CLARKSBURG — A Wetzel County mineral interest owner has filed a class action lawsuit against oil and gas producers, alleging breach of contract and conversion.
John S. Starkey, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a complaint in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia against EQT Production Company and Stone Energy Corporation, alleging they breached the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
According to the complaint, on Feb. 19, 2009, Starkey executed an oil and gas lease agreement with Chesapeake Appalachia LLC, which was acquired by defendants. As a result of the defendants' intentional wrongdoings, the suit says, Starkey has been harmed for not receiving full payments for his royalty interest.
The plaintiff alleges EQT Production and Stone Energy have wrongfully deducted production and post-production costs from the mineral owner's share.
Starkey seeks trial by jury, compensatory and punitive damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, attorney fees, costs and all other just and proper relief. He is represented by attorneys James G. Bordas Jr., Christopher J. Regan and Jeremy M. McGraw of Bordas & Bordas PLLC in Wheeling.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia case number 5:18-cv-00094-JPB