Category Archives Cohesiveness

In a thorough per curiam order, the Kansas Court of Appeals emphatically reversed the District Court's order certifying a class of "free gas" users.  In Combs v. Devon Energy Prod. Co., 2013 WL 3867981 (Kan. App. July 26, 2013), the Court of Appeals concluded that the District Court had abused its discretion in certifying a class consisting of resident owners of surface estates burdened with oil and gas leases held by Devon where the leases contained "free gas clauses", ie. clauses entitling the lessor to connect to and draw from any gas well on the land for his or her own use free of charge.  The class had sought a declaration that the free gas clauses in the leases obligated Devon to provide a usable supply of free gas, which it alleged Devon had failed to provide due to pressure and moisture issues. The District Court certified the class under both…