Hess Energy, Incorporated v. Lightning Oil Company, Limited

Reversed and remanded by published opinion. Judge NIEMEYER wrote the opinion, in which Chief Judge WILKINSON and Judge GOODWIN joined.

OPINION

NIEMEYER, Circuit Judge.

Upon Hess Energy, Inc.’s complaint against Lightning Oil Company, Ltd., which demanded damages for breach of a natural gas supply contract, the district court granted summary judgment to Lightning. The court found that Hess Energy, by assigning administrative responsibilities to its parent company, violated the supply contract’s assignment-limitation provision, thereby justifying Lightning’s nonperformance. We conclude that if an…