The Supreme Court reviews mixed questions of law and fact de novo. Whitlow v. State, 2008 MT 140, ¶ 9, 343 Mont. 90, 183 P.3d 861. The Supreme Court reviews a district court's application of the rules of civil procedure to undisputed facts, a purely legal question, de novo. Citizens Awareness Network v. Mont. Bd. of Envtl. Review, 2010 MT 10, ¶ 13, 355 Mont. 60, 227 P.3d 583.
We generally review situations where the applicable law is undisputed and the issue is whether the facts satisfy the statutory standard, as mixed questions of law and fact. We review missed questions of law and fact de novo. Citizens Right to Recall v. State, 2006 MT 192, ¶ 6, 333 Mont. 153, 142 P.3d 764.
We apply de novo review to mixed questions of law and fact, including the district court's application of controlling legal principles to its factual findings. In such cases, the district court's application of controlling legal principles will not be disturbed unless they are clearly erroneous. Thus, although we review the district court's factual determinations for clear error, whether those facts satisfy the legal standard is reviewed de novo. Such a bifurcated standard of review affords appropriate deference to the trial court's fact-finding role and responsibility, while providing this Court with the opportunity to review legal conclusions and the application of legal standards de novo. BNSF Ry. Co. v. Cringle, 2012 MT 143, ¶ 16, 365 Mont. 304, 281 P.3d 203.