A jury trial on damages awarded $529,989.85 for past cleanup expenses, $1,494,693.24 for anticipated future costs, and $554,421 in attorney fees, bringing the total verdict to over $2.5 million.
Appeals Court Voids Liability
However, the appellate panel ruled Friday that Coffeyville never had a valid interest in the pipeline because its acquisition of the Birdwell easement violated the contractual consent-to-assign clause. Since Coffeyville’s ownership was “void and of no effect,” it could not legally pass the pipeline to Rose Rock or SemGreen.
As a result, the appellate court granted summary judgment in favor of Coffeyville and SemGreen, reversing the $2.5 million award and ordering that ExxonMobil “take nothing.”
Legal Teams Decline Comment
Counsel for SemGreen declined to comment on the ruling, and representatives for ExxonMobil and Coffeyville also did not provide statements.
Impact of the Decision
The appellate court’s ruling underscores the importance of contractual provisions restricting assignments and shifts the financial burden of the 2017 oil spill cleanup back to ExxonMobil. The decision marks a major legal victory for the SemGreen parties while leaving ExxonMobil with limited options for recouping its environmental remediation expenses.
