Tyler L. Weidlich

Tyler Weidlich's clients range from oil and gas well operators, pipeline companies and field service companies to brine mining companies, renewable energy companies, international insurance underwriters and construction companies. His litigation experience has covered numerous aspects of the oil and gas and other extractive industries, including upstream and midstream contractual disputes, personal injury and products liability, blowouts and downhole well damage, sinkholes, pipeline condemnation proceedings, well site access, subsurface trespass, environmental and toxic-tort claims as well as royalty, title and mineral lease disputes. In the course of his practice, Tyler regularly works with experts on complex metallurgical, geophysical, engineering, operational and related technical matters.

Tyler also has significant experience representing debtors and creditors in bankruptcy and lien foreclosure matters. He has handled construction and mineral lien disputes in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Wyoming, North Dakota, Utah and Louisiana.

Before joining Beatty & Wozniak, P.C., Tyler worked for 11 years as a shareholder and associate at the New Orleans office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C.

SELECT EXPERIENCE

Representative Cases

• Successful representation of oil and gas operator and its underwriters in a $25 million lawsuit arising out of a failed coiled tubing operation, including successful prosecution of breach of contract and negligence claims against well contractors. A favorable settlement was reached during trial for the majority of the clients' damages.
• Obtained a $12.8 million judgment for oil and gas operator and its underwriters in bench trial involving a well control event arising from an equipment failure.
• Successful representation of a major natural gas producer and its underwriters in a lawsuit arising from an onshore well blowout, including successful prosecution of breach of contract and products liability claims against wellhead manufacturers and contractors. After the close of the clients' case, a favorable settlement was reached between the parties.
• Extensive representation of operators, lessees and lessors in mineral title and royalty disputes implicating a variety of property law and land related issues, including navigable water bottoms, establishing surface water boundaries, division orders, chaining title, and succession/heirship matters.
• Managed large docket of interpleader actions on behalf of oil and gas operator involving royalty and mineral title disputes.
• Obtained the complete dismissal of a $5 million personal injury claim against an oil and gas operator brought by a permanently disabled worker.
• Litigated and negotiated a favorable settlement for a natural gas producer in a mass action filed by community residents following a well blowout.
• Successful representation of an oil and gas operator facing default under a joint operating agreement in an injunction action to enforce a conventional servitude and obtain access to a well site.
• Member of legal team representing one of the nation's largest aggregates companies in litigation pending in state and federal court arising from a sinkhole associated with a brine mining cavern.
• Defense of multiple oil and gas companies in "legacy lawsuits" seeking remediation of alleged surface and subsurface contamination.
• Extensive representation of insurance companies in litigation addressing serious personal injury, coverage disputes, property claims, subrogation as well as commercial general liability.
• Extensive representation of insurance companies in defense of mass and individual first-party property claims in Louisiana following Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Gustav.
• Lead counsel for midstream creditor in adversary proceeding associated with the In re Badlands Energy, Inc. bankruptcy and secured a ruling that a gathering and processing agreement and saltwater disposal agreement each constitute "covenants running with the land," which cannot be sold free and clear under 11 U.S.C. § 363. The ruling was the first to distinguish the landmark decision, In re Sabine Oil & Gas Corp.
• Represented lender in connection with foreclosure on mineral assets covering several thousands of acres in multiple counties in Colorado.
• Representation of upstream and midstream companies in a variety of bankruptcy disputes, including claim objections, cash collateral rights, automatic stay relief, 363 sales, and assumption or rejection of executory contracts.
• Representation of operators, service companies and construction companies in the defense and prosecution of oil well liens, mechanic's liens, and related priority claims.