Abuse of discretion
Under M. R. Civ. P. 42(b), the decision as to whether to bifurcate a trial is a matter left to the "broad discretion" of the district court. Malta Pub. Sch. Dist. A & 14 v. Montana Seventeenth Jud. Dist. Ct., 283 Mont. 46, 50, 938 P.2d 1335, 1338 (1997) (citation omitted).