Corey F. Wehmeyer

REPRESENTATIVE ENGAGEMENTS

• $32 Million Unanimous Jury Verdict and Final Judgment for Client Including Punitive Damages Exceeding $10 Million; Take-Nothing Verdict and Judgment on Counterclaims.
  Lead counsel to oil and gas service company and its officer on behalf of Santoyo Wehmeyer P.C. in securing $32,000,000.00 unanimous jury verdict and final judgment in a two-week trial on claims for breaches of fiduciary duty and breach of contract. Verdict and final judgment included over $10,000,000.00 in punitive damages and over $1,000,000.00 in attorneys’ fees. In same trial, secured take-nothing judgment that disposed of adversary’s counterclaims for fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty and breaches of contract. Also secured declaratory relief confirming client’s control of company. Appeal is presently pending at the Beaumont Court of Appeals and collection efforts have not yet commenced.
• $9.3 Million Federal Jury Verdict and Final Judgment for Client; Take-Nothing Judgment on $6.7 Million Counter-Claim.
  Lead counsel to exploration & production company on behalf of Santoyo Wehmeyer P.C. in securing $9,300,000.00 unanimous federal jury verdict and final judgment on claims for tortious interference with existing contract and breach of contract. Verdict and final judgment included $3,030,000.00 in punitive damages. In same trial, secured jury verdict for client on defenses of excuse and estoppel, resulting in take-nothing judgment that disposed of adversary’s $6,700,000.00 counter-claim for breach of contract. The Fifth Circuit dismissed the appeal, and collections were not undertaken by the Firm.
• $7.5 Million Unanimous Jury Verdict on Eagle Ford Producing Properties; Verdict Included $2.5 Million in Punitive Damages.
  Lead counsel representing the owner of producing ranches in the Eagle Ford Shale on behalf of Santoyo Wehmeyer P.C. in an Atascosa County jury trial that secured over $7,500,000.00 in damages for client. The jury’s unanimous verdict found liability in the defendant on all submitted causes of action, including various fraud and breach of fiduciary duty claims, and included $2,500,000.00 in punitive damages. Final, unappealable judgment vests client’s title to 268.1-acre ranch and awards monetary damages in the amount of $3,770,074.47. Recovered Eagle Ford-producing ranch in Atascosa County, Texas; monetary collection efforts are still underway.
• $4.23 Million Final Judgment on Underpaid Royalties and $2.7 Million Jury Verdict.
  Lead counsel to royalty owner client in jury trial that secured $4,230,000.00 final judgment and $2,700,000.00 jury verdict against publicly traded, international oil and gas operator. The Fourth Court of Appeals reversed on contract interpretation grounds.
• $1.6 Million Jury Verdict and Final Judgment for Client.
  Lead counsel to oil and gas exploration and production companies in jury trial against mineral owner defendants that secured a $1,600,000.00 jury verdict and final judgment for client. Case involved disputed issues of title and included claims for breach of contract. All damages and attorneys’ fees requested for the client were awarded by the jury. Firm is presently assisting client in collection efforts.
• $1.4 Million Jury Verdict and Title Declaration to Wind Rights Against Wind Farm Operator. Lead counsel to private equity energy company in successful jury trial against multi-billion dollar publicly traded wind developer. Secured judgment declaring client’s superior title to wind rights, a finding of bad faith trespass against wind developer, and over $1,400,000.00 in various damages awarded by unanimous jury against public utility company. Case pending appeal.
• Jury Defense Verdict for Oil & Gas Exploration Company Client in Suit Over Services Contract.
  Lead counsel to exploration and production company client in jury trial that resulted in take-nothing defense verdict for client. Client was being sued by plaintiff for over $2,500,000.00 in contract damages, punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees. Final judgment entered on jury’s verdict and no settlement money paid.
• Jury Defense Verdict for Operator Client and Pipeline Company Client in Contract Suit.  Lead counsel to oil and gas operator client and to pipeline company client in jury trial over breach of contract, quantum meruit and attorneys’ fees associated with a pipeline installation and hookups at production facility.  Secured dismissal of plaintiff’s attorneys’ fees claims against clients immediately before jury trial.  Secured dismissal of plaintiff’s quantum meruit claims against clients at the directed verdict stage of the jury trial.  After submitting the case to the jury, a unanimous jury returned a verdict in favor of both clients finding that neither breached any contract with the plaintiff, but finding instead that it was the plaintiff that materially breached the contract.  No liability was found against clients, no amounts were paid to plaintiff, and all costs were taxed against plaintiff.
