Gulf Refining Co. v. Carruthers

R. W. Carruthers brought an action in the district court of Noble county, Okla., against Gulf Refining Company, a corporation, to recover the damages alleged to have been suffered as the result of the defendant’s negligence in permitting a break to occur in one of its pipe lines, whereby oil escaped into a stream on his ranch. It is alleged that his cattle drank of the polluted water, and were thereby injured and destroyed. The defense of the company was that it had adequately discharged the legal duty it owed plaintiff, and there was no negligence on its part.

The plaintiff was forced to rely…