Opinions

Justice Busby delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Chief Justice Hecht, Justice Lehrmann, Justice Boyd, Justice Devine, Justice Bland, and Justice Huddle joined. PDF

Justice Blacklock delivered a concurring opinion, in which Justice Young joined.View Electronic Briefs | Oral Argument PDF

Court of Appeals

Appellate District:	8th Court of Appeals
Outcome Below:	Reverse & Remand
COA Docket No.:	08-17-00248-CV
Opinion Author:	Honorable Gina M. Palafox

Trial Court

Trial Court:	143rd District Court
County:	Reeves
Trial Judge:	Honorable John (Mike) M. Swanson
Trial Docket:	15-04-21001-CVR

Date	Event	Outcome
2022-04-14	Mandate issued
2022-03-11	Opinion issued	Court of Appeals' judgment reversed, trial court judgment reinstated
2022-03-11	Concurring Opinion issued.	Issued
2022-03-11	Court approved judgment sent to attorneys of record	Issued
	This case was awaiting the Court's decision after oral argument between September 16, 2021 and March 11, 2022.
2021-09-16	Oral argument
2021-09-14	Submission Schedule
2021-09-10	Submission Schedule
2021-09-07	Motion to Amend disposed	Filing granted
2021-09-07	Motion to Amend Filed
2021-09-07	Call received
2021-09-01	Letter sent to parties from Supreme Court - See Remarks
2021-08-20	Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received
2021-08-19	Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received
	This case was waiting for oral argument between June 25, 2021 and August 19, 2021.
2021-06-25	Case set for oral argument	Case set for oral argument
2021-06-18	Petition for Review disposed	Filing granted
2021-06-18	Petition for Review granted
2021-05-19	Record Received (See Remarks)
2021-05-18	Record Requested in Case
2021-03-31	Amicus Curiae Brief received
2021-03-30	Additional citations received. (Petitioner)
2021-03-22	Reply Brief (Petitioner)
2021-02-16	Motion for Extension of Time disposed.	Filing granted
2021-02-15	Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed
2021-02-04	Brief on the Merits (Respondent)
2020-12-23	Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed
2020-12-23	Motion for Extension of Time disposed.	Filing granted
2020-12-16	Brief on the Merits (Petitioner)
2020-11-13	Motion for Extension of Time disposed.	Filing granted
2020-11-13	Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed
2020-10-16	Brief on the Merits Requested
2020-10-06	Reply to Response to Petition filed (Petitioner)
2020-09-22	Response to Petition (Respondent)
2020-09-01	Motion for Extension of Time to File Response
2020-09-01	Motion for Extension of Time to File Response disposed	Filing granted
2020-08-07	Supreme Court of Texas Requested Response
2020-07-07	Case forwarded to Court
2020-07-06	Response Waiver filed
2020-06-26	Clerk's Record
2020-06-08	Petition for Review (Petitioner)

Party	Counsel	Role
Wallace, Bryce J.	Jason Hamm Scott Kidd Mr. Ryan John McNeel	Respondent
New Prospect Company	Ms. Jill Christine Pennington Mr. John A. "Jad" Davis Jr. Mr. Ryan D. Clinton	Petitioner
Intervenor United Fire & Casualty Company and its parent, United Fire Group, Inc.	Jason Hamm Scott Kidd Mr. Ryan John McNeel	Respondent
Elite Drillers Corporation	Jason Hamm Scott Kidd Mr. Ryan John McNeel	Respondent
Energen Resources Corporation	Ms. Jill Christine Pennington Mr. Ryan D. Clinton Mr. John A. "Jad" Davis Jr.	Petitioner
Nabors Drilling Technologies USA, Inc., formerly known as and/or d/b/a Nabors Drilling USA, LP	Mr. Ryan D. Clinton Ms. Jill Christine Pennington Mr. John A. "Jad" Davis Jr.	Petitioner
Dubose Drilling, Inc.	Mr. John A. "Jad" Davis Jr. Ms. Jill Christine Pennington Mr. Ryan D. Clinton	Petitioner

Amicus Curiae	Counsel
Texas Oil and Gas Association	Mr. Raffi O. Melkonian Ms. Wanda McKee Fowler