Bechard v. Rappold

287 F.3d 827 Gordon BECHARD, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. William RAPPOLD, individually and in his capacity as Pondera County Commissioner; Dale Shelton, individually and in his capacity as Pondera County Commissioner; Robert Hovde, individually and in his capacity as Pondera County Commissioner; Pondera County, Defendants-Appellees. No. 00-35956. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Argued January 7, 2002. Submitted January 22, 2002. Filed April 19, 2002. Jeff R. Lynch, Alexander, Baucus, Taleff & Paul, P.C., Great Falls, MT, for the plaintiff-appellant. Roger T. Witt, Ugrin, Alexander, Zadick, & Higgins, P.C., Great Falls, MT, for the defendants-appellees. Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Montana Richard F. Cebull, Magistrate Judge, Presiding. D.C. No. CV-97-00011-RFC. Before THOMAS, GRABER and GOULD, Circuit Judges. OPINION GOULD, Circuit Judge. 1 Gordon Bechard ("Bechard") appeals the district court's order granting summary judgment in favor of the Pondera County Commissioners and Pondera County ("defendants") on his claims for wrongful termination under Montana law and for violation of his civil rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 .…