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Implied Covenant Of Development And Further Exploration - Dilemma Or Solution., James Irwin Calk

St. Mary's Law Journal

The typical oil and gas lease does not specifically enumerate the lessee’s obligations regarding development and further exploratory activity after initial production has been achieved on the lease. However, several jurisdictions, including Texas, have found these obligations as implied under a general covenant of development. The majority standard in determining a breach of this covenant is the reasonable prudent operator rule. Most importantly, can the operator reasonably expect profits from further exploration. In Texas, the burden of proving an expectation of profits falls on the lessor. However, as the Texas Supreme Court has not fully addressed the issue, there may …

Judicial Reasoning And Social Change, David A. Dittfurth

Faculty Articles

Some have begun to doubt whether courts adequately respond to recent social problems. Formulated rules, principles, and statutes govern a case in court, and these commanding communications addressed to judges theoretically guide and control the decision-making process. Rules, although often imprecise, are subjected to the scrutiny of the legal profession, which is trained to interpret their meaning and possible application in different fact situations. This, in turn, promotes a high degree of social and political stability since there is less ambiguity as to what constitutes permissible or required behavior.

Attitudes, social institutions, language, and critical decision making are all factors …

The Assigned Risk In Texas: The Questions Of Agency And Absolute Liability., Timothy Tynan Griesenbeck Jr.

St. Mary's Law Journal

Texas’ Assigned Risk Plan provides motor vehicle liability coverage to high-risk drivers who can’t obtain private insurance. However, there are two unresolved questions concerning assigned risk in Texas. The first is whether an independent insurance broker who drafts a policy for a high-risk driver is the agent of the insured or of the insurer. Several jurisdictions have determined that the assigned risk broker is the agent of the insured, and Texas should follow suit. Generally, the driver contacts a broker to file an application under the Plan with the state. The insurer assigned to the case must issue a policy …