On October 9, 2025, the U.S. District Court officially dismissed all RICO claims brought by Cottonwood Environmental Law Center and Big Sky resident Cameron Monroe against Big Sky Water & Sewer District and other local entities. The court found no evidence of fraud or misconduct, reaffirming that earlier rulings were correct and closing this chapter of litigation entirely.
Fiscal Responsibility & Legal Resolution
With the Monroe Cameron case dismissed and one final matter nearing settlement, the District is close to resolving all recent litigation. While defending against unfounded lawsuits has required notable legal expenses, these were extraordinary, one-time costs to protect the District’s integrity and mission.
From fiscal year 2020–21 through 2024–25, legal defense accounted for between 5% and 23% of total expenses (full legal expenses outlined in Monthly Ops Report, see link below). Even through these challenges, the District is fighting to keep operations and capital projects on track while remaining focused on its core priorities — protecting water quality, maintaining reliable service, and planning for the future.