Past Cases

 

State of Montana v. Joel Jon Ulrich:
(Jury frees Ulrich in mate's shooting death 184K)
After many motions and hearings, and a pre-trial trip to the Montana Supreme Court (State v. Joel Jon Ulrich, 187 Mont. 347, 609 P.2d 1218), Joel was acquitted by a jury of the charge of murdering his common law wife.



City of Columbia Falls v. Robert Dettwiler:
(Columbia Falls police board clears Dettwiler 173K) (Columbia Falls cheif wants patrolman fired 171K)
The City of Columbia Falls Police Chief tried to fire Officer Robert Dettwiler for a variety of alleged infractions. Mr. Nardi successfully defended Officer Dettwiler and won his reinstatement where he remained an officer with the City for many years.



State of Montana v. Irene Wyman:
(Wyman found innocent 79K) (Woman acquitted of homicide 134K) (Woman acquitted in Whitefish killing 165K)
This case is one of the few successful uses of the Battered Woman Syndrome in defending a murder charge. After a particularly emotional and highly publicized trial, Mrs. Wyman was acquitted of killing her live-in boyfriend. This case is featured in a book by Dr. Lenore E. Walker, "Terrifying Love," 1987 Harper & Row. Dr. Walker testified as an expert witness for the defense.



State of Montana v. Elaine Hoagland:
(Woman innocent in homicide case 123K) (Women's World Article 257K)
The Battered Woman Syndrome was again successfully used to defend Elaine Hoagland on charges of murdering her husband. After an emotional trial the jury agreed that Mrs. Hoagland was not guilty.



State of Montana v. Earl Duane Klindt:
(Earl Klindt goes to trial on unusual death charge 69K) (Negligent homicide charges dropped 60K)
After the State presented its case-in-chief against Mr. Klindt, the Court dismissed the pending charge of Negligent Homicide against him. The defense successfully attacked the prosecution's ability to prove the basic elements of the offense.



State of Montana v. Keith Wayne Wood:
(Wood sentenced to state hospital, not prision 259K) (Con't172K) (Keith Wood to do time at Pine Hills 106K) (Keith Wood pleads guilty to murder charges 148K) (Sympathetic Sentence 104K) (Con't 105K)
Mr. Nardi represented Keith Wood, a 15 year old boy, who shot and killed both of his parents near Kalispell, Montana. After years of motions and hearings, and an appeal to the Supreme Court (In the Matter of Keith Wayne Wood, 236 Mont. 118, 768 P.2d 1370), a plea was successfully negotiated. Keith is now a full-time college student.



United States v. Steven R. Howe:
(Ex-Yankees pitcher gets probabtion in cocaine case 125K) (Con't 41K)
New York Yankees pitcher Steve Howe was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine. After successful plea negotiations, Mr. Howe resumed his pitching career with the Yankees.



State of Montana v. Martin R. Williamson:
(Deputy acquitted of criminal charges 115K) (Con't 24K)
Officer Marty Williamson of the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department was accused of molesting a female prisoner while transporting her from Libby to Eureka. At the conclusion of the trial, Officer Williamson was acquitted of all charges.



In the Matter of Michael Thomas Kullberg,
a Youth Under the Age of Eighteen
:
(Doctors say boy shouldn't be tried 56) (Con't 101K) (Boy who burned Lakeside marina won't be tried 78K) (Attorney: Boy too young to stand trial for marina fire 131K) (Boy too young to stand trial, psychologists say 436K) (Con't 81K)
Six year old Mikey Kullberg was accused of burning down the Lakeside Marina, causing more than 1.5 million dollars worth of damage. He was charged with Arson, Burglary, and Negligent Arson. Mikey was the youngest person ever charged with a criminal offense in the United States. All charges were eventually dismissed prior to trial.



State of Montana v. Lawrence George Tunkel:
(Jury acquits Ferndale man in near-fatal shooting 92K) (Con't 114K) (Jury acquits Ferndale man in April shooting 65K)
Larry Tunkel shot an unarmed Gary Larson five times in the chest at point-blank range with a .45 caliber pistol. Amazingly, Larson lived. Was it self defense? After hearing the evidence at the trial the jury thought so, and found Mr. Tunkel not guilty of the charge of attempted murder.