Western Justice Associates Files Class Action Lawsuit Against City of Billings Over Inflated Water Bills

Class Action Lawsuit

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOZEMAN, Mont. — Western Justice Associates, PLLC, has filed a class action lawsuit in the Montana Thirteenth Judicial District Court against the City of Billings Public Works on behalf of residents facing “grossly inflated” water invoices. Domenic Cossi, one of the Lawyers for the residents, said that “It seems as if the City is seriously over billing many residents and refusing to address the extremely large water bills when those bills are brought to the City’s attention.”

The complaint alleges that after Billings executed a water invoicing system conversion in the summer of 2024, thousands of residents began receiving bills reflecting drastic, virtually impossible increases in water consumption. “Countless Yellowstone County residents received invoices reflecting drastic increases in their water consumption,” the complaint states. “Defendant refused to acknowledge the possibility of system errors despite thousands of simultaneous complaints from Plaintiffs and other Yellowstone County residents”.

The lawsuit highlights several specific cases of extreme overbilling:

A single resident whose monthly bill jumped from approximately $40 to over $545. Despite no leaks being found in his home, the City shut off his water on February 2, 2026.
A resident who received a single monthly invoice for $2,509.79. The City allegedly acknowledged the physical impossibility of the billed amount flowing through her pipes but still insisted on payment, eventually forcing her to move out of her rental.
A homeowner whose vacant property received a bill for $3,592.27 for a single month, claiming the use of 346 kilogallons of water while no one was living in the home.

The plaintiffs, represented by Domenic A. Cossi and Jory C. Ruggiero, are seeking class certification and damages for all affected residents. Plaintiffs want the City to correct the overbilling issues, reimburse those that have paid and seek an injunction to prevent continued water shut-offs.

About Western Justice Associates, PLLC: Western Justice Associates, PLLC is a law firm based in Bozeman, Montana, dedicated to representing individuals in personal injury, insurance bad faith and class action matters.

Media Contact: Domenic A. Cossi, Western Justice Associates, PLLC

(406) 587-1900, domenic@westernjusticelaw.com

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