Supreme Court of Texas Blog

No. 20-0904
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DEVON ENERGY PRODUCTION COMPANY, L.P., F/K/A GEOSOUTHERN DEWITT PROPERTIES, LLC, BPX PROPERTIES (NA) LP, GEOSOUTHERN ENERGY CORPORATION, AND BPX PRODUCTION COMPANY v. MICHAEL A. SHEPPARD, ET AL.

Oral argument was held on October 5, 2022. The Court issued an opinion resolving the case on March 10, 2023. It then denied rehearing on June 16, 2023 File Closed

Opinions

March 10, 2023

Devine
Hecht
Lehrmann
Boyd
Busby
Bland
Huddle

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

Blacklock

Justice Blacklock filed a dissenting opinion. PDF

 

Court of Appeals

Appellate District:13th Court of Appeals
Outcome Below:Aff/Pt and Rev & Ren/Pt
COA Docket No.:13-19-00036-CV
Opinion Author:Honorable Dori Contreras

Trial Court

Trial Court:24th District Court
County:De Witt
Trial Judge:Honorable Jack W. Marr
Trial Docket:12-12-22,501

Docket Entries

Date Event Outcome  
2023-06-16 Mandate issued  
2023-06-16 Motion for Rehearing - Disposed   Denied with Justice not sitting.
2023-05-26 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2023-05-12 Amicus Curiae Letter Received  
2023-04-26 Case forwarded to Court
2023-04-26 Motion for Rehearing  
2023-03-24 Phone call from Clerk's Office  
2023-03-24 Motion for Extension of Time to File Motion for Rehearing disposed   Filing granted
2023-03-22 Response to Motion filed  
2023-03-21 Call received  
2023-03-17 Motion for Extension of Time to File Motion for Rehearing  
2023-03-17 Electronic communication sent to Party  
2023-03-10 Court approved judgment sent to attorneys of record Issued
2023-03-10 Opinion issued   Court of appeals' judgment affirmed
2023-03-10 Dissenting opinion issued.   Issued
  This case was awaiting the Court's decision after oral argument between December 22, 2022 and March 10, 2023.  
2022-12-22 Post submission brief filed (Petitioner)  
2022-11-17 Post submission brief filed (Respondent)  
2022-10-05 Oral argument  
2022-10-04 Exhibits in case/cause filed (Respondent)  
2022-10-03 Exhibits in case/cause filed (Petitioner)  
2022-10-03 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2022-09-30 Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received  
2022-09-30 Submission Schedule
2022-09-23 Record Received (See Remarks)  
2022-09-20 Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received  
2022-08-24 Electronic communication sent to Party  
  This case was waiting for oral argument between June 24, 2022 and August 24, 2022.  
2022-06-24 Case set for oral argument   Case set for oral argument
  This case was waiting for oral argument between April 5, 2022 and June 24, 2022.  
2022-04-05 Electronic communication sent to Party  
2022-04-01 Petition for Review disposed   Filing granted
2022-04-01 Petition for Review granted
2022-02-17 Reply Brief (Petitioner)  
2022-02-02 Phone call from Clerk's Office  
2022-02-02 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2022-02-01 Letter Filed  
2022-02-01 Call received  
2022-02-01 Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed  
2022-02-01 Electronic communication sent to Party  
2022-02-01 Motion for Extension of Time disposed.   Filing granted
2022-01-24 Record Received (See Remarks)
2022-01-19 Brief on the Merits (Respondent)  
2022-01-19 Record Requested in Case  
2022-01-18 Call received  
2021-12-15 Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed  
2021-12-15 Motion for Extension of Time disposed.   Filing granted
2021-11-30 Brief on the Merits (Petitioner)  
2021-10-27 Motion for Extension of Time disposed.   Filing granted
2021-10-26 Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed  
2021-10-26 Electronic communication sent to Party  
2021-09-30 Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed  
2021-09-30 Motion for Extension of Time disposed.   Filing granted
2021-09-03 Brief on the Merits Requested  
  This case was waiting for a decision about briefing or a possible grant between May 28, 2021 and September 3, 2021.  
2021-05-28 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2021-05-20 Reply to Response (Petitioner)  
2021-05-11 Case forwarded to Court
2021-05-05 Response to Petition (Respondent)  
2021-04-09 Motion for Extension of Time to File Response  
2021-04-09 Motion for Extension of Time to File Response disposed   Filing granted
2021-03-15 Petition for Review (Petitioner)  
2021-03-05 Notice of Appearance  
2021-02-18 Third Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review disposed   Filing granted
2021-02-18 Third Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review filed  
2021-01-13 Second Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review disposed   Filing granted
2021-01-12 Notice of Appearance  
2021-01-12 Second Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review filed  
2020-11-23 Call received  
2020-11-10 Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review filed  
2020-11-10 Supplement to Clerk's/Reporter's Record
2020-11-10 Clerk's Record
2020-11-10 Court reporter/recorder's record
2020-11-10 Supplement to Clerk's/Reporter's Record
2020-11-10 Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review disposed   Filing granted

