Appeals

Just before year-end, a California state appeals court denied Sempra Energy’s latest pleading, sending a $24 billion anti-trust class action lawsuit to trial in 2005, the plaintiffs’ attorneys in the case announced Dec. 27. The plaintiffs anticipate a trial date will be scheduled to begin this summer regarding their charges of “cartel-like behavior” and collusion in the wholesale natural gas markets.

A federal appeals court in Washington, DC, has affirmed FERC’s decision ordering the system-wide conversion of full-requirements (FR) service on the El Paso Natural Gas pipeline to cost-based contract demand (CD) service to remove long-standing capacity constraints in the Southwest.

A California state appeals court denied Sempra Energy’s latest pleading last week, sending a $24 billion anti-trust class action lawsuit to trial next year, the plaintiffs’ attorneys in the case announced Monday. The plaintiffs anticipate a trial date will be scheduled to begin next summer regarding their charges of “cartel-like behavior” and collusion in the wholesale natural gas markets.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is considering arguments on the constitutionality of the federal law used to charge a former Dynegy Inc. energy trader with making false natural gas trades. Michelle Valencia was charged last year with reporting false energy trading information, and prosecutors appealed a ruling by a Houston judge that narrowed the language prosecutors may use to prove her guilt (see NGI, Nov. 24, 2003).

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is considering arguments this week on the constitutionality of the federal law used to charge a former Dynegy Inc. energy trader with making false natural gas trades. Michelle Valencia was charged last year with reporting false energy trading information, and prosecutors are appealing a ruling by a Houston judge that narrowed the language prosecutors may use to prove her guilt (see Daily GPI, Nov. 18, 2003).

ExxonMobil last week filed an appeal with the Alabama Supreme Court challenging a $3.5 billion punitive damage award concerning royalties the state argues it is owed by the oil major for offshore natural gas leases.

ExxonMobil on Tuesday filed an appeal with the Alabama Supreme Court challenging a $3.5 billion punitive damage award concerning royalties the state argues it is owed by the oil major for offshore natural gas leases.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit Thursday vacated and remanded a decision by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) approving a $1.4 billion rail project to carry coal from the Powder River Basin to power plants in the East and Midwest, saying the board failed to assess the environmental impact of increased coal burning.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit Thursday vacated and remanded a decision by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) approving a $1.4 billion rail project to carry coal from the Powder River Basin to power plants in the East and Midwest, saying the board failed to assess the environmental impact of increased coal burning.