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Fifth Circuit Holds that Unpatented Products Can Be Given Patent-Like Protection by Contract

By Shannon S. Holtzman, Kathryn Zainey Gonski and Carol "LuLu" Welborn Reisman on Posted in Contracts, Intellectual Property, Litigation
In a breach of contract case involving the overlay of intellectual property and contract law, Luv n’ care, Ltd, a global leader in the design and sale of baby products, filed suit against its former distributor, Groupo Rimar, a.k.a. Suavinex, S.A. (“Suavinex”), for breach of Suavinex’s contractual obligation not to copy any of Luv n’ … Continue Reading

Leave It to the States: Oklahoma Federal Court Dismisses Fracking Suit In Favor Of Administrative Regulation

By Philip Dore on Posted in Environmental, Exploration and Production, Litigation, Oil & Gas, Regulatory
On April 4, 2017, a federal district court dismissed a citizen-enforcement action under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act that could have profound impact on fracking suits against the oil and gas industry. In Sierra Club v. Chesapeke Operating, LLC, the Sierra Club alleged that the deep injection of liquid waste from oil and gas … Continue Reading

Louisiana Second Circuit Addresses: (1) Creation of Mineral Servitudes Via Notarial Acts of Correction; (2) Obstacles Suspending the Prescription of Nonuse from Running Against Mineral Servitudes; and (3) Payment of Court Costs in Concursus Actions

By Brittan J. Bush on Posted in Exploration and Production, Litigation, Louisiana Mineral Law, Louisiana Oil & Gas Law, Mineral Servitudes, Oil & Gas, Oil & Gas Contracts, Property Law
In Petro-Chem Operating Co., Inc. v. Flat River Farms, L.L.C., the Louisiana Second Circuit addressed issues affecting the creation and preservation of mineral servitudes and payment of court costs in a concursus action.[1] In the case, an operator initiated a concursus action seeking to resolve ownership interest in minerals underlying property on which it was … Continue Reading

Louisiana Supreme Court Denies Writ Application in XXI Oil & Gas v. Hilcorp

By Brittan J. Bush on Posted in Exploration and Production, Litigation, Louisiana Mineral Law, Louisiana Oil & Gas Law, Oil & Gas
On March 24, 2017, the Louisiana Supreme Court declined to consider the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal’s decision in XXI Oil & Gas v. Hilcorp.[1] The Third Circuit’s decision involved the interpretation of Louisiana’s well cost reporting regime under La. R.S. 30:103.1-103.2 (collectively referred to herein as “the Statutes”) with respect to: (1) the … Continue Reading

Fifth Circuit Dismisses False Claims Act Suit Alleging Violation Of Offshore Regulations

By Liskow & Lewis on Posted in Industry News, Litigation, Offshore, Regulatory
In Abbott v. BP, the plaintiffs alleged that BP had falsely certified to compliance with regulatory requirements pertaining to the engineering of the Atlantis Platform, a semi-submersible floating production facility capable of producing more than 100,000 barrels/day.  Based on these allegations, Plaintiff Kenneth Abbott filed a qui tam suit under the False Claims Act (FCA), … Continue Reading

Oregon Federal Court Issues Remarkable Decision Finding Constitutional Right to Stable Climate

By Randy Marse, Jr. on Posted in Constitutional, Environmental, Exploration and Production, Industry News, Litigation, Louisiana Oil & Gas Law, Maritime, Offshore, Oil & Gas
Photo of a blue sky with white, fluffy cloudsOn November 10, 2016, Judge Ann Aiken, a federal district judge in Oregon, issued a remarkable environmental law decision in which she found that a climate system “capable of sustaining human life” is a fundamental constitutional right.[1] Juliana v. United States challenges the constitutionality of the United States’ decades-long policy on climate change.[2] The plaintiffs, … Continue Reading

Fifth Circuit Limits Effect of Collateral Source Rule Under General Maritime Law

By Devin C. Reid and Alexander J. Baynham on Posted in Litigation, Offshore, Oil & Gas
In DePerrodil v. Bozovic Marine, Inc., No. 16-30009, 2016 WL 6810728, at *1 (5th Cir. Nov. 17, 2016), a panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently limited the effect of the collateral source rule in a maritime employee’s personal injury action against a non-employer.  DePerrodil held that the collateral … Continue Reading

