Jodi Cole Wetzel

Representative Experience

• Lead counsel in defense of well-interference claims. Successful in obtaining a dismissal on the merits, which was affirmed by the Tenth Circuit in the Max Oil Company, Inc., et al. v. Range Resources-Midcontinent, LLC, et al., 16-6238, United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit (2017).
• Defended in excess of 15 class action lawsuits on issues related to natural gas royalty disputes, and payment of production proceeds. See, e.g., Paula Park McClintock v. Enterprise Crude Oil LLC, 6:16-CV-00136-KEW, Eastern District of Oklahoma; Joanne Harris Deitrich Trust A, et al. v. Enerfin Resources I Limited Partnership, et al., 6:20-CV-00084-KEW, Eastern District of Oklahoma; Mary Lansden Swafford, et al. v. Ovintiv Inc. et al., 6:21-CV-00210-SPS, Eastern District of Oklahoma; Kunneman Properties, LLC, et al. v. Marathon Oil Company, 6:22-CV-00274-KEW, Eastern District of Oklahoma; Hay Creek Royalties, LLC v. Mewbourne Oil Company, 5:20-CV-01199-F, Western District of Oklahoma; Wake Energy, LLC v. Canvas Energy LLC, 5:22-CV-00822-G, Western District of Oklahoma; Wake Energy LLC v. Mustang Fuel Corporation and Mustang Gas Productions, LLC, 6:22-CV-00364-RAW-GLJ; Eastern District of Oklahoma; D & N Farms, LLC, et al. v. Crawley Petroleum Corporation, 6:23-CV-00234-RAW-DES, Eastern District of Oklahoma.
• Obtained dismissal of two lawsuits pursued in federal court related to collateral attacks on Oklahoma Corporation Commission orders. Melissa Cory v. Ovintiv Inc., et al., 5:21-CV-00568-G, Western District of Oklahoma and Curtis Cory, et al. v. Cimarex Energy Company, 5:20-CV-00706-G, Western District of Oklahoma.
• Lead counsel in the successful defense of a lawsuit against the operator of a tertiary recovery unit regarding allegations of CO2 migration. Hallco Production, LLC v. Perdure Petroleum, LLC, et al., CJ-2017-195 in Kay County, Oklahoma.
• Successfully obtained summary judgment for operator on claims of defense and indemnity under master service agreements. Great Plains Oilfield Rental, L.L.C. v. Aerotek, Inc., 5:15-cv-00928-F, Western District of Oklahoma.
• Serve on the defense team for one of the largest midstream companies in the United States in issues arising from midstream contracts.
• Represented publicly traded international service company in pursuit of multi-million dollar lien claims arising from operator’s failure to pay for hydraulic fracturing services. Cudd Pumping Services, Inc. v. Calyx Energy III, LLC, CJ-2023-11, Okfuskee County, Oklahoma; CJ-2023-106, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma.
• Lead counsel in obtaining partial summary judgment for Revolution Resources Inc. and its subsidiary, Jones Energy LLC, against Exxon Mobil related to claims of indemnity under a joint operating agreement for alleged well-interference claims. Exxon Mobil Corporation v. Jones Energy, LLC, 18-05-4762, Lipscomb County, Texas.
• Obtained summary judgment for wind farm developer in federal court related to claims for nuisance, trespass, and injunctive relief. Terra Walker et al. v. Kingfisher Wind, LLC, 5:14-cv-00914-D, Western District of Oklahoma.
• Defended wind farm developer on land damage claims related to the construction of a wind development project in north Oklahoma leading to favorable resolution. Baker-Casey Ranch, LLC et al. v. RWE Renewables Development, LLC f/k/a EC&R Development, LLC et al., 5:21-cv-00334-G, Western District of Oklahoma; Haskins Family Trust dated June 30, 1997, et al. v. RWE Renewables Development, LLC f/k/a EC&R Development, LLC et al., CJ-2021-85, Woodward County, Oklahoma.
• Defended the operator against allegations of theft of trade secrets related to disputes arising from seismic licensing agreements leading to favorable resolution. Midcon Data Services, LLC v. Ovintiv USA Inc., et al, 5:20-cv-00674-PRW, Western District of Oklahoma.
• Defended in excess of 50 lawsuits related to quiet title of mineral leasehold.
• Frequent representation of operators in various municipal proceedings related to permitting issues and the parameters of Okla. Stat. tit. 52, §137.1.
• Lead counsel for several operators in the structuring and drafting of risk management programs, including form master service agreements.
• Lead counsel in numerous negotiations and proceedings related to the Oklahoma Surface Damages Act, Okla. Stat. tit. 52, §138 et seq., including the successful defense of claims for treble damages.
• Serves as lead outside general counsel for several oil and gas service providers, including issues related risk management, litigation management, and contract management, and legal aspects of strategic growth.