Dorchester Minerals LP v. Chesapeake Exploration LLC
Filing
189
OPINION AND ORDER granting in part and denying in part Chesapeake's 172 motion for summary judgment. Chesapeake's motion is granted as to Dorchester's claim that Chesapeake breached Paragraph 3(b). Otherwise, Chesapeake's motion is denied. Signed by Judge J. Leon Holmes on 2/24/2017. (ljb)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
WESTERN DIVISION
DORCHESTER MINERALS, LP
v.
PLAINTIFF
No. 4:12CV00461 JLH
CHESAPEAKE EXPLORATION, LLC
DEFENDANT
OPINION AND ORDER
Dorchester Minerals, LP, is the lessor under six substantially identical oil and gas leases in
which Chesapeake Exploration, LLC, is the lessee. Dorchester alleges that Chesapeake has failed
to make gas royalty payments in accordance with the terms of the lease and in accordance with
Chesapeake’s implied covenant to market gas at the best price reasonably obtainable. Dorchester
seeks repayment of royalties as well as statutory penalties for the nonpayment of royalties.
Chesapeake has filed a motion for summary judgment on all of Dorchester’s claims. The motion is
granted in part and denied in part.
A court should enter summary judgment if the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable
to the nonmoving party, demonstrates that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and that
the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a); see also Anderson
v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249-50, 106 S. Ct. 2505, 2511, 91 L. Ed. 2d 202 (1986);
Torgerson v. City of Rochester, 643 F.3d 1031, 1042 (8th Cir. 2011) (en banc). A genuine dispute
of material fact exists only if the evidence is sufficient to allow a jury to return a verdict for the
nonmoving party. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249, 106 S. Ct. at 2511.
Dorchester commenced this action claiming that Chesapeake breached an express provision
of the leases. The parties disputed the interpretation of the provision at issue—Paragraph 3(b)—and
the Court interpreted the provision against Dorchester at the Phase I bench trial. Document #146.
Chesapeake contends that Dorchester has now abandoned its argument that Chesapeake breached
Paragraph 3(b) of the leases and is instead relying solely on its implied-covenant-to-market claim.
Chesapeake states that none of Dorchester’s expert reports address claims under Paragraph 3(b);
instead, they address only the claim that Chesapeake breached the implied-covenant claim.
Dorchester’s response includes a single sentence stating that the Court should deny Chesapeake’s
motion for summary judgment regarding “breaches of the express and/or implied covenants of the
Leases,” but it presents no argument in support of its claim that Chesapeake breached Paragraph
3(b). Because Dorchester has apparently abandoned its claim based on Paragraph 3(b), summary
judgment is granted in favor of Chesapeake on that claim.
Chesapeake also seeks summary judgment on Dorchester’s remaining claims. With a bench
trial looming, the Court will deny summary judgment on those claims and address the parties’ legal
and factual arguments as to those claims after a full record is developed at trial.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Chesapeake’s motion for summary judgment is GRANTED IN
PART and DENIED IN PART. Document #172. Chesapeake’s motion is granted as to Dorchester’s
claim that Chesapeake breached Paragraph 3(b). Otherwise, Chesapeake’s motion is denied.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 24th day of February, 2017.
__________________________________
J. LEON HOLMES
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
2
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?