• Title to Interests in Saltwater Disposal Well and Over $600,000.00 in Punitive Damages, Attorneys’ Fees and Other Damages Secured in Trial for Client.
  Lead counsel at trial for client owning interests in saltwater disposal well over title to interests in the well and for damages. The Firm was retained and substituted as lead counsel approximately three weeks prior to trial and during trial successfully secured an award of specific performance and title to interests in the saltwater disposal well, plus over $600,000.00 in damages that included all attorneys’ fees requested and punitive damages. Final judgment was entered, with all monetary sums owed under the judgment collected and record title to the interests secured.
• Lead counsel in trial successfully defending client against claims to over $30,000,000.00 in estate value, waste, fraud and attorneys’ fees.
  After successful trial, client received take-nothing judgment on all adverse claims for waste, fraud and attorneys’ fees. Less than $970,000 was ordered paid to fully settle estate value.
• Lead Counsel for Publicly Traded Operator in Trial that Secured Over $250,000.00 in Attorneys’ Fees Against Plaintiff Working-Interest Owner Adversary; All of Plaintiff’s Claims Dismissed with Prejudice.   Case began with publicly traded operator client being sued by working interest owner plaintiff for millions of dollars associated with causes of action that included fraud by nondisclosure, fraudulent inducement, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract (joint operating agreement), accounting, more than a dozen declaratory judgment counts, the Texas Theft Liability Act, the Texas Natural Resources Code, exemplary damages, and attorneys’ fees.  At the conclusion of trial, the client secured a final judgment dismissing each and every cause of action asserted against client, and awarding client over $250,000.00 in attorneys’ fees against the plaintiff adversary that started the lawsuit.  All costs taxed against the plaintiff.  Plaintiff is in the process of appealing.
• Successful Representation of Clients before the Supreme Court of Texas.
  Represented Petitioners in oral argument and briefing to the Supreme Court of Texas in U.S. Shale Energy II, LLC, et al. v. Laborde Properties, L.P., et al., Cause No. 17-0111, a case involving interpretation of a deed and whether the valuable Eagle Ford royalty in issue was “floating” or “fixed.”  Secured judgment from the Supreme Court of Texas reversing the Fourth Court of Appeals and reinstating the Trial Court’s judgment.  Also secured award of attorneys’ fees and costs for clients.
• $16,000,000.00 trial result for operator client prosecuting claims for misappropriation of energy industry trade secrets.
  Trial counsel (non-lead) to TXCO Resources Inc., a publicly traded exploration and production (E&P) company in successful prosecution of trade secret misappropriation claims against Peregrine Petroleum, LLC. Following a 41-day trial spanning late May through September 2011, the court awarded judgment in favor of Reorganized TXCO, Inc. (reorganized through Chapter 11) on its claims for misappropriation of trade secrets and entered a $16,000,000.00 damage award. After award, the parties reached a confidential settlement that was not for $16,000,000.
• $16,000,000.00 and 7,000 acre settlement for client in fiduciary duty lawsuit over mineral and surface properties.
  Lead counsel to trust beneficiary in a lawsuit filed against the trustee asserting claims for breach of fiduciary duty.  Secured settlement that resulted in cash payment to client of $16,000,000.00 plus an award of title to the surface estate and producing mineral interests in 7,000 acres.
• Eagle Ford Properties – Arbitration.
  Lead counsel to royalty buyer client in securing final arbitration award successfully defending against fraud claims and obtaining declaration of clients’ title to valuable non-participating royalty interests in producing Eagle Ford properties in Gonzales County, Texas.
• International Mining Consulting Service Companies – Defended $1 Billion Suit.
  Lead counsel in obtaining summary judgment for clients, two international mining consulting service companies, in a federal lawsuit seeking $1 billion in damages filed in the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division. The lawsuit asserted misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of contract, violations of the Texas Theft Liability Act, and negligence and concerned alleged gold and other precious metals locations in Nevada. Also defended against the plaintiffs’ attempts to remand the case to state court, to strike defendants’ expert witness and filed successful Daubert challenges striking plaintiffs’ expert reports and testimony. Successfully secured affirmance of judgment from Federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. No settlement money paid.
