The Alaska Supreme Court upheld DNR’s rule requiring rent on expired oil leases during an appeal and affirmed the agency’s refusal to add the remaining lease to the Badami Unit.
The Fifteenth Court of Appeals affirmed the jury’s finding that a sister did not breach her fiduciary duty in accepting a deed to mineral executive rights from her brother, but vacated the adverse-possession declaration because the company asserting ownership was never joined as a party, rendering the declaration advisory and jurisdictionally void.
The Fort Worth Court of Appeals dismissed Atmos Energy’s interlocutory appeal of a trial court order enforcing a Rule 11 mediated settlement in an eminent-domain dispute, holding that the order did not function as a temporary injunction because it compelled performance based on the parties’ own agreement rather than any merits determination.
The Eleventh Court of Appeals reversed summary judgment in a Permian Basin ORRI dispute, holding that an assignment referencing an unrecorded letter agreement could not establish clear title without producing that agreement.
The Second Court of Appeals addressed whether compressors physically located in Wise County could be removed from its appraisal rolls under the DHEI statutory scheme, largely affirming the appraisal district’s authority but reversing on one duplicate-taxed unit.
The Eighth Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment rejecting claims of bad-faith washout of overriding royalty interests in a 1943 Permian Basin lease, finding the lease’s broad surrender provision did not impose the good-faith obligations alleged.