![Missoula City Attorney Calls Complaint Charging New York City Lawyer Practicing Without A License in Montana A ‘Non-Issue’](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2017/01/Jim-Nugent-City-of-Missoula.jpg?w=630&h=420&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
Missoula City Attorney Calls Complaint Charging New York City Lawyer Practicing Without A License in Montana A ‘Non-Issue’
On Friday, the Montana Shooting Sports Association filed a complaint with the Montana Office of Disciplinary Counsel stating that a New York City Attorney allegedly provided legal advice to the Missoula City Council without being licensed to practice in the state.
On Monday, Missoula City Attorney Jim Nugent called the charge a 'non-issue'.
"I don't see it as an issue," he said. "In fact, I see it as a non-issue. The city hasn't hired any out-of state attorney on the firearms ordinance, and we haven't hired or paid for any legal advice. Anyone can talk to a legislative person, whether it's a city councilor or a member of Congress, so I don't see this as an issue that they just talked to someone."
Nugent brought up the issue of lobbying.
"Even if it went so far as lobbying, you don't have to be an attorney to lobby someone who is in a legislative body, whether it's the city council, the state legislature or Congress," he continued. "It all just sounds like a non-issue to me."
MSSA President Gary Marbut has forwarded his complaint to the Montana Department of Justice's Office of Consumer Protection.
Montana Attorney General Tim Fox last week issued an opinion that the city has no authority to regulate gun registration.
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