Gray Reed & McGraw LLP

Gray Reed & McGraw is a Texas-based, full-service law firm with over 120 lawyers in Dallas and Houston. Since 1985, our firm philosophy has been to provide high-quality legal services in a streamlined manner, to provide sophisticated and complex legal advice that is reasonably priced, and to provide big-firm results with small-firm efficiency. For 30 years, we have dedicated ourselves to achieving success for our clients, as they define success – whether that is winning a critical lawsuit, closing a key deal, consulting to save taxes, or just giving good business advice to avoid disputes.

Strip and Gore Doctrine: Infinity War

By Charles Sartain

January 21, 2020

Co-author Ethan Wood Yet another entry in the Strip and Gore universe (2012’s “Beware of Strips and Gores”, and 2019’s “Strip and Gore 2: The Sequel”) comes to us from Fort Worth Court of Appeals: Richard D. Crawford v. XTO Energy, Inc. Those of you following along with each chapter of the saga know the drill by now (pun is intended): The strip-and-gore doctrine acts to pass title to lands…

Energy & the Law

2019 Bad Guys in Energy

By Charles Sartain

January 16, 2020

To our bad guys, 2019 was a year flush with hope and opportunity; it ended with recidivism, more misery from Venezuela, a charlatan, an Okie who pulled a multi-million dollar fast-one on Chesapeake and, as in years past, a peek into the darker side of the human condition. _____________________ Perp: Justin Lane Foust. Crime: Wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering. How he did it: Defrauded Chesapeake Energy. Employed by a subsidiary of Chesapeake until 2011. He formed Platinum…

Energy & the Law

Oil Field Services: What is the Status of Mineral Lien Waivers?

By Charles Sartain

December 31, 2019

Co-author Ethan Wood Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at Gray Reed! Assuming that most of you have been good this year (stay tuned for 2019’s Bad Guys in Energy to see who hasn’t), we hope Santa brought you everything on your Amazon Wish List. Our sympathies go out to those in the oilfield services industry in Texas—it looks like you got a lump of coal. In Mesa Southern CWS Acquisition v. Deep Energy Exploration Partners…

Tilting the Scales

Amazon Packages Bursting into Open Fires, Jack Frost Nipping at Your Nose…

By Bill Drabble

December 20, 2019

On December 26, Marty and Dave McFly were playing video games when, downstairs in the living room, the hoverboard that Marty had received for Christmas ignited. The fire quickly engulfed the Christmas tree and spread throughout the house. Marty and Dave escaped with minor injuries, but their house was destroyed. Since the McFlys had bought the hoverboard from Amazon.com, they sued the company, alleging that it sold them a defective product and failed to warn…

Tilting the Scales

Defining a Win in Litigation: Mitigating Losses

By Drew York

December 20, 2019

In this series on defining wins in litigation, we’ve talked about defining the goals and strategies at the outset, clear and open communication, and the benefits of resolving a dispute both financially and reputationally. The final piece in this series discusses why mitigating the plaintiff’s damage recovery can also be a “win”. I can speak from experience because I have effectively used this strategy for a client. Suppose your customer accuses your company of taking…

Tilting the Scales

Poaching Santa’s Reindeer – What’s the Penalty for Poaching Your Neighbor’s Red Stag?

By Cleve Clinton

December 19, 2019

Releasing an image of a pickup truck closely resembling I.M. Steelin’s, Texas Parks and Wildlife investigators believe a red stag deer was shot by I.M. Steelin over the Thanksgiving weekend. The exotic, tame, breeding, red deer bull “Rudolph” was found decapitated on Bragg Schtag’s sprawling Red Bull Ranch – a large hunting ranch with a high-fence on a remote road in northwest Burnet County. Facing a string of charges, including a potential third-degree felony…

Energy & the Law

Mineral Royalties are Not “Personal Effects” in Texas

By Charles Sartain

December 18, 2019

Co-author Rusty Tucker Confirming the obvious, in In re Etheridge a Texas court concluded that “personal effects,” in a last will and testament did not include mineral royalties. Let’s investigate how the case got this far.…

Energy & the Law

No Sovereign Immunity for the Texas Land Commissioner

By Charles Sartain

December 12, 2019

Co-author Kelley Clark Morris Suing a state and its public officials is difficult because of the doctrine of sovereign immunity. There are exceptions. State of Texas v. Signal Drilling, et al. presents several of them. The rules The State and its agencies are immune from: Suits seeking to construe or enforce contracts to which the State is a party, Declaratory judgment actions, Ordinary trespass to try title suits. There are exceptions. For example: Claims against a state…

Energy & the Law

The Duhig Rule Explained and Distinguished

By Charles Sartain

December 5, 2019

Co-author Rusty Tucker Let’s talk the Duhig Rule and estoppel by deed in Texas. Don’t run away yet. We’ll get to the point quickly and then you can leave. Under the doctrine of estoppel by deed: “All parties to a deed are bound by the recitals therein, which operate as an estoppel, … and binding both parties and privies … ” Estoppel by deed “does not bind mere strangers, or those who claim by title…

Tilting the Scales

When a Tornado Damages Your Self-Storage Unit, are Your Rights Blown Away?

By Cleve Clinton

December 3, 2019

This fall’s Dallas tornado was especially vexing to Winn Blohn who stored many personal belongings in Sasha Stach’s Stach-a-Lot Self-Storage unit. Sasha denied access to all the units for weeks. Can Sasha do that?…

Gray Reed & McGraw LLP

Gray Reed & McGraw LLP Blogs

Blog Authors

Strip and Gore Doctrine: Infinity War

2019 Bad Guys in Energy

Oil Field Services: What is the Status of Mineral Lien Waivers?

Amazon Packages Bursting into Open Fires, Jack Frost Nipping at Your Nose…

Defining a Win in Litigation: Mitigating Losses

Poaching Santa’s Reindeer – What’s the Penalty for Poaching Your Neighbor’s Red Stag?

Mineral Royalties are Not “Personal Effects” in Texas

No Sovereign Immunity for the Texas Land Commissioner

The Duhig Rule Explained and Distinguished

When a Tornado Damages Your Self-Storage Unit, are Your Rights Blown Away?

Stay Connected

Company

Support

New to the Network

Gray Reed & McGraw LLP Blogs

Blog Authors

Latest from Gray Reed & McGraw LLP