Hogan Thompson Schuelke Wins Top 20 Verdict in Texas in 2023 in High-Profile Energy Case

Hogan Thompson Schuelke’s unanimous jury verdict for client El Dorado Gas & Oil was named by TopVerdict.com as a top 20 verdict in the state in 2023, with a win of $41.8 million.

In the South Texas oil and gas trespass case, a McMullen County jury unanimously found that Hogan Thompson Schuelke’s client El Dorado Gas & Oil and AZA’s client SilverBow Resources were damaged by Energy Transfer’s trespass. The trial focused on whether midstream energy company Energy Transfer should pay for additional drilling and production costs caused by Energy Transfer’s injection of natural gas processing waste byproducts in the subsurface.  

The jury found that Energy Transfer trespassed by interfering with the exploration and production rights of the two smaller energy companies. The jury awarded SilverBow a total of $24.5 million and El Dorado a total of $17.3 million. 

The Hogan Thompson Schuelke trial team included Chris Hogan, James Schuelke, Johnathan Mondel, Jennifer Josephson, and Solace Southwick. SilverBow was represented by AZA, including partners Todd Mensing, Taylor Freeman, Jane Robinson and Cameron Byrd, and associates Harrison Scheer, Hilary Greene, and Thomas Cooke. Energy Transfer was represented by Yetter Coleman.  

The case is SilverBow Resources Operating LLC and El Dorado Gas & Oil, Inc. v. ETC Field Services, LLC et al. The case number is M-14-0029-CV-C in the 343rd District Court of McMullen County where Judge Janna Whatley presided.