Affirming on Alternate Grounds

The Montana Supreme Court "will affirm a district court's ruling if the court reached the correct result for the wrong reason."  Haux v. Mont. Rail Link, Inc., 2004 MT 233, ¶ 28, 322 Mont. 456, 97 P.3d 540 (citation omitted).

Where the conclusion of the district court is correct, it is immaterial, for the purpose of affirming on appeal, what reasons the district court gives for its conclusion.  If the Supreme Court reaches the same conclusion as the District Court, but on different grounds, it may affirm the district court's judgment.  Johnson Farms, Inc. v. Halland, 2012 MT 215, ¶ 11, 366 Mont. 299, 291 P.3d 1096.

We may uphold a judgment on any basis supported by the record, even if the district court applied a different rationale.  Rooney v. City of Cut Bank, 2012 MT 149, ¶ 25, 365 Mont. 375, 286 P.3d 241.