False Claims Act Lawsuit Filed Against Former Political Practices Commissioner 

Bozeman, MT - After waiting over seven months, a lawsuit brought by the Montana Policy Institute alleging abuse of public office was unsealed in Lewis and Clark County District Court on September 21st.   

The suit was filed under the Montana False Claims Act against the past Commissioner of Political Practices David Gallik and related Helena state employees, including his wife Gail Gallik, Governor Brian Schweitzer's Chief of Staff, and a Department of Administration manager.  The suit seeks to recover funds that were improperly paid by the State of Montana to Gallik for using state resources to operate his personal law practice. 

The Montana Policy Institute is pursuing this case in furtherance of its core missions of government transparency and accountability. "Our goal is to give taxpayers information about how their government is working for them, or not," according to MPI president Carl Graham. "In this case we obviously don't believe the taxpayers were well served."

 
The Defendants are alleged to have abused their public office for their own personal, political or financial gain.  Attorney General Steve Bullock assigned the case to a Great Falls attorney, Mick Taleff, to represent the State and seek to dismiss the case.  A hearing will be held on October 31, 2012 on the motion to dismiss. 

"This case is about wasting public funds and creating a hostile work environment," according to MPI CEO Carl Graham. "Political appointee Dave Gallik was serving himself, not the public. The Governor's Office and Attorney General's Office didn't care, so a lawsuit was necessary. Hopefully a court will now care," he added.

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