Montana Code Annotated

Mont. Code Ann. § 28-1-211 (2026)

Implied Covenant Of Good Faith And Fair Dealing

✓ current as of May 2026
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TITLE 28. CONTRACTS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS

CHAPTER 1. OBLIGATIONS IN GENERAL

Part 2. Obligations Imposed by Law

Implied Covenant Of Good Faith And Fair Dealing

28-1-211. Implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The conduct required by the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing is honesty in fact and the observance of reasonable commercial standards of fair dealing in the trade.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 571, L. 1987.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 45 cases (12 in the last 5 years), 1989–2026 · leading case: Story v. City of Bozeman, 791 P.2d 767 (Mont. 1990).
Story v. City of Bozeman, 791 P.2d 767 (Mont. 1990). · cites it 18× “Most importantly, in § 28-1-211, MCA, the 1987 Legislature defined the standard of conduct under the implied covenant as honesty in fact and the observance of reasonable commercial standards — the same standard applied to merchants under the Uniform Commercial Code.”
Morrow v. Bank of Am., N.A., 2014 MT 117, 324 P.3d 1167. · cites it 6× “We affirm the order of the District Court granting summary judgment to Bank of America on the Morrows’ breach of contract claim.”
Hardy v. Vision Serv. Plan, 2005 MT 232, 120 P.3d 402. · cites it 6× “Section 28-1-211, MCA. We measure the nature and extent of the obligations of good faith and fair dealing by the parties’ justifiable expectations.”
Masters Grp. Int'l, Inc. v. Comerica Bank, 2015 MT 192, 352 P.3d 1101. · cites it 6× “” ¶68 In its complaint, Masters pleaded “Breach of Implied Covenant” as a separate count. However, within that count, Masters tied its claim directly to the alleged actions taken by Comerica in violation of the contract.”
Draggin' Y Cattle Co. v. Junkermier, Clark, Campanella, Stevens, P.C., 2019 MT 97, 439 P.3d 935. · cites it 3× “Implied as a matter of law in every contract is a covenant of good faith and fair dealing requiring "honesty in fact and the observance of reasonable commercial standards of fair dealing in the trade.”
Puryer v. HSBC Bank USA, Nat'l Ass'n, 2018 MT 124, 419 P.3d 105. · cites it 3× “" Section 28-1-211, MCA. "In a great majority of ordinary contracts, a breach of the implied covenant is only a breach of the contract and only contract damages are due.”
Haines Pipeline Constr., Inc. v. Montana Power Co., 830 P.2d 1230 (Mont. 1991). · cites it 6× “Section 28-1-211, MCA. See also § 30-2-103(b), MCA.”
Knucklehead Land Co. v. Accutitle, Inc., 2007 MT 301, 172 P.3d 116. · cites it 3× “Overlooking material issues of fact regarding commercial reasonableness of the Appellees’ actions? ¶18 Knucklehead argues that the District Court improperly granted summary judgment on its claim for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.”
Mann Farms v. Traders State Bk. of Poplar, 801 P.2d 73 (Mont. 1990). · cites it 7× “In Story, we set forth the standard of conduct required by the implied covenant: “For every contract not covered by a more specific statutory provision, the standard of compliance is that contained in § 28-1-211, MCA: “ ‘The conduct required by the implied covenant of good faith…”
Kinniburgh v. Garrity, 798 P.2d 102 (Mont. 1990). · cites it 6× “Section 28-1-211, MCA. Story, 791 P.2d at 775 .”
Precision Theatrical Effects, Inc. v. United Banks, N.A., 2006 MT 236, 143 P.3d 442. · cites it 4× “) In their District Court arguments, the parties used the definition of good faith under § 28-1-211, MCA, which references honesty and the observance of reasonable commercial standards, and reads similarly to the UCC definition in Title 30—as it was amended in 2005.”
Richland Nat'l Bank & Trust v. Swenson, 816 P.2d 1045 (Mont. 1991). · cites it 3× “” Section 28-1-211, MCA; Story, 791 P.2d at 775 .”
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