The complaint
Missoula Software and Sales, LLC et al. v. Sparus Holdings LLC et al., No. 9:26-cv-00139 (D. Mont., Missoula Division), was filed September 11, 2026, ECF No. 1 (12 pages). Missoula Software and its owner, Jay Stratemeyer, sue Sparus Holdings LLC and John Does 1-50 and demand a jury trial. The complaint says it alleges matters other than the plaintiffs' own acts on information and belief.
The works
Missoula Software alleges it developed the Mobile Dispatch Solutions (MDS) Software around 2006 to help utility-locating companies manage 811 tickets and field operations, and that it owns registrations for the software and related works, including TXu 2-516-356 and TXu 2-518-180. The Copyright Office public records list both as unpublished Mobile Dispatch Solutions works with Missoula Software and Sales LLC as claimant.
What the lawsuit alleges
The plaintiffs allege that Stratemeyer worked for Sparus as its IT director, that Missoula Software never assigned or licensed the MDS Software to Sparus, and, on information and belief, that Sparus used, copied, modified, and commercialized it without authorization. They allege that in or about September 2025 Sparus leadership announced a plan to combine MDS features into a new system, that Sparus management pressured Stratemeyer to assign the copyrights for nominal consideration, and that Sparus fired him when he refused. Count I pleads direct copyright infringement and Count II contributory copyright infringement, alleging that Sparus affiliates and customers use the software at Sparus's direction. Count III pleads wrongful discharge under the Montana Wrongful Discharge from Employment Act.
On the docket
Proof of service was filed October 5, 2026, and a corporate disclosure statement on October 29, 2026. No answer appears on the docket through October 30, 2026.