Montana Title 7. Local Government § 7-4-2714. Recovery of illegally paid money

Whenever the board of county commissioners, without authority of law, orders any money paid as a salary or fee or for any other purpose and the money has been actually paid or whenever any other county officer has drawn a warrant in the officer's own favor or in favor of any other person without being authorized by the board or by law and the warrant has been paid, the county attorney shall institute an action in the name of the county against the person to recover the money and 25% damages for the use of the money. An order of the board is unnecessary to maintain this suit. Whenever the money has not been paid on the order or warrant, it is the duty of the county attorney, upon receiving notice, to commence an action in the name of the county for restraining the payment of the money, and an order of the board is unnecessary to maintain the action.