Estate of Jackson v. Phillips Petroleum Co.

ORDER

HOWARD, District Judge.

This cause is before the Court on defendant’s “Motion for Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict, or Alternatively, for New Trial or Remittitur.” The 28-page motion asserts 72 grounds in support thereof. The motion has prompted four briefs and memoranda comprising over 200 pages, numerous additional documents, and a lengthy hearing. 1

I. BACKGROUND

Plaintiffs and defendant own certain oil and gas interests (“working interests”) in Washington County, Alabama. The area in which the parties’ interests lie has been unitized for hydrocarbon production. Under the relevant…