• Mineral Interest Owner – Final Judgment on Adverse Royalty Interest Claims.
  Obtained multi-million dollar judgment for Eagle Ford royalty owner client in McMullen County, Texas. The district court issued a judgment in client’s favor and entered a “take-nothing judgment” on all of plaintiff’s claims against client. Final judgment affirmed in written opinion by the San Antonio Fourth Court of Appeals.
• Eagle Ford Properties – Take-Nothing Judgment for Client.
  Lead counsel in securing take-nothing judgment for client confirming client’s title in 980 Eagle Ford acres, and dismissing all of plaintiff’s claims against client for declaratory judgment, suit to quiet title, deed reformation, slander of title, fraud, statutory fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract, breach of warranty of title and tortious interference with contract. No settlement money paid.
• Oil & Gas Exploration Company – Summary Judgment Secured.
  Secured summary judgment for exploration & production company client disposing of plaintiff’s claims as a matter of law for fraud, fraudulent conveyances, quantum meruit/unjust enrichment, breaches of fiduciary duty, conspiracy, conversion, declaratory judgment, specific performance of contract, and punitive damages. Also secured judgment dismissing plaintiff’s claims to overriding royalty interests on 80,000 Bakken Shale acres. Secured final take-nothing judgment with no appeal and no settlement money paid.
• Oil & Gas Exploration Company – Take-Nothing Judgment.
  Secured take-nothing judgment for operator client against lease brokers dismissing all causes of action, including claims and punitive damages for breach of contract, fraud, fraudulent inducement, tortious interference with contract, civil conspiracy, joint liability, and declaratory judgment.
• Deed Interpretation – Final Declaratory Judgment and Award of Attorneys’ Fees.
  Secured summary judgment and final judgment for royalty buyer client against mineral owner interpreting subject deed as reserving to client a “floating” royalty. In client’s capacity as the prevailing party, also secured an award to client of its attorneys’ fees.
• International Exploration & Production Company – Dismissal of Eagle Ford Trespass Lawsuit.
  Represented defendant international exploration & production company in Eagle Ford lawsuit as lead counsel and secured dismissal with prejudice of entirety of plaintiff-surface owner’s lawsuit, including plaintiff’s claims for declaratory judgment, trespass, negligence and punitive damages. Paid no settlement money.
• International Exploration & Production Company – Fraud and Breach of Contract Eagle Ford Lawsuit.
  Secured favorable result for international exploration & production company in multi-party Eagle Ford lawsuit filed against client for breach of contract, fraud, gross negligence, negligent misrepresentation, breach of duty of good faith and fair dealing, and exemplary damages. Obtained order dismissing all causes of action against client with prejudice and paying no settlement money.
• Oil and Gas Company – Lease Termination and Bad Faith Pooling.
  Obtained favorable resolution for oil and gas exploration and production company against lessor claims for lease termination and bad faith pooling.
• Oil and Gas Operating Companies – Defense of Class Action.
  Obtained favorable resolution for multiple publicly traded and privately owned oil and gas operating companies in a class action lawsuit filed in the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division. Claims were filed against defendants on behalf of a class that included all oil and gas royalty and/or non-participating working interest owners in the states of Texas and New Mexico and implicated complex severance tax and royalty accounting issues.
• Publicly Traded Drilling Company – South Texas.
  Obtained favorable resolution for publicly traded drilling company in suit filed in a hostile South Texas venue by 14 plaintiffs asserting causes of action for negligence, trespass and nuisance. Claims included catastrophic damage, including property damage to residences and personal injuries allegedly caused by drilling operations. Obtained a take nothing judgment on the merits dismissing all causes of action by all plaintiffs against client and paying no settlement money.
• Publicly Traded Drilling Company – Oklahoma.
  Obtained favorable resolution for publicly traded drilling company in lawsuit filed in Oklahoma, alleging breach of confidentiality and non-circumvention agreement. Obtained judgment dismissing all causes of action against client and paying no settlement money.
• Publicly Traded Refining Company – Fraud Claims.
  Obtained favorable resolution for publicly traded refining company against claims for fraud, fraudulent inducement, and breach of fiduciary duty; obtained dismissal and paid no settlement money.
• Defended Municipality – South Texas.
  Represented municipality and secured summary judgment in South Texas venue that involved over a million dollars in property damages claimed by the plaintiff.