Ladra v. New Dominion, LLC, 2015 Okla. LEXIS 71 (Oklahoma Supreme Court) June 30, 2015

Sandra Ladra filed suit to recover damages for injuries she allegedly suffered due to an earthquake that she claims to have been a result of wastewater injection in wells in and around Lincoln County, Oklahoma. The trial court ruled that the Oklahoma Corporation Commission has exclusive jurisdiction. The Louisiana Supreme Court reversed.

The Louisiana Supreme Court agreed that the OCC had exclusive jurisdiction to regulate oil and gas exploration and production activities but did not have jurisdiction to afford a remedy to those whose rights had been violated. The Court held that jurisdiction is proper in the district court where a plaintiff does not seek to review, reverse or modify an OCC order.