Oil & Gas

Texas 15th Court of Appeals, Civil Procedure, Oil & Gas, Probate, Real Estate

Parker v. Parrack — Court Cannot Declare Rights of Non-Party in Adverse Possession Dispute Over Family Ranch; Fiduciary-Duty Deed Challenge Fails on Sufficiency Review

automatic / June 8, 2026

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.

Texas 2nd Court of Appeals, Appellate Procedure, Civil Procedure, Oil & Gas, Real Estate

Atmos Energy v. DPC Parker Properties — Order Enforcing Rule 11 Settlement Does Not Function as a Temporary Injunction and Is Not Subject to Interlocutory Appeal

automatic / June 8, 2026

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.

Oil & Gas, Tax

J-W Power Co. v. Wise County Appraisal District — Second Court Addresses Multi-County Taxation of Dealer Heavy Equipment Inventory

automatic / June 7, 2026

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.

Contract Interpretation, Oil & Gas

Brown v. Endeavor Energy Resources — Eleventh Court Reverses Summary Judgment in Permian Basin ORRI Ownership Dispute

automatic / June 7, 2026

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.

Breach of Contract, Oil & Gas

Craddick v. Cimarex Energy — Eighth Court Affirms Summary Judgment Rejecting Bad-Faith Washout Claims on 1943 Permian Basin Lease

automatic / June 7, 2026

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.