Oil, Gas, and Mineral Law | Open Access Articles

Appeal No. 0771: Eugene Martz, Village Of Hartville V. Division Of Mineral Resources Management & Excalibur Exploration, Inc., Ohio Oil & Gas Commission

Ohio Oil & Gas Commission Decisions

Review of Chief's Order 2006-116 (Excalibur Exploration)

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Appeal No. 0773: Eugene Martz, Village Of Hartville V. Division Of Mineral Resources Management & Excalibur Exploration, Inc., Ohio Oil & Gas Commission

Ohio Oil & Gas Commission Decisions

Review of Chief's Order 2006-116 (Excalibur Exploration)

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Appeal No. 0773: Eugene Martz, Village Of Hartville V. Division Of Oil & Gas Resources Management & Excalibur Exploration, Inc., Ohio Oil & Gas Commission

Ohio Oil & Gas Commission Decisions

Review of Chief's Order 2006-116 (Excalibur Exploration)

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Analisis Del Principio De Complentariedad De La Corte Penal Internacional Tras El Lente De Las Cortes Federales, Ada Sheng

ILSA Journal of International & Comparative Law

La firma del Estatuto de Roma que cre6 la Corte Penal Internacional (CPI) fue visto por muchos en la comunidad de derecho internacional como un momento constitucional similar a la implementaci6n del Acto de Judicatura de 1789.

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"The Ghosts Of Colonialism In Africa": Silences And Shortcomings In The Icjs 2005 Armed Activities Decision, Guy Fiti Sinclair

ILSA Journal of International & Comparative Law

International law likes to imagine itself as neutral, dispassionate, and prin- cipled, operating above the petty squabbles and prejudices of states and peoples.

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Should The Relationship Of Wto Obligations To U.S. Law Be Reinvented?, John R. Magnus

ILSA Journal of International & Comparative Law

The blurb in your program brochure asks, "Should the U.S. adopt a new procedure for implementing adverse World Trade Organization (WTO) decisions, possibly including an active role for U.S. courts?"

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Brother's Keeper: The Legal Ethics Of Representing Family Members The Sixth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility: Comment., Jason W. Whitney

St. Mary's Law Journal

This Comment seeks to provide practical guidance in evaluating ethical issues for Texas attorneys considering representing a relative. Attorneys must always look to the relevant rules of professional conduct, advisory opinions, and case law to evaluate whether or not representation adheres to ethical guidelines. The primary sources of guidance are the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct (Texas Disciplinary Rules), advisory opinions from the Supreme Court of Texas Professional Ethics Committee (Texas Professional Ethics Committee), and Texas case law. Part II of this Comment discusses the history of professional responsibility, characteristics of representing family members, and common ethical problems arising …

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Threading The Eye Of The Erisa Needle: Erisa Preemption And Alternative Legal Schemes To Fill The Regulatory Vacuum., Bernard D. Reams Jr.

St. Mary's Law Journal

Popular consensus suggests that the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) is a mess, and one of historic proportions. ERISA’s comprehensive reach to protect employer-provided benefits has in practice produced unintended, if not contradictory, results. Congress passed ERISA over thirty years ago to protect the rights of employees who benefit from employer pension and welfare benefit plans. It did so with a series of regulations that promote uniformity in litigation across the various states through “strong preemption language.” The goal of uniformity arguably benefits workers by imposing regular standards of conduct which lend predictability to the scope of litigation, or …

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Liability Insurance And Punitive Damages: Does Texas Public Policy Detest This Union Comment., Anthony H. Castillo

St. Mary's Law Journal

There is a nationwide debate on whether punitive damages should be insurable. Insuring punitive damages causes courts concern regarding whether a wrongdoer escapes punishment by having the insurer pay for damages attributable to the wrongdoer’s egregious conduct. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit noted Texas’ public policy does not justify interference with private insurance contracts. The Court determined Texas allows liability insurance contracts to cover punitive damages and declared the inquiry ended. But, in the years since this determination, many Texas appellate courts have contracted the Fifth Circuit’s holding. The shifting discussion among Texas appellate courts …

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Texas's Attempt To Mitigate The Risks Of Contracts For Deed - Too Much For Sellers - Too Little For Buyers Recent Development., Shelayne Clemmer

