Oil and gas companies claim others interfered with business opportunities

Two companies and a Tarrant County man have filed suit against three other Texas corporations, alleging the corporations published misrepresentations about the companies and interfered with their business opportunities.

Plaintiffs Wade Oil and Gas, Seven Oil and Gas and Glenn Alan Wade claim defendants Fort Worth Pipeline Co., Cowtown Energy and Global Energy Ventures created a limited liability company in May 2008 to obtain oil and gas properties in Tarrant County.

Under the terms of the agreement, Fort Worth Pipeline and Cowtown agreed to pay Global Energy a property administration fee of $30,000 per month beginning June 15, 2008, and continuing on the 15th of each month, according to the complaint filed Aug. 6 in Jefferson County District Court.

However, on June 15, Fort Worth Pipeline and Cowtown discontinued the administration fee they were paying to Global Energy Ventures, the suit states.

On Aug. 3, Fort Worth and Cowtown published threats to exercise dominion over business opportunities and proprietary information of Global Energy Ventures, as well as those of the plaintiffs, even though the plaintiffs claim they were in no way involved in the agreement.

"Defendants have also published misrepresentations as to the association of Plaintiffs with Defendants' various business ventures without authorization," the complaint says. "Plaintiffs aver that Defendants will be unjustly enriched by Plaintiffs if allowed to retain the profits, benefit and/or enrichment from misrepresentation of Plaintiffs' association with Defendants' various business ventures described above, conferred on Defendants without reimbursement commensurate with such profit, benefit and/or enrichment received by Defendants, all for which Plaintiffs pray, the actual amount of which will be determined at trial."

The plaintiffs are asking the court for a declaration that the defending companies have no rights to exercise dominion over their business opportunities and proprietary information. They are also seeking actual damages, attorney's fees, pre- and post-judgment interest, costs and other relief the court deems just.

They will be represented by Robert Keith Wade of the Law Offices of Robert Keith Wade in Beaumont.

The case has been assigned to Judge Gary Sanderson, 60th District Court.

Jefferson County District Court case number: B184-626.