Chevron U.S.A. v. Guerra

Full title: CHEVRON U.S.A., INC., Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Raul J. GUERRA, Jr.; Jose E…

Court: United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

Date published: Mar 10, 2009

313 F. App'x 715 (5th Cir. 2009)

Opinion

No. 08-40145.

March 10, 2009.

Chevron USA Inc., Houston, TX, pro se.

Jennifer Lynn Hebert, King Spalding, Stacey Beth Saunders, Houston, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellees.

James P. Barnett, Jr., Robert Lee Galloway, South Texas College of Law, Houston, TX, David Jed Williams, Kevin Michael Beiter, Hornberger Sheehan Fuller Beiter, San Antonio, TX, Christopher Edward Moore, Wilson, Trevino, Freed, Vails Trevino, San Bernardo Laredo, TX, for Defendant-Appellants.

Appeals from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, No. 7:06-CV-307.

Before SMITH, OWEN, and HAYNES, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:[fn*] [fn*] Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.

In this interpleader action, the parties dispute the interpretation of a 1943 oil and gas lease. Before transferring this matter to the Southern District of Texas, the district court for the Western District of Texas decided, inter alia, that the lease is a community lease, so the court had jurisdiction, and therefore interpleader was proper, and Chevron U.S.A. Inc. had no additional liability to the royalty owners. After transfer, the district court for the Southern District of Texas granted summary judgment, concluding that the "well bottom location controls payment of excess royalties" under the lease.

We have reviewed the briefs and pertinent portions of the record and have heard the arguments of counsel. We also have consulted applicable sources of law.

Both district courts correctly decided this case. The judgment is AFFIRMED, essentially for the reasons given by the district courts.