Union Oil Company of California v. Osprey Petroleum Company, Inc., et al.

Represented Union Oil Company of California, as operator, against Osprey and Pintail Petroleum, both of which were working interest owners in a series of oil and gas wells drilled by Union Oil Company of California in the Gulf of Mexico between 2001 and 2003. The client hired our team after another prominent defense firm had handled the matter for over a year and was facing trial against a well-known Houston trial lawyer. Union Oil Company of California sued Osprey and Pintail to recover unpaid expenses incurred in drilling the wells. Osprey counterclaimed against Union Oil Company of California for fraud, breach of contract, gross negligence, and products liability in connection with problems encountered during the well drilling and sought damages in excess of $350 million. Pintail also brought claims against Union Oil Company of California under the operating agreement. Our attorneys argued and obtained dismissal of the counterclaims on summary judgment a few weeks before trial, and the case settled very favorably on confidential terms for our client soon after.