Merit Energy Defeats Texas Property Owner’s Soil Pollution Suit

Merit Energy Co. LLC won’t face a lawsuit accusing it of contaminating property where it operated an oil well from 1995-2002, because the property owner went to court too late, a Texas appeals court said Thursday.

Ali Reza Lahijani had initially leased the property to Merit until 2002, then leased it to Americo Oil & Gas Production Co. until 2008. After years of not visiting the property, when he inspected the land for new investors Lahijani noticed pollution, including white areas around oil tanks that could point to a potential spill or leak of saltwater.

He sued Americo in October ...