Anadarko Petroleum Beats Pennsylvania Consumer Protection Suit

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC can avoid a suit brought by Pennsylvania because the state’s consumer protection law applies only to sellers in commercial transactions, the state Supreme Court ruled.

Anadarko didn’t sell anything to landowners when it entered into oil and gas leases with them, according to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The company instead purchased the landowners’ mineral rights, the court said Wednesday.

The ruling came as a loss to the state, which challenged the company under the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.

After obtaining the leases, Anadarko entered into a joint venture ...