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WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

Friday, March 29, 2024

Doddridge County property owner says pipeline builder damaged his land

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WEST UNION – A property owner is suing over damage allegedly caused to his property by a company installing an oil and gas pipeline, citing breach of contract, trespass and fraud.

Robert E. Jones filed the suit on Feb. 19 in Doddridge Circuit Court against DFW Midstream Services LLC, doing business as Mountaineer Midstream Company LLC of Texas.

In 2014, the plaintiff agreed to allow the defendant to run a pipeline through his property in Doddridge County as part of a deal that limited the right-of-way to a width of 50 feet.

The suit alleges, however, that the defendant operated outside the permitted easement area, accessed and expanded a path that crossed the property to reach the easement, converted the path into a road, damaged the grass and soil on the property, and clear-cut trees to a width of up to 150 feet.

In addition, according to the complaint, the defendant failed to restore or remediate the property.

The plaintiff seeks an order directing the defendant to remediate and restore the property, or an award of monetary damages in excess of $25,000, plus interest, costs and attorney fees. The plaintiff also seeks punitive damages in excess of $25,000 and twice the amount of damages to the property.

The plaintiff is represented by Adam B. Landon of Critchfield, Critchfield & Johnston Ltd. in Mount Vernon, Ohio. The case is being heard by Judge Timothy Sweeney.

Doddridge Circuit Court Case number 16-C-8.

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