facts if the parties cannot agree on one). Nevertheless, the facts in this case are immaterial to resolving the facial challenge to the constitutionality of § 39-71-413. The Bradys have acknowledged at oral argument before us and in their briefing to our court that if the statute is constitutional, they lose on the merits. See Bradys Reply Br. at 4. BRADY v. PPL MONTANA 1823 crew maintains the running belts that transport coal to the plant.

On August 28, 2001, Brady was part of a five-member crew sent to inspect a Surge Pile Dust Collector (“SPDC”), a large depository for coal dust sucked from coal conveyor belts. Because coal dust is highly combustible, the SPDC was equipped with a fire-suppression system, which consisted of large canisters of CO2. In the event of a fire, the canisters were triggered and flooded the SPDC with gas, effectively suffocating the blaze. The fire suppression system was inspected every six months and was found to be in good working order in June 2001.

Early on the 28th, the head of PPL’s “fire crew,” Dan Pur- selley, responded to reports that the fire suppression system may have been triggered. Noting that only two of the twelve CO2 canisters had been triggered, Purselley checked the alarm light, which had not activated, and switched the system from “main” to “reserve.” Later that morning, Walt Cournoyer checked the SPDC, walking around the unit and inspecting the exterior; he noticed no external heat.

During a break, Brady and another employee agreed to check the SPDC more thoroughly later that afternoon. Upon returning to the SPDC, one of the five men, Max Blanchard, climbed to the top of the unit, opened the top hatch, and looked inside. He told the others that he saw no indication of fire inside the unit. After climbing back down, Blanchard dis- cussed with the other four men—including Brady—what steps to take next, and the group decided to open the SPDC’s lower door to locate the problem. The workers knew that opening the lower door would result in coal dust being “dumped” out of the unit. However, before opening the door, Cournoyer, Blanchard, and Brady double checked the SPDC’s exterior, once again detecting no unusual heat sources.

Finally, Blanchard opened the bottom hatch, causing coal dust to spill onto the deck beneath the SPDC. At this point, 1824 BRADY v. PPL MONTANA the men began exiting the deck (most likely because they were not wearing protective clothing). As the men exited, the purging coal dust ignited, burning Brady, who suffered burns to 28% of his body. Although Brady recovered for his injuries under Montana’s Workers’ Compensation Act, he initiated this separate tort action against PPL, alleging malicious and intentional harm in failing to train workers adequately, failing to maintain a safe workplace by ensuring that the fire suppres- sion system worked properly, and failing to respond appropri- ately to SPDC alarms. Joan Brady joined the lawsuit, seeking recovery for emotional distress, loss of consortium, and loss of assistance and companionship. Subsequently, PPL removed this action from the Thirteenth Judicial District in Yellow- stone County to the United States District Court for the Dis- trict of Montana.

III

Mont. Code Ann. § 39-71-413, as amended, provides a lim- ited exception to employer immunity under Montana’s Work- ers’ Compensation Act. Before the district court, the Bradys conceded that they could not meet the standard set by the cur- rent § 39-71-413; they maintain that concession on appeal. As a result, the only issue remaining is a legal one: whether § 39- 71-413 is facially valid under the Montana state constitution of 1972. To date, the Montana Supreme Court has not addressed the constitutionality of this statute.2

The Bradys contend that the statute violates art. II, § 4 (equal protection), art. II, § 31 (special privileges), and art. V, § 12 (special legislation) because, in their view, the statute eliminates vicarious liability altogether while allowing employers who are individuals to be sued for their own inten- tional actions. As a result, relative to such employers, corpo- 2 The Montana Supreme Court has, however, applied the statute without addressing its constitutionality. See Wise v. CNH Am. LLC, 331 Mont. 181 (2006). BRADY v. PPL MONTANA 1825 rate employers are unreasonably advantaged and their employees unreasonably disadvantaged since corporate employers may not be sued under any circumstances. The Bradys also contend that the statute violates art. II, § 17 (sub- stantive due process) because it is insufficiently related to any permissible governmental objective. Finally, the Bradys argue that § 39-71-413 infringes Montanans’ fundamental rights under art. II, §§ 3-4 because the statute expands the scope of employer immunity from suit.

Previously, our district court twice sought certification of this state constitutional issue to the Montana Supreme Court. Each time the Court declined to answer the question, citing a paucity of facts. Thereafter, the parties conducted discovery, and our district court upheld the statute and entered summary judgment against the Bradys. Once again, we seek the answer of the Montana Supreme Court on this novel state constitu- tional challenge.

IV

The clerk of this court shall forward a copy of this order, under official seal, to the Montana Supreme Court, along with copies of all briefs and excerpts of record that have been filed with this court. The parties shall notify the clerk of this court within 14 days of any decision by the Montana Supreme Court to accept or decline certification. If the Montana Supreme Court accepts certification, the parties shall then notify the clerk of this court within 14 days of the issuance of that Court’s opinion. Submission of this appeal will be vacated by a separate order pending the Montana Supreme Court’s response to our request.

V

The following is a list of counsel appearing in this matter: 1826 BRADY v. PPL MONTANA Counsel for Plaintiffs: A. Clifford Edwards Roberta Anner-Hughes Triel D. Culver Edwards, Frickle, Anner-Hughes, Cook & Culver 1601 Lewis Avenue, Suite 206 P.O. Box 20039 Billings, MT 59104-0039

Counsel for Defendants: Robert L. Sterup Holland & Hart LLP 401 North 31st Street, Suite 1500 P.O. Box 639 Billings, MT 59103-7188

Carl Gilmore Preston Gates & Ellis LLP 925 Fourth Avenue, Suite 2900 Seattle, WA 98104-7580

Respectfully submitted,

Raymond C. Fisher and Richard C. Tallman, United States Circuit Judges, and Richard Mills, United States District Judge.

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