Texas Wellsite Owner Loses ‘Dual Role’ Argument in Gas Pipe Case

A Texas wellsite operator faces liability for a worker’s injuries caused by a burst gas pipeline after the state’s top court rejected Friday its argument that the previous owner should be held responsible as a negligent independent contractor.

Eagleridge Operating LLC alleged it wasn’t liable because previous owner Aruba Petroleum caused the pipeline’s defects when it built the gas line. Aruba sold its ownership stake before Earmon Lovern, a pumper operator for an energy company, was injured in August 2017 when a corroded pipeline burst in Wise County.

In 2018, Lovern sued Eagleridge alleging negligence stemming from the construction and ...