Southtex 66 Pipeline Co., Ltd. v. Spoor

This case involves land originally condemned by WesTTex Pipeline Company for an easement to build a 12-inch oil and gas pipeline. Several years later, WesTTex discontinued its use of the pipeline and leased it to SouthTex 66 Pipeline Company. John Spoor, Susan Lynn Spoor, and Claudine Spoor, individually and as independent executrix of the estate of Donald Eugene Spoor, deceased, sued SouthTex, claiming that (1) SouthTex was trespassing on their property and (2) WesTTex could not lease the pipeline to SouthTex. Both parties brought declaratory judgment actions on their respective claims. The trial court severed the trespass claim until the resolution of this appeal, but entered a judgment in favor of the Spoors, declaring that SouthTex could not use the pipeline and could not have acquired an interest in operating the pipeline from WesTTex.