Opinion
No. 20150170.
10-13-2015
Douglas J. MEYER, Pamela C. Handley, Stephen T. Meyer, Andrea K. Meyer, Emil J. Meyer, Jr., Plaintiffs and Appellants v. Noman E. ENGEBRETSON, Stephanie C. McCall and Robert E. McCall Trustees of the Stephanie C. McCall Living Trust dated December 21, 2010, Karen E. Smith Personal Representative of the Estate of Caryl E. Smith, North Dakota Minerals, LLC, Wilma Wiengart, Daniel Meyer, Sandra Spehar, Claude Dean Davis, Kelly Marie Fox, Michelle Annette Jefferson, James Ghrames, Gary P. Hytrek, Pamela C. Hytrek, Cheryl D. Hytrek, Barbara June Nisley, Fred Louis Orchard, Eric J. (and Regina) Kaupanger, Elena M. Brady Trustee of the Mark A. Kaupanger 2008 Irrevocable Special Needs Trust, Heir of Arthur M. Kaupanger, Sonja M. Nelson, Kristiane Kaupanger, f/k/a Chris Ellis, Karen L. Kaupanger, Karlene R. Dahlmeier, Cynthia K. Kaupanger, Kurt Kaupanger, American Oil and Gas, Inc., Evertson Energy Partners Royalty, LLC, Gary C. Stewart, S & E Royalty, LLC, Sundance Energy, Inc., Morganthaler Oil and Gas Properties, LLC, Charles J. Heringer III Trustee, Horizon Royalties, LLC, OGR Bakken Resources, LLC, Hess Corporation, WM ND Energy Resources II, LLC, and any individual or entity known and or unknown who may have or claim interest in mineral ownership in and to all oil gas and other minerals in the subject lands, Defendants Hess Corporation, Sonja M. Eckert, Karen A. Bailey, Robert C. Engebretson, Henry M. Hanson, Dean C. Hanson, Angela Scott DeGrado, Myrna Elletson, Deanna Faye Asmus, Nancy Carlson, Debra Neff, Kristen Giuseffi, Dennis Meyer, Christie Meyer, Kay Malloy, Bruce R. Davis, John M. Pearsall, Jeanine Sanders, David O. Pearsall The Estate of Oliver O. Pearsall, c/o John M. Pearsall, Ann Marie Urban, LP I Holdings, LLC, Eagle Pass Properties, LLC, Rose Exploration, Inc., William R. LaCrosse and Tammy LaCrosse, XTO Energy, Inc., Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation, Northern Oil and Gas, Inc., Triangle USA Petroleum Corporation, Appellees.
Gary M. Beaudry, Big Fork, Mont., for plaintiffs and appellants. Michael D. Schoepf (argued) and Lawrence Bender (on brief), Bismarck, N.D., for appellees John M. Pearsall, Jeanine Sanders, David O. Pearsall, The Estate of Oliver O. Pearsall, c/o John M. Pearsall, Ann Marie Urban, LPI Holdings, LLC, Eagle Pass Properties, LLC, Rose Exploration, Inc., William R. LaCrosse and Tammy LaCrosse, XTO Energy, Inc., Northern Oil and Gas, Inc., and Triangle USA Petroleum Corporation. Jon Bogner (on brief), Dickinson, N.D., for appellee Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation. Gene W. Allen (on brief), Beach, N.D., for appellees Sonja M. Eckert, Karen A. Bailey, Robert C. Engebretson, Henry M. Hanson, Dean C. Hanson, Angela Scott DeGrado, Myrna Elletson, Deanna Faye Asmus, Nancy Carlson, Debra Neff, Kristen Giuseffi, Dennis Meyer, Christie Meyer, Kay Malloy, and Bruce R. Davis. Elizabeth E. Klingensmith (on brief) and Michael J. Mazzone (on brief), Houston, Tex., Peter H. Furuseth (on brief) and Taylor D. Olson (on brief), Williston, N.D., for appellee Hess Corporation.