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

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Challenges And Guidance For Lawyering In A Global Society The Sixth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility: Foreword., Susan Saab Fortney

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

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Thompson/Mcnulty Memo Internal Investigations: Ethical Concerns Of The Deputized Counsel The Sixth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility: Essay., Colin P. Marks

St. Mary's Law Journal

Outside counsel who conduct internal investigations for corporate clients have always faced ethical concerns, especially when interviewing employees. Generally, a carefully crafted blanket statement at the beginning of the interview explaining outside counsel's role was sufficient to address these concerns. However, recent charging policies adopted by the Department of Justice ("DOJ") have drastically changed the rules. These policies, articulated in what is now commonly referred to as the "Thompson Memo," after the author and then Deputy General Larry Thompson, allowed prosecutors to consider factors such as waivers of the attorney-client privilege and work-product protections and whether the company provides legal …

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Enforceability Of General Advance Waivers Of Conflicts Of Interest The Sixth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility., Nathan M. Crystal

St. Mary's Law Journal

Conflicts of interest among clients present some of the most pervasive ethical problems lawyers face. In many instances the affected clients may consent to a conflict. Under the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, for consent to be effective, it must be “informed” and must be “confirmed in writing.” Informed consent to such conflict is often referred to as a “waiver” of the conflict. Many law firms have begun seeking “general advance waivers” of conflicts of interest. The ethical rules did not deal with the issue of advance waiver until 2002. Both Model Rules and the Restatement of the Law …

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The Changing Face Of Vested Rights In Texas Land Development: A New Hat For An Old Law., Rebecca A. Copeland

St. Mary's Law Journal

The Texas Legislature has recently made changes to Chapter 245 of the Local Government Code giving vested rights greater protection than ever before. Owners and developers now have greater protections, however, there are many circumstances under which the application of the law is unclear. Chapter 245 governs the issuance of permits for local development. The greater protections provided by the amendments include: defining the filing date upon which rights vest as the date “fair notice” is given to the regulatory agency, establishing a certified mail date as prima facie proof of the application’s filing date, and providing substantive rules governing …

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Well, Now, Ain't That Just Fugacious!: A Basic Primer On Arkansas Oil And Gas Law, Thomas A. Daily, W. Christopher Barrier

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review

This brief introduction about oil and gas law in Arkansas is intended to help lawyers to better serve their clients and to explore the most important issues and concepts of a complex area of the law. This introduction into oil and gas involves the following: unfamiliar definitions; familiar words that are peculiar to this area of the law; new legal doctrines that are also peculiar to this area of the law; practice pointers in conveyance and estate planning in which involve mineral rights; discussions of tax forfeitures; adverse possession and surface rights, as they relate to these rights a blueprint …

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Parties' Defenses To Binding Arbitration Agreements In The Health Care Field & The Operation Of The Mccarran-Ferguson Act Comment., Elizabeth K. Stanley

St. Mary's Law Journal

Arbitration is a process which allows parties voluntarily to refer their disputes to an impartial third person, an arbiter, selected by them to determine the parties’ rights and liabilities. Initially, arbitration was encouraged between corporate entities with equal bargaining power. But, due to federal policy favoring arbitration, the use of predispute arbitration agreements have increased dramatically, and such clauses can now be found in many noncommercial consumer contracts, especially those in the health care industry. The strong federal policy favoring arbitration originated with Congress’ passing of the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA). Under the FAA, an arbitration agreement is enforceable if …

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Microsoft Windows Vista: The Beginning Or The End Of End-User License Agreements As We Know Them Recent Development., Rebecca K. Lively

St. Mary's Law Journal

Microsoft Windows Vista’s widespread use and influence on the market represents an ideal case study on the enforceability, pitfalls, and future of the End-User License Agreement (EULA). Since the release of the Windows Vista operating system in early 2007, Microsoft consumers often do not realize they are entering into a contract with Microsoft when they install Windows Vista onto their computer. Microsoft consumers probably do not realize that they may be clicking away valuable rights. In analyzing the enforceability of the specific terms of the Windows Vista EULA, Washington law will be the primary source because the Windows Vista EULA …

