Major Victory for Private Property Rights from Utah Supreme Court

Today, the Utah Supreme Court ruled that Marion Oil Company did not have the right to use the State of Utah's condemnation power to construct roads and drilling locations to develop their state mineral leases on the private property owned by Kerwin Jensen in Nine Mile Canyon.

In 2009, Marion Oil's "advance man" told Kerwin Jensen "you can't keep us out of your ranch -- we will build whatever roads we want and you can't stop us".  Holding that oil and gas were not "mineral deposits" within the meaning of the 1953 statute, the Court sent a resounding message in favor of the rights of private property owners all over our state.  Now we need to make sure that the large oil & gas interests don't undo our rights in the Utah legislature.  Make sure your state representatives and senators continue to protect your private property rights against such special interest groups.  The full text of the Court's decision is located at:
http://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/supopin/Marion071211.pdf
Pictured Above:
Rancher Kerwin Jensen at the Utah Supreme Court during oral arguments in October, 2010.