Lexis Legal News : Mealey's Fracking : Lawsuit Filings, Litigation, Settlements, Verdicts and Court News

Mealey's Fracking

July 12, 2019
Retirement Fund: Fracking Company, Executives Violated Federal Securities Laws

PITTSBURGH — Cambridge Retirement System (CRS) on June 25 filed a federal securities class action in Pennsylvania federal court against a hydraulic fracturing company and some of its executives, contending that they violated the Securities Exchange Act (SEA) and Securities Exchange Commission regulations (Cambridge Retirement System v. EQT Corporation, et al., No. 19-754, W.D. Pa.).
July 10, 2019
Offshore Fracking Dispute On Appeal To The 9th Circuit Not Selected For Mediation

SAN FRANCISCO — A clerk in the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on July 5 issued an order indicating that a lawsuit regarding offshore hydraulic fracturing was not selected for mediation, as environmental groups and the Trump administration contest a district court’s previous ruling that approved a permanent injunction against well stimulation treatments (WST) until the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) consults with a federal agency and completes a process mandated under federal law (Environmental Defense Center, et al. v. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, et al., No. 16-8418, C.D. Calif.).
July 10, 2019
Fracking Companies Seek Ruling That They Are Not Infringing A Drilling Tool Patent

HOUSTON — Two hydraulic fracturing companies on July 8 filed a complaint in Texas federal court seeking declaratory judgment that they have not infringed a patent for a tool used in well casings in response to a cease-and-desist letter sent to the companies from the designer of a device that is similar to the tool in question (Exacta Frac Energy Services Inc., et al. v. Paul Bernard Lee, No. 19-2459, S.D. Texas).
July 09, 2019
Hydraulic Fracturing Company: Well Services Operators Infringe Patents Knowingly

HOUSTON — A hydraulic fracturing well services company on July 3 sued two other well services companies in Texas federal court, alleging that they knowingly infringe on patents related to a fracking fluid pumping system (U.S. Well Services Inc. v. TOPS Well Services LLC, et al., No. 19-225, S.D. Texas).
July 09, 2019
Agency: Native American Tribe Missed Its Chance To Consult On Fracking Pipeline

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on July 5 filed a brief in the District of Columbia Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals contending that the court should deny a Native American tribal preservation group’s motion seeking to intervene in the agency’s decision to allow the construction of a pipeline to carry hydraulically fractured gas across tribal lands because the tribe was given the opportunity to consult with FERC during the permit process and failed to do so (Narragansett Indian Tribal Historic Preservation Office v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, No. 19-1009, D.C. Cir.).
July 08, 2019
Judge: Oil Sale Agreement Open To Interpretation, Dismissal Of Case Not Warranted

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — A federal judge in New Mexico on July 1 denied an energy company’s motion to reconsider the judge’s previous ruling regarding the company’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit over the sale of oil and gas mineral interests, ruling that the energy company did not “convince” the district court that dismissal was proper. The judge also said that dismissal was not warranted because there were various possible interpretations of the sale agreement (Joshi Technolgies International Inc. v. Chi Energy Inc., No. 15-467, D. N.M., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 109602).
June 28, 2019
10th Circuit Denies Rehearing Of Fracking Permit Dispute On Federal Land

DENVER — A panel of the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on June 24 denied a petition for rehearing filed by environmental groups that contended that the court should vacate the environmental assessments (EAs) related to the Trump administration’s approval of hydraulic fracturing permits. The panel also denied the groups’ motion to provide supplemental information pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (Diné Citizens Against Ruining Our Environment, et al. v. David Bernhardt, et al., No. 18-2089, 10th Cir.).
June 27, 2019
Company, Federal Agency Seek High Court Review Of Fracking Pipeline Ruling

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A pipeline company and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) each filed petitions for writ of certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court on June 25, contending that the USFS has the authority under federal law to grant rights-of-way for the construction of a pipeline that would carry hydraulically fractured gas to Virginia and North Carolina (Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC v. Cowpasture River Preservation Association, et al., No. 18A1181, and United States Forest Service v. Cowpasture River Preservation Association, et al., No. 18A1182, U.S. Sup.).
June 26, 2019
Cross-Appellant Says Jurisdiction Lacking Over Patent Owner Appeal

WASHINGTON, D.C. — An oilfield services company on June 20 filed a principal and response brief with the Federal Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, in which it again maintained that appellate jurisdiction is lacking over a patent owner’s challenge of a Texas federal judge’s claim construction and stipulated final judgment (EnerPol LLC v. Schlumberger Technology Corp., Nos. 2019-1079, -1120, Fed. Cir.).
June 26, 2019
Panel Affirms Prior Decision Against Groups That Objected To Fracking Ordinance