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Form 5 Llc: A Modest Proposal For A Limited Liability Company Agreement Based On Form 5, Alex Ritchie, James F. Cress, Paul Smith

Faculty Scholarship

Long before there were limited liability companies, there were mining joint ventures. Although LLCs have generally become the dominant choice for the formation of privately held entities, the common law joint venture stubbornly persists as the preferred investment vehicle for mining companies. To add to the suite of Form 5 mining joint venture forms previously published by the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, this article proposes yet another version of Form 5, dubbed the Modest Form, with the hope that a new LLC form project would be launched by the Foundation and thereby become more manageable. The Modest Form is …

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Comparative Responsibility In Nonsubscriber Litigation Revisited After Kroger Co. V. Keng., Trek C. Doyle, Jarrett R. Andrews

St. Mary's Law Journal

The Texas Supreme Court’s decision in Kroger Co. v. Keng appears to resolve the question of whether an employer who does not subscribe to worker’s compensation can avail itself of the proportionate responsibility scheme in Chapter 33 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. The question left unresolved is whether proportionate responsibility is available in nonsubscriber cases involving additional independently liable defendants. In Keng, the Court premised its holding on Texas Labor Code § 406.033, concluding nonsubscribing employers are prohibited from proving its employees were negligent. The Keng Court declined to decide whether proportionate responsibility was unavailable per se. …

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Current Trends In Texas Charge Practice: Preservation Of Error And Broad-Form Use., William G. Arnot Iii, David Fowler Johnson

St. Mary's Law Journal

Over the years Texas appellate courts have been wrestling with two overwhelming charge issues—charge preservation of error and broad-form use. Since the charge is the controlling document the jury uses to decide the factual issues of the case, it is of extreme importance. Before a party can complain on appeal about charge errors, the error must be preserved at trial. The Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (TRCP) have a certain set of procedures for preservation of charge error. The Texas Supreme Court amended charge preservation of error practice in State Department of Highways & Public Transportation v. Payne. In the …

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The Path Of Least Resistance: The Effects Of Groundwater Law's Failure To Evolve With Changing Times Comment., Bruce E. Toppin Iii

St. Mary's Law Journal

Groundwater is a type of freshwater stored in the earth’s crust which does not flow through underground channels. In Texas, groundwater is becoming highly sought-after, and development of proper management and conservation models is crucial to preserve the resource for future generations. In Texas, ownership of groundwater is governed by the common law doctrine of absolute ownership, commonly mislabeled as the rule of capture. The absolute ownership doctrine still governs groundwater ownership, but its application has been judicially altered to limit the rights of landowners who wish to pump water from beneath their lands. Texas lawmakers also contributed to the …

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Spam (Supremacy Clause, Public Forums, And Mailings): The Fifth Circuit's Interpretation Of The Can-Span Act In White Buffalo V. University Of Texas Comment., Jason A. Smith

St. Mary's Law Journal

Unsolicited email advertisement, spam, has been a problem of the internet since its inception. In the face of this onslaught, users have fought back with a variety of methods, involving filtering software. Users have also resorted to the courts, suing spammers under the “trespass to chattels” theory. Not all courts have agreed with this theory, as there is often little evidence of the owner’s use of their servers being adversely affected by a digital trespass. While the states were the first to address overwhelming amount of spam, Congress address the issue with the first nationwide anti-spam legislation, the CAN-SPAM Act. …

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Refocusing Light: Alex Sheshunoff Management Services, L.P. V. Johnson Moves Back To The Basics Of Covenants Not To Compete., Michael D. Paul, Ian C. Crawford

St. Mary's Law Journal

The law regarding covenants not to compete is a product of the tension between competing rights, including the right of companies to protect trade secrets, market share, and corporate goodwill. Companies use non-compete covenants to deter competition from former employees and discourage employees from job hopping. A covenant not to compete is generally defined as a contractual provision in which one party agrees to refrain from conducting business similar to that of the other party. Courts generally enforce covenants concerning activities after the termination of employment if such covenants are “reasonable in scope, time, and territory.” The promise cannot be …

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Why Legal Ethics Rules Are Relevant To Lawyer Liability The Sixth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility., Douglas R. Richmond

