Judge Rules Pipeline Not His Jurisdiction

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY — A Nacogdoches County court-at-law judge ruled Friday that his court does not have legal jurisdiction over the dispute between landowner Michael Bishop and TransCanada. Bishop filed suit against TransCanada arguing he was coerced into signing an easement agreement which allowed the construction of the TransCanada pipeline across his property. According to the Longview News-Journal, Bishop accepted payment of $70,000 for the easement.

Then he filed suit saying the easement was invalid because he signed it under duress and that TransCanada committed fraud by not divulging the pipeline will transport diluted bitumen. Bishop asked Judge Jack Sinz to rule on whether diluted bitumen is crude oil — an issue Sinz said his court did not have jurisdiction over. Bishop said he would appeal the decision.

TransCanada spokesman David Dodson said, “As far as we are concerned, the issue is over. We feel we are done. We had agreements with him. We have a writ of possession. But we are prepared to go to district court if necessary.”