Lien v. Murphy Corp.

Defendant, Murphy Corporation (Murphy) filed a Rule 41(b), M.R.Civ.P., motion for summary judgment January 11, 1982, in the Fifteenth Judicial District Court. The court granted defendant’s motion April 27, 1982. Plaintiffs (Blue Ox) now appeal the summary judgment.

In August 1952, Murphy began hydrocarbon exploration and production activities on land, a portion of which was later purchased by Blue Ox for farming purposes. Pipes used in Murphy’s operations began leaking oil and other products, thus increasing the salinity level of the ground water and damaging Blue Ox’s property. Settlements…