Author’s Note: On the one-year anniversary of our trial victory for T. Boone Pickens and Mesa Petroleum Partners, I am sharing an interview with one of our key expert witnesses, Ricardo (‘Rick”) Garza. Rick was an amazing person and loved to share his knowledge of petroleum engineering with lawyers and juries. I am very sad to report that Rick passed away on October 27, 2017. He will be terribly missed.
As any good trial lawyer knows, the success of your case is greatly affected by your team, including co-counsel, local counsel, paralegals, jury consultants and expert witnesses, among others. I have had the pleasure of working with Ricardo Garza, one of the best engineering expert witnesses you’ll find anywhere, most recently during a 3½ -week trial in the West Texas town of Pecos. Our team represented Mesa Petroleum Partners LP in the hotly contested case involving oil and gas investments. Read more
Litigation Lessons from a Top-Flight Expert Witness
/in Trial Strategy /by Chrysta CastañedaAuthor’s Note: On the one-year anniversary of our trial victory for T. Boone Pickens and Mesa Petroleum Partners, I am sharing an interview with one of our key expert witnesses, Ricardo (‘Rick”) Garza. Rick was an amazing person and loved to share his knowledge of petroleum engineering with lawyers and juries. I am very sad to report that Rick passed away on October 27, 2017. He will be terribly missed.
As any good trial lawyer knows, the success of your case is greatly affected by your team, including co-counsel, local counsel, paralegals, jury consultants and expert witnesses, among others. I have had the pleasure of working with Ricardo Garza, one of the best engineering expert witnesses you’ll find anywhere, most recently during a 3½ -week trial in the West Texas town of Pecos. Our team represented Mesa Petroleum Partners LP in the hotly contested case involving oil and gas investments. Read more
Litigation Issues in Area of Mutual Interest (AMI) Agreements
/in Oil & Gas/Energy Litigation /by Chrysta CastañedaUnlike the standardized Joint Operating Agreement, though, AMI contracts tend to be handcrafted by the parties promoting the deal, and often have unintended flaws and consequences. If you’re an investor or operator who wants to put together an AMI Agreement, what do you watch out for? And what about buying an interest or properties that might be encumbered by an AMI Agreement? Will your due diligence reveal the significant issues associated with AMI obligations? Read more
Castañeda Firm Victory Ranked Among Top Texas Verdicts of 2016
/in Oil & Gas/Energy Litigation /by The Castaneda FirmThe state district court verdict in Mesa Petroleum Partners LP vs. Baytech LLP was the fifth-largest in Texas in 2016, according to Texas Lawyer, which ran the list in its September issue. Read more
The Legal Ramifications of Poorly Conceived Public Statements
/in Litigation Communications /by Chrysta CastañedaThe communications missteps we have witnessed in recent months remind us that what is said in the public record – including on social media – can and will be used against the client in a court of law. Read more
Storytelling is No Substitute for Mastery of the Evidence
/in Trial Strategy /by Chrysta CastañedaWant to know what really sells? Take a look at the display windows at Neiman Marcus, as an example. If you’ve ever strolled by the high-end department store, you may have noticed these elaborate and beautiful glass-encased displays. The next time you walk by, take a closer look and you’ll see it’s more than just pretty. Those windows are actually well-thought-out tableaus, meticulously designed by artists with an appreciation for subtlety, an attention to detail and a facility for subliminal storytelling. They know their audience and the subject matter they have to present. Read more
Lessons from the John Wiley Price Trial
/in Trial Strategy /by Chrysta CastañedaThe government had a lot riding on this case. The FBI had been investigating Price and some of his business associates since the early 2000s. So, it was educational, as a litigator, to watch such a high-stakes case play out and ultimately unravel under the glare of the public spotlight. Read more
Castañeda Firm Victory for Oilman T. Boone Pickens Ranked Among Top U.S. Verdicts
/in Oil & Gas/Energy Litigation /by The Castaneda FirmChrysta Castañeda
Pecos, Texas, jury awards over $145 million against Midland and Dallas oil companies
DALLAS – Dallas trial attorney Chrysta Castañeda and The Castañeda Firm are being recognized on The National Law Journal’s Top 100 Verdicts of 2016 list after winning a multimillion-dollar oil and gas verdict for legendary oilman T. Boone Pickens and his company, Mesa Petroleum Partners.
The state district court verdict against two Midland oil and gas companies and a Dallas-based operator ranked as the 12th highest in the country, according to the National Law Journal. Read more
Fine Tuning Voir Dire
/in Commercial Litigation, Complex Commercial Cases /by Chrysta CastañedaI recently sat through voir dire as a panel member in one of the criminal district courts in Dallas County. It’s always good to watch other practitioners go about their art; I always learn a lot (or am reminded of what I already know). To my fellow trial lawyers who read this blog, here are a few reminders: Read more
Should Trial Counsel Speak to the Media?
/in Commercial Litigation, Complex Commercial Cases /by Chrysta CastañedaI’m often asked whether litigation counsel should serve as a media spokespeople when they are handling legal matters of public interest. As in most things, the answer is “It depends.” Here are a few key considerations: Read more
Oil Prices are Falling: Get Ready for Litigation
/in Commercial Litigation, Oil & Gas/Energy Litigation /by Chrysta CastañedaOil prices are falling and deals are getting scrapped. As was the case with the last several business cycles, litigation will undoubtedly ensue. The old-timers refer to this as “drilling at the courthouse.” Here are five tips for preparing for possible litigation: Read more