Magnolia Petroleum Co. v. Davis

GIBSON, V. C. J.

This is an action to recover damages to farm land allegedly suffered,as a result of the pollution of a stream by salt water escaping from oil and gas leaseholds operated by the different defendants. Verdict and judgment were for plaintiff, and the defendants appeal.

Plaintiff charged that salt water and other harmful substances such as base sediment had escaped from defendants’ premises into a creek running through his land where in dry weather it settled into holes in the creek bed, destroyed the fish, and seeped into the soil on either side, killing some 400 trees and other…