Expropriated Servitudes: They Aren’t Going Away Anytime Soon

By Cheryl M. Kornick on Posted in Litigation, Louisiana Oil & Gas Law, Pipeline, Property Law
The Third Circuit recently released an unpublished opinion making clear that when a pipeline company expropriates a servitude, the servitude is “perpetual,” and a Court cannot impose a term on that servitude.  The Third Circuit also held that a landowner must prove any damages over and above the fair market value of the property, and … Continue Reading

THE DISPUTE BETWEEN GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS AND ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF LANDRY OVER THE APPOINTMENT OF PRIVATE LEGAL COUNSEL CONTINUES…

By Jonathan J. Fox on Posted in Environmental, Industry News, Litigation, Oil & Gas, Regulatory
On September 30, 2016, Governor John Bel Edwards sued Attorney General Jeff Landry to compel him to approve several contracts between the Governor’s office and private legal counsel. In his Petition, the Governor alleged that the Attorney General’s role in approving the Governor’s contracts with private legal counsel is a ministerial duty that the Attorney General … Continue Reading

New Government Contractor “Blacklisting” Reporting Requirements Put on Hold

By Thomas J. McGoey II, Kindall C. James and Jackie E. Hickman on Posted in Arbitration, Employment Law, Environmental, Exploration and Production, Finance, Industry News, Litigation, Regulatory, Texas
Hours before a controversial set of new reporting requirements for government contractors was set to take effect, a federal court in Texas enjoined implementation of the requirements across the country.… Continue Reading

Contra Non Not Applicable: Louisiana Appellate Court Refuses to Find Exception to Running of Prescription

By Erin Bambrick on Posted in Environmental, Litigation, Oil & Gas
Sophisticated plaintiffs beware.  In Bayou Fleet, Inc. v. Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., et al., the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal concluded that contra non valentem, a judicially created exception to prescription, did not apply to prevent the running of prescription on a claim for wrongful conversion when the plaintiff company, the owner of a destroyed … Continue Reading

Texas Supreme Court Agrees to Review Three Oil and Gas Cases in 2016

By Jillian Marullo on Posted in Exploration and Production, Litigation, Oil & Gas, Oil & Gas Contracts, Texas, Uncategorized
On September 2, 2016, the Texas Supreme Court agreed to review three oil and gas cases involving issues pertinent to the industry and land and mineral owners. BP America Production Company v. Red Deer Resources, LLC In BP America Production Company v. Red Deer Resources, LLC, the lessee of a top lease, Red Deer, sued … Continue Reading

Attorney General Finds Governor’s Contract for Legal Services Not Approvable, Unacceptable, Illegal, and Unconstitutional

By Jonathan J. Fox and Dana M. Douglas on Posted in Environmental, Industry News, Litigation, Oil & Gas, Regulatory, Uncategorized
The dispute between Governor John Bel Edwards and Attorney General Jeff Landry over the retention of several private attorneys to represent the State of Louisiana, through the Department of Natural Resources (“LDNR”) in coastal loss litigation has taken a new twist.  These lawsuits were filed by several parish governments alleging dozens of oil and gas … Continue Reading

Louisiana Flooding – Legal Update

By Jackie E. Hickman and Cheryl M. Kornick on Posted in Environmental, Exploration and Production, Industry News, Insurance, Litigation, Oil & Gas, Oil & Gas Contracts, Pipeline, Property Law, Regulatory
The Liskow & Lewis family stands by our friends and neighbors throughout the unprecedented flooding in our community. As we begin the long process of recovery, here is a brief legal update on the response of various courts and state agencies: State courts: Governor John Bel Edwards has issued an executive order which purports to suspend … Continue Reading

The Dusky Gopher Frog Causes Big Problems for Industrial and Commercial Development in Parts of St. Tammany Parish

By James E. Lapeze on Posted in Environmental, Exploration and Production, Litigation, Oil & Gas, Oil & Gas Contracts, Pipeline, Property Law, Regulatory
In 2010, under the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”), the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“the FWS”) designated 6,477 acres in Mississippi and Louisiana as “critical habitat” for the Rana sevosa or the dusky gopher frog.  This frog has historically lived in nine counties or parishes across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.  Since its 2001 designation … Continue Reading

Louisiana Department of Revenue Targets Energy Companies in Rash of Oil Severance Tax Audits

