HERO LANDS COMPANY v. CHEVRON INC TOTAL PETROCHEMICALS REFINING USA INC PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES INC KEY OPERATING PRODUCTION COMPANY KEY EXPLORATION COMPANY WAGNER OIL COMPANY HILCORP ENERGY MANTI OPERATING COMPANY AND HENDERSON OIL COMPANY INC (2023)

Writ application granted in part. See per curiam.

SJC

JLW

JTG

WJC

JBM

PDG

Supreme Court of Louisiana October 10, 2023

10/10/23

SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA

No. 2023-C-01050

HERO LANDS COMPANY, L.L.C.

VS.

CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.; TOTAL PETROCHEMICALS & REFINING USA, INC.; PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.; KEY OPERATING & PRODUCTION COMPANY, L.L.C.; KEY EXPLORATION COMPANY; WAGNER OIL COMPANY; HILCORP ENERTY I, L.P.; MANTI OPERATING COMPANY; AND HENDERSON OIL COMPANY, INC.

On Writ of Certiorari to the Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit, Parish of Plaquemines

PER CURIAM:

Writ granted in part. Pursuant to La. R.S. 30:29(E), as well as this Court's decision in Sweet Lake Land & Oil Co., LLC v. Oleum Operating Co., L.C., 2022-0497 (La. 9/20/22), 345 So.3d 1022, and the Third Circuit's application of that decision in Sweet Lake Land & Oil Co., LLC v. Oleum Operating Co., L.C., 2021-0169 (La. App. 3 Cir. 12/7/22), 354 So.3d 740, writ denied, 2023-0034 (La. 3/7/23), the courts below erroneously held that defendant, Chevron U.S.A, Inc., is responsible for paying attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in plaintiff's pursuit of claims against defendants other than Chevron U.S.A, Inc.. We remand the matter to the appellate court to correct its calculation of the fees and costs owed by Chevron U.S.A, Inc. to plaintiff consistent with this ruling. As to all other claims, the writ application is denied.

Hughes, J., dissents.