Leavell v. Department of Natural Resources, Office of Mines & Minerals

This appeal arises from a decision of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (Department) following an administrative hearing. The Department affirmed its hearing officer’s finding that certain oil and injection wells permitted to Eva Lovene Leavell, doing business as L&L Supply Company (L&L), had been abandoned, and the Department ordered L&L to plug the wells. L&L petitioned for judicial review in the circuit corut of White County. L&L alleged that the Department’s decision was void ab initio because the Department had failed to serve it with notice of the administrative hearing, in…