Joseph Fitzsimons was quoted in an article titled, “Minerals Trump Surface Rights” in the Sunday, July 20, 2014 edition of the San Antonio Express News. The article highlights the results of a recent ruling by the Texas Supreme Court in the Key Operating & Equipment v. Hegar case and discusses its impact on the surface owner. Fitzsimons commented that even as one of the largest producing states, Texas does not have a surface damage requirement. Most oil and gas companies offer damages to surface owners in order to keep the surface owner happy.