St. Mary's Law Journal

The last two decades have witnessed the creation of a perilous liability environment for lawyers and law firms. Most discussions of lawyer liability begin with “legal malpractice,” a term which typically describes professional negligence. In a malpractice case, the plaintiff must prove the lawyer owed them a duty, the duty was breached, and the breach was the proximate cause of actual damages. The lawyer’s duty flows from the attorney-client relationship. But, the attorney-client relationship is also a fiduciary one, and lawyers may be sued for breach of the fiduciary duty. While these two causes of action are usually alleged simultaneously, …

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Ethical Considerations Concerning Contacts By Counsel Or Investigators With Present And Former Employees Of An Opposing Party The Sixth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility., James L. Burt, Jeremy J. Cook

St. Mary's Law Journal

Present and former employees of an opposing party are often the best source of information concerning that party’s activities. Contact with these employees or their representatives may be considered ethical or unethical depending on the circumstances. Unfortunately, the rules governing such contacts are neither clear nor consistent. The first issue lawyers must resolve is whether the present and former employees are considered “represented” under Rule 4.2 of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct. If they are “unrepresented” for purposes of Rule 4.2, the issue then becomes whether Rule 4.3 applies. Of grave importance are the potential sanctions, which include the …

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Recent Developments In Texas Legal Malpractice Law The Sixth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility., Kellie M. Hinson, Elizabeth A. Snyder

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

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International Legal Malpractice: Not Only Will The Dog Eventually Bark, It Will Also Bite The Sixth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility: Essay., Ethan S. Burger

St. Mary's Law Journal

The internationalization of legal practice presents numerous issues for lawyers, such as obtaining qualifications to practice law in foreign jurisdictions and developing the necessary knowledge. Different and possibly conflicting notions of standards of care and professional responsibility will arise. Globalization is widely regarded as the principal driving force in international economic and political relations. From the standpoint of business activity there are myriad ways to assess the impact of globalization. These include tracking rates of exchange, observing altered methods, or examining how attitudes and information has changed. Globalization has increased the demand for specialized accounting and legal services connected with …

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Dean Robert William Piatt Dedication., N/A N/A

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

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Driving Down The Wrong Road: The Fifth Circuit's Definition Of Unauthorized Use Of A Motor Vehicle As A Crime Of Violence In The Immigration Context., Heather Harrison Volik

St. Mary's Law Journal

Individuals who are not United States citizens and participate in violent or severe criminal activity are likely to be deported and become inadmissible for life. But noncitizens can also be deported for minor criminal activity which does not cause harm or serious damage. In such cases, deportation is an extreme punishment out of proportion to the offense. Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle (UUMV) is an example of a crime which can be committed without serious harm or damage. The Fifth Circuit regularly sustains decisions of lifetime reentry ban for noncitizens convicted of UUMV. Under immigration law, “aliens” who are …

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Automatic Tolling Of The Voluntary Departure Period - A Circuit Split Recent Development., Katherine A. Tapley

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

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Full-Text Articles in Oil, Gas, and Mineral Law

Appeal No. 0771: Eugene Martz, Village Of Hartville V. Division Of Mineral Resources Management & Excalibur Exploration, Inc., Ohio Oil & Gas Commission

Ohio Oil & Gas Commission Decisions

Appeal No. 0773: Eugene Martz, Village Of Hartville V. Division Of Mineral Resources Management & Excalibur Exploration, Inc., Ohio Oil & Gas Commission

Ohio Oil & Gas Commission Decisions

Appeal No. 0773: Eugene Martz, Village Of Hartville V. Division Of Oil & Gas Resources Management & Excalibur Exploration, Inc., Ohio Oil & Gas Commission

Ohio Oil & Gas Commission Decisions

Analisis Del Principio De Complentariedad De La Corte Penal Internacional Tras El Lente De Las Cortes Federales, Ada Sheng

ILSA Journal of International & Comparative Law

"The Ghosts Of Colonialism In Africa": Silences And Shortcomings In The Icjs 2005 Armed Activities Decision, Guy Fiti Sinclair

ILSA Journal of International & Comparative Law

Should The Relationship Of Wto Obligations To U.S. Law Be Reinvented?, John R. Magnus

ILSA Journal of International & Comparative Law

Brother's Keeper: The Legal Ethics Of Representing Family Members The Sixth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility: Comment., Jason W. Whitney

St. Mary's Law Journal

Threading The Eye Of The Erisa Needle: Erisa Preemption And Alternative Legal Schemes To Fill The Regulatory Vacuum., Bernard D. Reams Jr.

