First up, trial teams at Kirkland & Ellis secured defense verdicts for oil and gas clients EQT and Gulfport Energy in a federal trial in Ohio where landowners were seeking $100 million in mineral trespass claims. After a two-week trial and four hours of deliberations, jurors this week sided with the companies finding the plaintiffs hadn’t reserved their rights to the Point Pleasant Formation under the applicable lease agreement. Kirkland partners Ragan Naresh and Anna Rotman led the EQT team, which included Kenneth Young, Orla O’Callaghan, Dustin Womack, Cassidy Viser, Ben Schroeder and Grace Brier. Partner Dan Donovan led the Gulfport Energy team which included Alex Russell and James Robinson. Kevin West and John Ferrell of Steptoe & Johnson represented both defendants.  

A state court judge in Anchorage, Alaska, this week granted retail pharmacy defendants’ motion to dismiss claims stemming from the opioid epidemic. After hearing arguments in August, Superior Judge Una Gandbhir found that claims of public nuisance are not supported under Alaska law and also turned back claims under the state’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act. Frank Citera of Greenberg Traurig argued the public nuisance issues for all defendants and Rebecca Hozubin of Hozubin, Moberly & Associates argued the UTPCPA claims. The Greenberg Traurig team representing Albertsons also included shareholders Gretchen Miller, Brett Doran, Caitlyn Haller, Linda Ricci, Natalie Wayne, Michele Stocker, and associates Gregory Franklin, Craig Martin and Emily Mankowski.