AZA and Hogan Thompson Win $41.8 Million Jury Verdict  

TILDEN, Texas – The AZA and Hogan Thompson law firms teamed up to win their two clients a total of $41.8 million from a South Texas jury in an oil and gas trespass case. 

A McMullen County jury unanimously found that AZA’s client SilverBow Resources and Hogan Thompson’s client El Dorado Gas & Oil 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. 

 “It is terrific to see the right thing happen. The jury afforded our clients the relief they deserve and forced Energy Transfer to take responsibility,” said Todd Mensing, the AZA partner who served as the lead lawyer on the case.  

Other AZA lawyers on the case were partners Taylor Freeman and Jane Robinson and associates Cameron Byrd, Harrison Scheer, Hilary Greene, and Thomas Cooke. Hogan Thompson lawyers were Chris Hogan, James Schuelke and Johnathan Mondel. Energy Transfer was represented by lawyers at 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.  

 AZA, or Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing, is a Houston-based law firm that is home to true courtroom lawyers with a formidable track record in complex commercial litigation, including energy, healthcare, intellectual property, and business dispute cases. AZA is recognized by Chambers USA 2022 among the best in Texas commercial law and intellectual property; by U.S. News – Best Lawyers’ Best Law Firms as one of the country’s best commercial litigation firms for 11 years running; has been named Litigation Department of the Year by Texas Lawyer three times including for 2021; and was previously dubbed by Law360 a Texas Powerhouse law firm.