St. Mary's Law Journal

Liability Insurance And Punitive Damages: Does Texas Public Policy Detest This Union Comment., Anthony H. Castillo

St. Mary's Law Journal

Texas's Attempt To Mitigate The Risks Of Contracts For Deed - Too Much For Sellers - Too Little For Buyers Recent Development., Shelayne Clemmer

St. Mary's Law Journal

Challenges And Guidance For Lawyering In A Global Society The Sixth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility: Foreword., Susan Saab Fortney

St. Mary's Law Journal

Thompson/Mcnulty Memo Internal Investigations: Ethical Concerns Of The Deputized Counsel The Sixth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility: Essay., Colin P. Marks

St. Mary's Law Journal

Enforceability Of General Advance Waivers Of Conflicts Of Interest The Sixth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility., Nathan M. Crystal

St. Mary's Law Journal

The Changing Face Of Vested Rights In Texas Land Development: A New Hat For An Old Law., Rebecca A. Copeland

St. Mary's Law Journal

Well, Now, Ain't That Just Fugacious!: A Basic Primer On Arkansas Oil And Gas Law, Thomas A. Daily, W. Christopher Barrier

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review

Parties' Defenses To Binding Arbitration Agreements In The Health Care Field & The Operation Of The Mccarran-Ferguson Act Comment., Elizabeth K. Stanley

St. Mary's Law Journal

Microsoft Windows Vista: The Beginning Or The End Of End-User License Agreements As We Know Them Recent Development., Rebecca K. Lively

St. Mary's Law Journal

Form 5 Llc: A Modest Proposal For A Limited Liability Company Agreement Based On Form 5, Alex Ritchie, James F. Cress, Paul Smith

Faculty Scholarship

Comparative Responsibility In Nonsubscriber Litigation Revisited After Kroger Co. V. Keng., Trek C. Doyle, Jarrett R. Andrews

St. Mary's Law Journal

Current Trends In Texas Charge Practice: Preservation Of Error And Broad-Form Use., William G. Arnot Iii, David Fowler Johnson

St. Mary's Law Journal

The Path Of Least Resistance: The Effects Of Groundwater Law's Failure To Evolve With Changing Times Comment., Bruce E. Toppin Iii

St. Mary's Law Journal

Spam (Supremacy Clause, Public Forums, And Mailings): The Fifth Circuit's Interpretation Of The Can-Span Act In White Buffalo V. University Of Texas Comment., Jason A. Smith

St. Mary's Law Journal

Refocusing Light: Alex Sheshunoff Management Services, L.P. V. Johnson Moves Back To The Basics Of Covenants Not To Compete., Michael D. Paul, Ian C. Crawford

St. Mary's Law Journal

Why Legal Ethics Rules Are Relevant To Lawyer Liability The Sixth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility., Douglas R. Richmond

St. Mary's Law Journal

Ethical Considerations Concerning Contacts By Counsel Or Investigators With Present And Former Employees Of An Opposing Party The Sixth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility., James L. Burt, Jeremy J. Cook

St. Mary's Law Journal

Recent Developments In Texas Legal Malpractice Law The Sixth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility., Kellie M. Hinson, Elizabeth A. Snyder

St. Mary's Law Journal

International Legal Malpractice: Not Only Will The Dog Eventually Bark, It Will Also Bite The Sixth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility: Essay., Ethan S. Burger

St. Mary's Law Journal

Dean Robert William Piatt Dedication., N/A N/A

St. Mary's Law Journal

Driving Down The Wrong Road: The Fifth Circuit's Definition Of Unauthorized Use Of A Motor Vehicle As A Crime Of Violence In The Immigration Context., Heather Harrison Volik

St. Mary's Law Journal

Automatic Tolling Of The Voluntary Departure Period - A Circuit Split Recent Development., Katherine A. Tapley

St. Mary's Law Journal