By Randy Marse, Jr., James C. Exnicios and Cheryl M. Kornick on Posted in Litigation, Oil & Gas, Tax
The oil and gas industry has a significant and far reaching economic impact in Louisiana. According to one 2014 study, the total direct and indirect impact on the state is approximately $73.8 billion.[1] Taxes make up a large part of the industry’s direct economic impact in Louisiana: In 2013, the industry paid nearly $1.5 billion in … Continue Reading

Texas Supreme Court Rules Oil and Gas Producer Not Entitled to Sales Tax “Manufacturing Exemption”

By Jillian Marullo on Posted in Exploration and Production, Industry News, Litigation, Oil & Gas, Tax, Texas
On June 17, 2016, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that an oil and gas producer (“Southwest”) was not entitled to a statutory exemption from sales taxes on its purchases of casing, tubing and pumps used in the production of oil and gas (the “Equipment”). At issue in Southwest Royalties, Inc. v. Hegar was whether the … Continue Reading

Louisiana First Circuit Finds Appellate Jurisdiction Lacking, Declines to Address Merits of Appeal Involving Claims Related to Deepwater Horizon Response Operations

By Kathryn Zainey Gonski and Shannon S. Holtzman on Posted in Environmental, Exploration and Production, Litigation, Oil & Gas
Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal again finds that it lacked jurisdiction over an appeal taken from a partial judgment that was not designated as final pursuant to Article 1915(B) of the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure             In Constantin Land Trust v. BP America Prod. Co., et al., the Louisiana First Circuit Court of … Continue Reading

Regulating the Regulators: Supreme Court Allows Judicial Review of Clean Water Act Determinations

By Laura Springer Brown and Kelly Brechtel Becker on Posted in Environmental, Exploration and Production, Industry News, Litigation, Offshore, Oil & Gas, Pipeline, Property Law, Regulatory
The United States Supreme Court recently addressed whether the United States Army Corps of Engineers’ determination that wetlands are “waters of the United States” constitutes a final agency action that is subject to judicial review under the Administrative Procedure Act in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co., Inc., 15-290, 2016 WL 3041052 (U.S. … Continue Reading

New Judge, Same Result – $81 Million CWA Civil Penalty Appealed

By Jackie E. Hickman and Robert B. McNeal on Posted in Environmental, Exploration and Production, Litigation, Oil & Gas, Oil & Gas Contracts, Regulatory
U.S. District Court Judge Dee Drell (Western District, LA) recently denied a motion to alter or amend the Court’s judgment against CITGO Petroleum Corp.– allowing an $81 million judgment against the oil company to stand. The judgment is the latest in a suit the EPA filed against CITGO under the Clean Water Act for a … Continue Reading

Forum Shopping Curtailed: Venue Limited to Parish Where Drilling Rig Was Lost

By Court C. VanTassell on Posted in Exploration and Production, Litigation, Oil & Gas
In a May 4, 2016 opinion, Louisiana’s Third Circuit Court of Appeal made clear that venue was not proper in Concordia Parish—where plaintiff filed suit for damages resulting from the loss of its drilling rig in LaSalle Parish—because:  (1) the tortious conduct allegedly occurred and damages from the loss of the drilling rig were sustained … Continue Reading

Fracking Scores with Two Colorado Supreme Court Opinions

By Liskow & Lewis on Posted in Environmental, Exploration and Production, Litigation, Oil & Gas, Regulatory
Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” is a hotly debated topic in many states.  In New York and Pennsylvania, anti-fracking groups have obtained a statewide ban on fracking and the allowance of local authority to regulate fracking, respectively.  Texas, however, has enacted a state law expressly preempting local authority over a number of drilling activities.  In March … Continue Reading

Louisiana Appellate Court Unanimously Dismisses Cross-Appeals in Legacy Case

By Kathryn Zainey Gonski on Posted in Environmental, Litigation, Oil & Gas
Louisiana appellate court unanimously dismisses cross-appeals in legacy case, finding that the trial court improperly designated partial summary judgment rulings as final under Article 1915 of the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure.             In Spanish Lake Restoration, LLC v. Shell Oil Company, et al., the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal recently dismissed cross-appeals taken … Continue Reading

New Developments in the Determination of the Texas Franchise Tax Liability

By John T. Bradford on Posted in Industry News, Litigation, Oil & Gas, Tax, Texas
The Texas Franchise Tax is imposed on taxable entities that do business in Texas or that are chartered or organized in the state.  Taxpayers subject to the Texas Franchise Tax may compute their tax liabilities under several alternative methods to determine which one results in the lowest amount of tax due. One such method is … Continue Reading
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