment for possession of the property (or the value of the property if delivery cannot be had).”
Mont. Code Ann. § 27-17-401(1): 3 cases
1ST BANK v. Winderl, 2002 MT 339, 60 P.3d 998. “1st Bank states that for purposes of the relief sought pursuant to §§ 27-17-401 to -403, MCA, there were genuine issues of fact (1) whether Winderl possessed the tractor during the time of the suit; (2) whether Winderl knew or should have known of 1st Bank's prior lien against…”
v. Smith-Cote (In re Cote), 2019 MT 10, 433 P.3d 221. “See § 27-1-202, MCA ; § 27-17-401, MCA. Accordingly, only the interest award can be categorized as compensatory damages.”
Drescher v. Malee, 2022 MT 200, 519 P.3d 17. “See §§ 27-17-401(1), 27-1-320, and 27-1-432, MCA; 1st Bank v.”
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