Judge Rejects Compensation Claims by Ex-Governor’s Group

A federal judge has ruled an investment group that includes former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer is not entitled to compensation for mining claims that were condemned to make way for a proposed silver and copper mine.

U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen's ruling Friday upheld the findings of an expert commission tasked with determining a value for taking Optima Inc.'s claims to allow the completion of a tunnel for the proposed Montanore mine near Libby.

The commission reported that Optima could not prove its claims had any value. Optima attorneys asked Christensen to reject that finding, saying the claims contain gold.

Christensen denied the request, saying Optima did not sufficiently refute the work of the highly qualified commissioners.

Optima had sought up to $10 million in compensation. Schweitzer is an investor in the company.