North Dakota landowners went before the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday and presented arguments surrounding a pipeline land dispute.
Mary Steurer from the North Dakota Monitor reports that McKenzie County property owners argue that WBI Energy owes them $380,000 in legal expenses per state statute, because WBI used federal eminent domain to seize portions of their land in 2018. The owner cited ND state law that requires companies to cover legal expenses, but WBI and the federal government argue the federal standards take precedent, and they exclude attorney fees from reimbursement. Several justices appeared skeptical during oral arguments.
Eleven other states filed briefs alongside North Dakota in support of the landowners: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.
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