Parties

Party Counsel Role
Crain, III, James K.
Mr. William Grubb
Ms. April E. Lucas
Mr. J. McLean Bell III
Mr. Austin Brister
Mr. Michael A. Sheppard
Mr. Kevin M. Beiter
Mr. Jordan Kennedy Mullins
Respondent
BPX Production Company
Mr. Dale Wainwright
Mr. Charles R. 'Skip' Watson Jr.
Mr. Joshua S. Smith
Mr. Russell S. Post
Petitioner
Crain, Shirley R.
Mr. William Grubb
Mr. J. McLean Bell III
Ms. April E. Lucas
Mr. Austin Brister
Mr. Kevin M. Beiter
Mr. Jordan Kennedy Mullins
Mr. Michael A. Sheppard
Respondent
Crain, Patrick G.
Mr. William Grubb
Mr. J. McLean Bell III
Ms. April E. Lucas
Mr. Austin Brister
Mr. Michael A. Sheppard
Mr. Jordan Kennedy Mullins
Mr. Kevin M. Beiter
Respondent
Sheppard, Michael A.
Mr. J. McLean Bell III
Mr. William Grubb
Ms. April E. Lucas
Mr. Michael A. Sheppard
Mr. Austin Brister
Mr. Kevin M. Beiter
Mr. Jordan Kennedy Mullins
Respondent
Crain, James K.
Ms. April E. Lucas
Mr. J. McLean Bell III
Mr. William Grubb
Mr. Michael A. Sheppard
Mr. Austin Brister
Mr. Jordan Kennedy Mullins
Mr. Kevin M. Beiter
Respondent
Crain, Christopher M.
Mr. J. McLean Bell III
Mr. William Grubb
Ms. April E. Lucas
Mr. Michael A. Sheppard
Mr. Austin Brister
Mr. Jordan Kennedy Mullins
Mr. Kevin M. Beiter
Respondent
Sheppard, Frank B.
Ms. April E. Lucas
Mr. J. McLean Bell III
Mr. William Grubb
Mr. Austin Brister
Mr. Michael A. Sheppard
Mr. Kevin M. Beiter
Mr. Jordan Kennedy Mullins
Respondent
Devon Energy Production Company, L.P., f/k/a GeoSouthern DeWitt Properties, LLC
Mr. D. Davin McGinnis
Mr. Charles R. 'Skip' Watson Jr.
Mr. Dale Wainwright
Ms. Jane M. N. Webre
Ms. Olga Kobzar
Petitioner
BPX Properties (NA) LP
Mr. Charles R. 'Skip' Watson Jr.
Mr. Dale Wainwright
Mr. Joshua S. Smith
Mr. Russell S. Post
Petitioner
Kirk, Constance S.
Ms. April E. Lucas
Mr. J. McLean Bell III
Mr. William Grubb
Mr. Austin Brister
Mr. Michael A. Sheppard
Mr. Kevin M. Beiter
Mr. Jordan Kennedy Mullins
Respondent
GeoSouthern Energy Corporation
Mr. D. Davin McGinnis
Mr. Charles R. 'Skip' Watson Jr.
Mr. Dale Wainwright
Ms. Jane M. N. Webre
Ms. Olga Kobzar
Petitioner
Badger, Jennifer S.
Ms. April E. Lucas
Mr. William Grubb
Mr. J. McLean Bell III
Mr. Austin Brister
Mr. Kevin M. Beiter
Mr. Michael A. Sheppard
Mr. Jordan Kennedy Mullins
Respondent

Amici Curiae

Amicus Curiae Counsel
Texas Land and Mineral Owners Association
Sarah Louise Vollmer
Mr. Ricardo E. Morales
SM Energy Company
Ms. Tracy C. Temple
Mr. Jesse R. Pierce
Texas Oil & Gas Association
Mr. Christopher "Beau" Carter
Mr. Joshua Morrow
Ms. Macey Reasoner Stokes
Mr. Cory Pomeroy
...
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