The “tradition” of stealing a prospect generator’s maps – and getting caught at it – is alive and well. Lamont et al v. Vaquillas Energy Lopeno Ltd et al is the second recent Texas case on theft of trade secrets and, like the first, resulted in a large judgment against the alleged
Before we talk about global warming, which of these statements most matches your view of politics and policy:
“In all things the mean is praiseworthy, and the extremes neither praiseworthy nor right, but worthy of blame.” Aristotle.
“There’s Nothing in the Middle of the Road but Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos.” Title of a book
Lawyers and landmen are taught that a document affecting real or immovable property not recorded in the public records means nothing to a stranger. Like O. J.’s quest for the real killer, lower premiums after the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and the present I would have given my wife except I forgot our
There is more to learn from Southwestern Energy Production Co. v. Berry-Helfand and Muncey, discussed in a recent post.
Damages – With Room to Run, the Expert Scores.
Courts are entitled to be “flexible and imaginative” when determining damages for misappropriation. The methods could include value of the plaintiff’s lost profits, the defendant’s actual
By David Leonard and Julie Palmer
BP’s woes from the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf continue. The federal Fifth Circuit in In re: Deepwater Horizon, withdrew an opinion of a three-judge panel and certified questions for consideration by the Supreme Court of Texas. Resolution of this dispute could significantly impact insurance law in
The prospect generator’s worst nightmare is presented in Southwestern Energy Production Co. v. Berry-Helfand and Muncey. I will over-simplify the facts: Hefland and Muncey toil for years generating James Lime prospects in a five-county area in East Texas. They show it. Dry holes are drilled. More data is generated. They show it many times
Occasionally in my litigation experience I’m reminded of time-honored rules of law. Often I’m pleased, sometimes I’m not. So it was, I assume, for the parties in Midnight rilling, LLC v. Triche et al .The Rules
In Louisiana
In the Book of Revelation, the really scary guys were the four horsemen. Now, as then, some would have you believe that the end times are upon us. This time it is because of fracking. Is it really? Absent from many discussions about oil and gas drilling are fairness and objectivity. In their place are
Comparative Title Analysis in Texas, North Dakota and Montana co-authored by Katie English and Taylor Lamb
The Title Question
Harold Smith, the owner of Blackacre, and his wife, Wendy Smith, execute a deed covering all of their interest in Blackacre to Tiger Drilling. The deed reserves to Harold and Wendy a 50% mineral interest. Does
Co-author Michael Kelsheimer
Are your landmen independent contractors? Are they employees? What do they look like to the government?
Why should you care about these questions? Because your government cares. When independent contractors do not report all of their income, or take questionable deductions to reduce their earnings, Uncle Sam is deprived of income, FICA,