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A Pennsylvania appellate panel on June 26 re-affirmed its prior decision that a lower court did not err when it rejected a challenge to a local hydraulic fracturing ordinance brought by residents and environmental groups that opposed it on grounds that it could lead to the contamination of drinking water (Delaware Riverkeeper Network, et al. v. Middlesex Township Zoning Hearing Board v. R.E. Gas Development LLC, No. 2609 CD 2015, Pa. Cmwlth., 2019 Pa. Commw. LEXIS 570).
June 24, 2019
Tribes, Environmental Groups Say Appeal Of Fracking Leases Is Not Moot

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Native American tribal groups and conservationists on June 21 filed a brief in the District of Columbia Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals contending that their appeal of the Trump administration’s decision to reinstate hydraulic fracturing leases on tribal land in Montana is not moot, as the administration has suggested (W.A. Moncrief, Jr. v. United States Department of the Interior, et al., No. 18-5340, D.C. Cir.).
June 24, 2019
Panel: Residents Hit By Fracking Earthquakes May Not Recover Insurance Premiums

DENVER — A panel of the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on June 21 affirmed a district court’s ruling and refused to certify a question to the Oklahoma Supreme Court regarding residents’ claims that they could recover premiums they had to pay for earthquake insurance as a result of hydraulic fracturing activity (Matt Meier, et al. v. Chesapeake Operating LLC, et al., No. 18-6152, 10th Cir.).
June 24, 2019
Groups: Rehearing Needed For Fracking Permits Approved By Trump Administration

DENVER — Environmental groups on June 20 filed a petition for rehearing in the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, contending that the court should vacate the environmental assessments (EAs) related to the Trump administration’s approval of hydraulic fracturing permits and allow the groups to provide supplemental information pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (Diné Citizens Against Ruining Our Environment, et al. v. David Bernhardt, et al., No. 18-2089, 10th Cir.).
June 19, 2019
Activists: Pennsylvania Governor Should Order Probe Into Fracking And Cancer

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Hollywood actors, state legislators, environmental groups and residents on June 17 sent a joint letter to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf calling on him to order the state Department of Health to investigate cancers that have been diagnosed in all counties where hydraulic fracturing operations are conducted.
June 19, 2019
Agency To Probe Trump Administration’s Use Of Funds For National Monument Fracking

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two federal legislators on June 17 announced that the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) will open an investigation into whether the Trump administration violated “longstanding prohibitions” against using appropriated funds for hydraulic fracturing leasing activities within the historic boundariesthe Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
June 14, 2019
Groups File Briefs Supporting Fracking Company In Federal Lease Dispute

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a hydraulic fracturing industry trade group on June 12 filed separate amicus curiae briefs in the District of Columbia Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, each contending that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) cancellation of a fracking lease issued to Solenex LLC was “arbitrary and capricious” (Solenex LLC v. David Bernhardt, et al., No. 18-5345, D.C. Cir.).
June 11, 2019
California, New Mexico Seek Ruling That Methane Rule Repeal Was ‘Unlawful’

SAN FRANCISCO — The attorneys general for the states of California and New Mexico on June 7 moved in California federal court for summary judgment declaring that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) decision to rescind the 2016 Waste Prevention Rule that pertains to methane flaring by hydraulic fracturing operationswas “unlawful.” The plaintiffs argue that the court should vacate the decision because methane flaring can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that cause and worsen respiratory problems (California, et al. v. Ryan Zinke, et al., No. 18-5712, N.D. Calif.).
June 11, 2019
5th Circuit Panel Refuses To Rehear Environmental Damage Coverage Dispute

NEW ORLEANS — A panel of the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on June 3 denied a petition for rehearing filed by a company that conducted fracking operations on an insured's facility asking it to reconsider its ruling that reversed a federal court's finding that a site pollution legal liability insurer waived its subrogation rights under an onshore master services agreement (MSA) (Halliburton Energy Services Inc. v. Ironshore Specialty Insurance Co., No. 17-20678 consolidated with No. 18-20239, 5th Cir.).
June 10, 2019
Fracking Company Executive: ‘Volatile Market Conditions’ Have Led To Bankruptcy

WILMINGTON, Del. — Hydraulic fracturing company White Star Petroleum Holdings LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on May 28, posting negative working capital of $70 million due to what is says are “volatile market conditions” that have hurt independent operators in the Mississippian Lime formation in Oklahoma (In re: White Star Petroleum Holdings LLC, No. 19-11179, D. Del. Bkcy.).
June 10, 2019
Chevron: California Ordinance ‘Frustrates’ State Law That Allows Fracking

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Chevron Corp. on April 19 filed a brief in California appellate court contending that a local ordinance passed by Monterey County, Calif., “frustrates” the purpose of state law regarding hydraulic fracturing by banning activities that the state promotes and permits (Monterey, et al. v. Chevron U.S.A. Inc., et al., No. H045791, Calif. App., 6th Dist.).